(Source: Reuters)

South Africa scored seven tries to claim a 45-12 victory over Wales in their autumn international clash in Cardiff, inflicting a 12th consecutive defeat on their hosts and putting more pressure on coach Warren Gatland.

The match was more one-sided than the scoreline suggested and only the Springboks’ inaccuracy prevented it from being a complete rout for the inexperienced home side.

The world champions scored tries thanks to locks Franco Mostert and Eben Etzebeth, winger Kurt-Lee Arendse, flanker Elrigh Louw, fullback Aphelele Fassi, prop Gerhard Steenekamp and fly-half Jordan Hendrikse while that they finished their fall series with three victories.

Wales have a lot of thinking to do before the start of the Six Nations at the end of January, as they were forced to make more than 200 tackles and missed a further 46. Winger Rio Dyer and flanker James Botham scored their tries and they trailed 26-5 at the tournament. to break.

The statistics supported South Africa’s dominance, they carried the ball over a kilometer (1,066 meters), made 15 line breaks, pushed Wales off their own ball during scrimmage three times and pinched three home team lineouts.

That they did not make Wales pay more heavily on the scoreboard will be a frustration given they had spoken this week of an “80 minute” performance after wins over Scotland and England where they had not been at their best.

Wales would have hoped for a closer scoreline but given where both teams are in their development it was not unexpected and they might have feared the worst as South Africa scored three tries in the 18 first minutes.

A raging Mostert ran onto a pass to gallop over the line early on before an easy second score as the Springboks won the ball at the breakdown with a counter-ruck, and Arendse combined with Etzebeth on the wing LEFT.

After relentless pressure from the Springboks, Arendse’s wicked step inside saw him beat three defenders and add a third try.

Wales twice held South Africa over the line and Siya Kolisi scored for a try earlier in the move, but Louw got his fourth score from close range after the Springboks demolished the Welsh scrum.

Wales finally got their hands on the ball just before half-time and after a succession of pick-and-drives from the attackers, it was swung wide for Dyer to cross into the corner.

That trend continued in the second half, but South African errors meant it took 14 minutes before they scored their fifth try with Arendse, Fassi’s creator.

Steenekamp dug in for his sixth and Hendrikse, playing alongside scrumhalf Jaden, added a final score late on before Botham crossed with the final play of the game.