South Africa 30 Wales 14: Heartbreak for Dragons in Test series decider but Wayne Pivac still hopeful ahead of World Cup
WAYNE PIVAC reckons Wales’ tour to South Africa can prove a starting block to World Cup success. Wales missed the chance to clinch more history against the Springboks after running out of steam in Cape Town. They were looking to become the first Home Nation to win a series in South Africa but their hopes […]
WAYNE PIVAC reckons Wales’ tour to South Africa can prove a starting block to World Cup success.
Wales missed the chance to clinch more history against the Springboks after running out of steam in Cape Town.
They were looking to become the first Home Nation to win a series in South Africa but their hopes faded in the shadow of Table Mountain.
Leicester flanker Tommy Reffell rounded off a superb tour with his first Test try and twice Dan Biggar brought Wales to within a kick.
But South Africa, back to full strength with 11 World Cup winners, just had the edge in power and pace.
But Pivac is hopeful for the future. He said: “I’m proud of the team, you can’t fault the effort but perhaps it was a bridge too far.
“We came here to win the series, it wasn’t just talk, and that first test could have gone either way.
“There were some pretty beaten-up bodies in the week and it took its toll.” He added: “We’ve set standards for ourselves here. The majority of our players have done very, very well.
“Now it’s about continuity to build from this tour to the World Cup.”
Wales lost Taulupe Faletau and Gareth Anscombe to injury in the warm up and then Dan Lydiate after just 14 minutes.
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George North, Nick Tompkins and Josh Adams combined for Reffell’s try.
But Bongi Mbonambi, Siya Kolisi and Handre Pollard, who also kicked 15 points, all crossed to avoid the last-gasp drama of the first two tests.