Debutant wing Jaco Williams scored a try and created another as South Africa thumped Wales 43-0 on Saturday to reclaim first place in the Nations Championship southern hemisphere standings.
Despite the wide winning margin in Durban, it was not a vintage performance by the Rugby World Cup title-holders, who committed numerous handling errors and conceded a string of penalties in the first half.
South Africa began the match needing a bonus-point win by at least 14 points to overtake New Zealand on points difference, after the All Blacks beat Ireland 40-21 in Auckland earlier.
That objective was achieved 40 seconds into the second half at Kings Park when a break by impressive lock Cobus Wiese set up Williams to go over in the corner.
South Africa and New Zealand have a maximum 15 points each in the southern hemisphere table with the Springboks ahead on points difference.
Wales lie fifth in the northern hemisphere standings after beating Fiji and losing to Argentina in earlier rounds. The new competition continues in November.
“Our defence was good in stages and we ticked some other boxes,” said South Africa captain and flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit, deputing for the injured Siya Kolisi.
“A few new guys put their hands up and I think some of them will play a lot of Tests. We love the competition they bring because we know it means the team is going forward.”
– ‘Massively proud’ –
Wales hooker and skipper Dewi Lake said he was “massively proud of the boys although I know some people will be shocked by that because of the scoreboard.
“But it was a massive improvement from our performance in the Autumn against the Springboks (they lost 73-0 in Cardiff last November).
“There was a stark difference tonight, even though we are not happy to get zero, which shows there are areas to work on.
“This group is going from strength to strength. There have been gains over the last six months and I see us only getting better.
“Our discipline was a bit off tonight. We showed physicality in areas, but it was not consistent enough.”
Fly-half Vusi Moyo was another of four Springbk debutants. After a nervy start, the 20-year-old settled to kick three conversions from four attempts and show promise in front of a 40,000 crowd.
South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus rang the changes early in the second half with Manie Libbok taking over as playmaker from Moyo.
Wales barely left their half before the break and did well to restrict the home team to tries from No. 8 Jasper Wiese, scrum-half Cobus Reinach and outside centre Jesse Kriel.
After Williams struck, Wales enjoyed a spell deep in Springbok territory, but could not penetrate an excellent defence.
Replacement scrum-half Herschel Jantjies scored a fifth try for South Africa, then Wales substitute prop Ben Warren was yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle.
South Africa kept pressing in the closing stages and wing Kurt-Lee Arendse and flanker Paul de Villiers crossed the tryline. Libbok succeeded with one of his three conversion kicks.
