Wales returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion as they beat South Africa 50-19 in their WXV Global Series opener at Cardiff Arms Park, scoring eight tries to end a run of nine Tests without a victory. Sean Lynn’s side had been expected to face a tight contest against a Springboks team ranked three places above them, but produced an attacking performance full of freedom and intent.
Lynn had asked his players to be brave, and he was bold with his selection by moving scrum-half Keira Bevan to fly-half. The gamble paid off under Friday night lights. Courtney Keight, recently named Welsh Rugby Writers’ player of the year, scored the opening try after Georgia Evans and Sisilia Tuipulotu had made the hard yards and the ball was spread wide to her on the left wing. Keight cut inside to finish.
Kelsey Jones’ turnover launched the second try. Evans popped a neat ball back inside for Tuipulotu to charge to the line. South Africa responded when Felicia Jacobs benefited from a dominant scrum on Wales’ five-metre line, but that was their only score in a one-sided first half.
Wales came close to another score when former Cardiff City footballer Amy Williams won the footrace to Lisa Neumann’s grubber kick and was within metres of touching down, but Seren Lockwood was first to the breakdown and darted over herself. It was a double blow for South Africa, who had hooker Lindelwa Gwala sent to the sin bin for being offside in the build-up. Wales took full advantage as Maisie Davies showed her power to score her first international try and secure the bonus point.
Wales had to revert to their usual half-back pairing when Lockwood failed to return from a head injury assessment, with Bevan moving back to scrum-half and Lleucu George slotting in at fly-half. The changes did little to halt their flow. Freya Bell came agonisingly close from a five-metre driving lineout, but Jones cleaned up to cross. South Africa were then reduced to 13 players when lock Lochner was sin-binned for a high tackle on Kate Williams, a card later upgraded to a 20-minute red. That paved the way for the pick of Wales’ first-half tries, with a solid scrum providing the platform for the ball to be worked wide to Neumann, who cruised over from her new full-back position. Wales led 38-5 at the break.
A wounded South Africa emerged a different team in the second half. Wales had initially picked up where they left off when Tuipulotu powered through some weak tackling for her second try of the night, giving Wales a 40-point lead. But South Africa chipped away, with Maria Tshiremba scoring her third try in just two appearances after latching on to a tricky crossfield kick.
South Africa were soon in again with arguably the try of the night. The powerful running of Aphiwe Ngwevu created it, and she offloaded to centre partner Maceala Samboya, who showed a good turn of pace to reach the line. With Wales’ defence creaking, they needed inspiration, and it came from Williams, who showed great feet down her wing and incredible strength to keep the ball alive for co-captain Alex Callender to score.
Callender had returned from injury and delivered a typically impressive player-of-the-match display. Bell finished with five conversions for Wales, while Dolf kicked two for South Africa. Wales’ final score completed the eight-try victory, and there was a notable moment for front-row forwards Shanelle Williams and Elan Jones, who came off the bench to make their debuts and enjoy a Welsh win that many of their team-mates had not experienced in over a year.