A step too far for Wales, South Africa struck back at the southern hemisphere on a day when the North had its fair share of rejoicing.
After brilliant Ireland and tenacious England clinched strings of victories in New Zealand and Australia respectively, there was to be no European hat-trick in Cape Town.
Wayne Pivacs Wales made history on the Springbok floor this summer by winning there for the first time in their history.
It meant they went into a decider at the DHL Stadium with a possible series win.
South Africa eventually proved too strong for Wales, winning the series 2-1 in Cape Town
Handre Pollard scored one try, three conversions and three penalties for his side in the game
That they were in such a position at all was remarkable considering how tenuous their Six Nations campaign was. Wales came to the South African capital full of hope.
Ultimately, their aspirations were snuffed out by Springbok’s signature power. Wales, dying piecemeal after their longest season, were unable to withstand a second-half home attack.
South Africa won the series 2-1 and Lock Eben Etzebeth celebrated his 100th international match with a win. It was a defeat for Wales, although they will take some positives from this tour.
Wales were dealt two big blows on the eve of the game. Taulupe Faletau, wearing number 8, was the youngest man to drop out of the Cape Town final after picking up a lateral injury during the warm-up.
Josh Navidi was the man to step in and Taine Basham was promoted to the bench with Rhys Patchell replacing the injured Gareth Anscombe. Second Welsh Test winner Anscombe suffered a rib injury.
Damian Willemse was in good form throughout the game and was one of South Africa’s better players
Wales struggled to beat South Africa as the hosts managed the game well throughout
Liam Williams was unable to claim an early high ball and South Africa went straight on attack.
Lukhanyo Am stepped up to Makazole Mapimpi who crossed with ease but referee Matthew Carley checked the result with TMO Brett Cronan ruling it out because the Springbok wing had foot contact.
Handre Pollard provided home consolation with the opening points.
Cheslin Kolbe beat Dan Biggar to another high ball and the Welsh captain was then again second best to an onrushing Damian Willemse.
South Africa dominated in both air and physical exchanges.
Biggar didn’t get off the ground in the competition with Willemse
It was a wave of Springbok dominance. Damian de Allende was only briefly stopped. A fearsome scrum home sent the red pack back at a speed of knots, even as the pitch eased.
It was no surprise as all the pressure paid off as Pollard jumped past. As if that wasn’t bad enough for Wales, Ryan Elias and Dan Lydiate butted heads as they tried to stop the attempt.
Pollard converted. Lydiate was pushed away with a nasty head cut. Lock Alun Wyn Jones and not Backrow Basham was the man who made the surprise substitution. Wales looked in big, big trouble.
But they had already defied expectations on this tour and did so again to strike back.
Bongi Mbonambi made his 50th appearance for South Africa this afternoon
George North and Nick Tompkins, both having good games, danced forward. Josh Adams then got close but Tommy Reffell assisted the hit. Biggar failed to convert.
The pitch in Cape Town was frankly a disgrace and totally unsuitable for Test rugby. Players from both teams slid left, right, and center. It made the set piece a mess.
In the first scrum since Lydiate’s departure, Jones joined Adam Beard at the Lock for Wales with Will Rowlands on the blindside flank. Wales conceded eight penalties in the first 25 minutes.
So it was remarkable that they stayed in the competition. South Africa also lost a man with Kolbe, Willie le Roux came. Wales then received three more cheap points.
Carley punished Springbok flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit for shoving Jones on a ruck and Biggar slashed the easy kick.
Mapimpi’s head then collided with Tompkins’ as the Welshman fell to the ground. Carley just missed a penalty and didn’t show a card.
With 15 on the field and after a skirmish between Adams and De Allende, South Africa took the corner and their driving maw went over the line.
Bongi Mbonambi scored his 50th cap and Pollard converted.
Wales had to replace two more strikers at the break, with Dewi Lake and Sam Wainwright replacing Elias and Dillon Lewis. Biggar immediately kicked three more points.
Am rushed over for what he believed to be South Africa’s third goal, but Carley and Cronan correctly credited it to Jaden Hendrikse’s forward pass.
Despite all dominance, South Africa shot itself in the foot.
Dan Biggar had backed Wales to achieve the impossible in the final pre-game test
This allowed Biggar to close the gap. It was hectic stuff with the game on the knife edge.
On came South Africa’s “Bomb Squad” as Welsh scrum-half Kieran Hardy struggled in the heat of the moment.
Hardy was knocked down and although Wales escaped they opted to run the ball free and conceded a penalty. Hardy was immediately smitten with Tomos Williams.
Wales’ decision to play out was costly. South Africa’s captain Siya Kolisi fell in the deciding try of the game between Tompkins and Rowlands. Pollard edged his team by 10 points.
Unsurprisingly, Wales were on their feet. Their bottle cannot be questioned and their defense has impressed in three games.
But their lineup, led by backup hooker Lake, went into the pot late and they ended up taking too many penalties over the course of the series to come out on top.
It let South Africa breathe a sigh of relief – for whom Kwagga Smith made a brilliant late turnover after a break from Adams – and Pollard sealed the game with two last shots.
South Africa captain Siya Kolisi was late on the scoresheet for the hosts in Cape Town
Kolisi celebrated after leading his team to a series win over Wayne Pivac’s Wales
Scorers: South Africa Attempts: Pollard 14, Mbonambi 38, Kolisi 53 Con: Pollard 16, 39, 54 Pens: Pollard 5, 78, 80
Wales attempt: Refell 19 pins: Biggar 33,42,48
South Africa: Willemse; Kolbe (Le Roux 21), Am, De Allende, Mapimpi; Pollard, Hendrikse (De Klerk 65); Nyakane (Kitshoff 45), Mbonambi (Marx 45), Malherbe (Koch 45), Etzebeth (Mostert 61), De Jager, Kolisi (Capt), Du Toit (Louw 78), Wiese (Smith 39)
Wales: L Williams; Rees-Zammit, North, Tompkins (Watkin 60), Adams; Biggar (Captain), Hardy (T Williams 51); Thomas (W Jones 56), Elias (See 40), Lewis (Wainwright 40), Rowlands, Beard, Lydiate (AW Jones 16) Reffell (Basham 55), Navidi
Substitute not used: Patchell
Referee: Matthew Carley (England) Spectators: 50,977 Starman: Siya Kolisi (South Africa)
