This was the match barely anyone in the American capital knew was happening, the Washington Post failing to carry a single word to preview Wales’s clash against South Africa. With both sides fielding youthful teams, critics had slammed the encounter pre-match as a money-spinning PR stunt which devalued international rugby.
But there are always two sides to every coin and in time this game – which Wales edged thanks to Ryan Elias’s dramatic late try – will do the younger players on both sides the world of good in their career development. It was some finale.
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Wales scored tries through Hallam Amos and Tomos Williams, South Africa responding through their wing pair, Travis Ismaiel and Makazole Mapimpi. Gareth Anscombe and Elton Jantjies kicked the rest of the points but, with South Africa looking set to win late on, Elias ensured it was an American dream for Warren Gatland’s youngsters as he scored a third try after Williams charged down a clearing kick that then bounced off another South Africa defender before Elias dived on it.
South Africa’s squad contained only 159 caps, with 13 of their 23 representing their country for the first time. Wales were slightly better off; the scrum-half Williams was making his debut but George North won his 74th cap, at centre.
A humid Washington afternoon gave way to the forecast rain pre-match, tricky conditions contributing to what was a woeful opening. Anscombe pushed an early penalty effort wide and although both sides seemed keen to throw the ball around the error count was high, boot dominated the game and Wales did not help themselves with sloppy errors.
North needlessly tackled Ivan van Zyl in the air and Anscombe missed touch, and South Africa moved ahead when Amos was smashed by Jason Jenkins and Wales went off their feet at the ruck. Elton Jantjies kicked the resulting penalty to open the scoring.
The first quarter would hardly have attracted any American fans to rugby such was its paucity of quality. As Wales struggled for continuity their wing Steffan Evans was tackled by his opposite number Travis Ismaiel and limped from the field.
Hadleigh Parkes replaced Evans and made an immediate impact, shifting into the centre and pushing North into Evans’ place on the left wing. It soon paid dividends.
Wales went straight on the attack, Parkes making a lovely break with Ross Moriarty and the captain, Ellis Jenkins, involved before Amos sold the South Africa defence a wonderful dummy to dive over. Anscombe converted and it was soon double trouble for the Springboks.
Williams wriggled over from close range to mark his first game in style, Anscombe once again kicking the extras, and a 14-3 interval lead would have delighted Gatland, especially after his team’s struggles early on.
Wales had won a vital penalty right at the end of the first period with South Africa on the attack, but they sloppily let their opponents back into the game when it resumed.
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Trying to play from inside the 22 Parkes shifted the ball to Amos whose pass was intercepted by the rushing Ismaiel who was left with a stroll to the line. Jantjies kicked the goal.
Anscombe responded with a penalty of his own – the decision to go for the posts jeered by the American crowd – to give Wales some breathing room and then missed with another long-range effort, before the young centre Owen Watkin was shown a yellow card to set up a nerve-jangling finish.
Jantjies chipped ahead and Watkin was adjudged via the TMO to have deliberately tipped the ball out of play. It was the right decision and also a possible penalty try.
It nonetheless gave South Africa a one-man advantage which they utilised immediately; the ball was spread left from the resulting scrum where Mapimpi dived over. Jantjies’ conversion from wide out tied the game.
It was all South Africa – even with Watkin back on the field – but Wales’ young guns showed impressive game management and no little fight to stay in the contest.
There was a dramatic conclusion too, as with replacements flooding the field, South Africa won a late scrum penalty in front of the posts. Robert Du Preez, who had only just replaced Jantjies, stepped up to kick the goal which looked to have won the game.
But the drama continued and Wales promptly went up the other end and Williams charged down Du Preez’s clearance, the ball falling to Elias who scored his team’s crucial third try which his team celebrated in style.