South Africa 41-13 Wales reaction: Springboks ease to comfortable ...

Wales’ first game of the summer ended in defeat as they were beaten 41-13 by South Africa at Twickenham.

Warren Gatland’s men fought valiantly after a nightmare start saw them concede twice and lose two men to the sin bin, with a try from Dewi Lake meaning they went into the break just one point adrift.

But the Springboks pulled away in the second half, with a controversial early score for Makazole Mapimpi followed by tries from Bongi Mbonambi and Edwill van der Merwe, as Wales failed to create anything.

It looked as though it would be a long, long afternoon for Gatland’s men as Jesse Kriel crossed for a try after just three minutes before Rio Dyer was sent to the sin bin for denying a try from an offside position.

Wainwright soon joined Dyer in the bin, conceding a penalty try in the process, leaving Wales 14-3 down with 13 men on the field. But an impressive period of play saw them not only keep the Springboks at bay but go close to scoring themselves with scrum-half Ellis Bevan coming close to crossing on his debut.

Lake, Wales’ best player on the day, powered over to reduce the deficit, with Costelow’s successful conversion putting them just a point behind at half-time.

But after Mapimpi scored moments into the second-half after what looked like a clear forward pass, the floodgates opened towards the end of the second period with Mbonambi and van der Merwe’s scores securing a comfortable win in the end for the Boks.

Wales didn't help themselves in the second half, lacking any attacking threat when in possession, with lots still to work on ahead of next month's tour of Australia.

South Africa: Aphelele Fassi; Edwill van der Merwe, Jesse Kriel, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi; Jordan Hendrikse, Faf de Klerk; Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx, Vincent Koch, Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert, Kwagga Smith, Pieter-Steph du Toit (capt), Evan Roos.

Replacements: Bongi Mbonambi, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Frans Malherbe, Salmaan Moerat, Ben-Jason Dixon, Grant Williams, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Damian de Allende.

Wales: Cameron Winnett; Liam Williams, Owen Watkin, Mason Grady, Rio Dyer; Sam Costelow, Ellis Bevan; Gareth Thomas, Dewi Lake, Keiron Assiratti, Matthew Screech, Ben Carter, Taine Plumtree, James Botham, Aaron Wainwright.

Replacements: Evan Lloyd, Kemsley Mathias, Harri O'Connor, James Ratti, Mackenzie Martin, Gareth Davies, Eddie James, Jacob Beetham.

Referee: Chris Busby (IRFU)