The South Africa Springboks kicked off their 2024 campaign with a resounding 41-13 victory over Wales at a sunlit Twickenham in London on Saturday, hinting at a new attacking approach for the next Rugby World Cup cycle.
The Springboks showcased an eagerness to move the ball with quick, short passes between backs and forwards, directly resulting in two of their five tries. This performance provided promising evidence of an evolving game plan under the current coaching regime.
There was also a notable evolution in playing personnel, with four players making their debuts: flyhalves Jordan Hendrikse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, wing Edwill van der Merwe, and loose forward Ben-Jason Dixon.
Among the debutants, Hendrikse managed three out of four kicks at goal after initially missing an easy first shot, while Feinberg-Mngomezulu impressed with a successful 53-metre attempt, finishing with three out of three.
Van der Merwe had a standout moment with a sensational try from 40 metres out, evading two tacklers before surging under the crossbar.
Despite some early-season teething troubles, the Springboks’ coaching staff could be satisfied with the overall performance, especially after the team shook off second-quarter imprecision to keep Wales scoreless in the second half. The Boks added three tries, scoring 27 unanswered points after halftime.
The match started in sparkling fashion for the Springboks, who were 14-3 up within 12 minutes. Hendrikse missed a straightforward penalty in the second minute but quickly redeemed himself.
No 8 Evan Roos gathered the drop-goal restart, and the ball was swiftly moved to the left wing, culminating in a try by centre Jesse Kriel, assisted by Makazole Mapimpi.
Hendrikse converted, and although Welsh flyhalf Sam Costelow briefly interrupted the momentum with a penalty, the Boks continued their aggressive play.
Roos made a 45-metre break down the centre, leading to a yellow card for Welsh wing Rio Dyer for offside play. Shortly after, Welsh eighthman Aaron Wainwright was also sin-binned for collapsing a rolling maul, resulting in a penalty try for the Boks, who took a 14-3 lead.
Wales capitalized on some Springbok errors and penalties, with Costelow adding two penalties and a conversion after Dewi Lake scored from a lineout, narrowing the gap to 14-13 at halftime.
The second half, however, belonged entirely to South Africa. Swift hands and precise passing led to Mapimpi scoring in the corner shortly after the break. Hendrikse’s conversion and a penalty stretched the lead to 24-13.
Roos was held up over the line before being replaced by Jason-Dixon as coach Rassie Erasmus utilized his bench effectively.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu landed a long-range penalty, and replacement hooker Bongi Mbonambi scored from a rolling maul, making it 34-13. Van der Merwe capped his debut with an outstanding try, showcasing smart footwork and pace.
As the final whistle blew, the Springboks were pushing for a sixth try against a fatigued Welsh side. This dominant performance set a positive tone for South Africa’s 2024 season, with the new attacking approach and fresh talent offering a glimpse of a promising future for the team.
