South Africa edge past Wales with late try to reach semi-finals
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Updated 17/10/2015 at 18:02 GMT
South Africa 23 (Tries: du Preez. Pen: Pollard 5. Drop goal: Pollard) Wales 19 (Try: Davies. Cons: Biggar. Pen: Biggar 3. Drop goal: Biggar 1)
Fourie du Preez of South Africa scores a try during their Rugby World Cup Quarter Final match against Wales at Twickenham in London, Britain October 17, 2015. REUTERS/Henry Browne TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY
Image credit: Reuters
Wales crashed out of the World Cup after Fourie du Preez scored a try five minutes from time to give South Africa a nail-biting 23-19 win in the quarter-final at Twickhenham.
Warren Gatland’s men made a bright start but were guilty of ill-discipline and conceded three early penalties which Handre Pollard converted to give his side a 9-3 lead.
Dan Biggar then produced the moment of the half when he caught the ball off his own kick and off-loaded to Gareth Davies to score.
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Gareth Davies of Wales (R) scores a try during their Rugby World Cup quarter-final against South Africa at Twickenham in London, United Kingdom October 17, 2015. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh
Image credit: Reuters
Pollard and Biggar exchanged penalties before the latter gave the Dragons a 13-12 lead at the break with a drop goal.
In a tense second half it was another kicking battle between Biggar and Pollard as the Welsh led by a point until skipper de Preez grabbed his 16th try after a deft pass from behind his back by Duane Vermeulen to seal his side’s place in the semi-finals.
KEY MOMENTS
18’ – South Africa 9-10 Wales - TRY! Biggar beats Le Roux in the air to claim his own kick and then passes the ball to Davies who goes over. Biggar boots over the extras.
40’+1 - South Africa 12-13 Wales - DROP GOAL! Biggar with the kick from a scrum to give his side a 13-12 lead.
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Dan Biggar of Wales celebrates kicking a drop goal just before the half time during their Rugby World Cup quarter-final against South Africa at Twickenham in London, United Kingdom October 17, 2015. REUTERS/Eddie Keogh
Image credit: Reuters
52’ – South Africa 15-16 Wales – DROP GOAL! Pollard with a drop goal to reduce the Boks' deficit to one point.
75’ – South Africa 23-19 Wales - TRY! Skipper du Preez dives over in the corner following a scrum after a wonderful off-load from Vermeulen. Pollard misses the kick.
TALKING POINT
How did Wales lose the game? Warren Gatland’s side will be kicking themselves as ill-discipline in breakdowns ultimately cost them a place in the semi-finals. They could have done little about Fourie du Preez’s classy try but conceding a host of penalties in the first half was the main factor. Dan Biggar’s penalties kept getting them out of trouble and they had a four-point lead at one point but the first-half blunders led to their downfall.
TEAMS
WALES: Anscombe, Cuthbert, Morgan, Roberts, North; Biggar, Davies,Jenkins, Baldwin, Lee; Charteris, Wyn Jones; Lydiate, Warburton (capt), Faletau. Replacements: James, Francis, Owens, Tipuric, Hook, Williams, Priestland.
SOUTH AFRICA: le Roux, Pietersen, Kriel, de Allende, Habana, Pollard, du Preez (capt); Mtawarira, du Plessis, Malherbe; de Jager, Etzebeth; Burger, Vermeulen, Louw. Replacements: du Toit, Alberts, Serfontein, Lambie.
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