Wales v South Africa result - Steve Tandy's suffer record home defeat with 73-0 hammering to Springboks

Test Match

Principality Stadium / 29.11.2025

Wales

Finished

South Africa

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18:07

WALES SUFFER WORST-EVER HOME DEFEAT WITH 73-0 DISMANTLING BY SOUTH AFRICA

The Springboks ran riot at the Principality Stadium as they scored 11 tries and condemned Wales to their worst-ever home defeat.

Tries came from Gerhard Steenekamp, Ethan Hooker, Jasper Wiese, Morne van den Berg, Wilco Louw, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2), Canan Moodie, Andre Esterhuizen, Ruan Nortje and Eben Etzebeth.

A late Etzebeth red card marred a fantastic afternoon for South Africa after a TMO review saw him gouge the eye of Wales' Alex Mann.

The scoring began early for the Springboks as Steenekamp and Hooker ran in tries before the 15-minute mark.

Wiese added another try after 31 minutes, while Van den Berg went over to end the first half.

While Wales started fast after the break against the All Blacks, it was South Africa who did this time.

Image credit: Getty Images

Louw, Mngomezulu and Moodie each added a try before the 49th minute.

Mngomezulu added his second in the 63rd minute as he scored 28 points in the game.

Tries from player of the match Esterhuizen and Nortje sealed the win for the visitors.

Etzebeth was dismissed with two minutes to play and is set to face a lengthy ban for his eye-gouge on Mann.

Wales were unable to create a chance for large parts of the game, with the Springbok defense stifling any opportunities they had as they were shut-out at home for the first time since 1967.

18:08

SOUTH AFRICA IRRESISTIBLE AS THEY INFLICT RECORD-BREAKING DEFEAT ON WALES

Watch all of the highlights as the Springboks romped to a 73-0 win against Wales at the Principality Stadium.

17:45

SPRINGBOK CAPTAIN KOLISI SAYS ETZEBETH DIDN'T DO EYE-GOUGE ON PURPOSE

Siya Kolisi has stated after the game that he is sure that his team-mate Etzebeth did not intend to gouge the eye of Wales' Alex Mann.

"I am sure he did not mean to do that on purpose, if you go for an eye gouge, you know what happens after that.

"He has said sorry to the guy already, but I don’t want that to be the highlight of the day, it has been a good day and also for me, listening to what the people have been saying, the only way to get better is to play against the best and I know the first choice guys weren’t here, but this new Wales have got an opportunity, next year when we come here, they have already faced us.

"We have been through this too, 2015, I don’t know how many guys retired, and we went through a dip for two years straight where we struggled as a team and people burnt our jerseys and nobody wanted to watch us, then because Rassie came in, we had a plan.

"The coaching stuff will come up with a plan, but the young boys who played today, they have got experienced of playing against the top."

17:26

WATCH: ESTERHUIZEN SHARES HIS POST-MATCH THOUGHTS

Today's player of the match says his side expected a tough match against Wales.

He said: "Obviously a very tough game to end the tour on, it has been five long weeks but very happy with this win, I am just happy to be standing here and having a clean sweep on this tour, we have worked very hard for it and just happy we got the rewards then."

On South Africa's rotation: "I think whatever team that is picked any week, everybody steps up, everybody knows their role, everything is so cohesive that it doesn’t matter who is playing, everyone trusts each other from 1 to 15 in the squad, so whoever steps in plays well and we play together."

On facing Wales: "When you come to Wales you can always expect a team that never gives up, it is a very tough nation to play against, physically they are always up for it, we knew we had to dig deep for this one and stick to the processes and not let the game get loose."

17:22

ALL SOUTH AFRICAN CHEERS AT FULL-TIME

A tough watch for the home fans today in a record-breaking defeat.

17:16

WHERE DO WALES GO FROM HERE?

It's been a hard year for Wales from a bitterly disappointing Six Nations to this.

It quickly turned into a year based around building for the future and the young side that took to the field today for Wales will have learned a lot from today.

To put this result into context, it has been 58 years since Wales were last shut-out in Cardiff.

That was back in 1967 in a 3-0 loss to Ireland when rugby worked very differently.

17:13

SOUTH AFRICA DISMANTLE WALES

Wow. That was about as one-sided as a rugby match can be.

From the opening minutes in this one, South Africa were dominant. It is the worst-ever home defeat and second heaviest defeat ever for Wales as the Springboks run in 11 tries.

Stick around for all the post-match reaction and analysis.

80'

FULLTIME IN CARDIFF

No. South Africa without Etzebeth manage to turnover the ball and they kick it out to bring this one to an end.

A rout for the Springboks.

79'

A FIERY ENDING

That red card hasn't calmed anything down. A few more scuffles and Wales have a penalty and kick to the corner.

Can they get on the board?

78'

ETZEBETH SENT OFF

That is nasty. Replays clearly show Etzebeth's thumb in Mann's eye.

The replays bring a loud 'ooooo' from the home fans and with little doubt, the South African is sent-off.

Sad way for his year to end and a sour note on a fantastic day for the Springboks.

Image credit: Getty Images

78'

TMO CHECK FOR RED CARD

Well, just as we thought this one might fade out, a scrap begins in the centre of the pitch.

Etzebeth is in the middle of it with Alex Mann. TMO checking an eye-gouge by the South African on Mann.

77'

MAD SCRAMBLE FOR THE BALL

A knock-on by South Africa leads to Wales kicking the ball forwards and a chase begninning. Mee keeps it in on the right and the chase turns goal-bound.

The ball just about bounces out and a 50:22 is given.

75'

TRY! WALES 0-73 SOUTH AFRICA (ETZEBETH 75')

Wales lose possession of the ball at the back of a scrum five metres from their own line. Reinach's tackle to dislodge the ball on Morse was deemed fair by the TMO.

Quick recycling and Eben Etzebeth uses his considerable height to stretch over for South Africa's 11th try.

The conversion is missed, if that's any consolation for Wales.

73'

WALES UTTERLY DOMINATED

In ever aspect, Wales have had one sniff at a try this whole game and that was quickly shut out by the Springbok defence.

South Africa looking for an eleventh try here...

69'

TRY! WALES 0-68 SOUTH AFRICA (NORTJE 69')

Zachary Porthen carries hard to within inches of the line and then lock Ruan Nortje takes it all the way.

Wales' defense is looking extremely tired and who can blame them, they have been run-ragged today.

And by the looks of it South Africa won't be slowing down. TEN tries for the Springboks.

66'

WALES REPLACEMENTS

Keiron Assiratti is back on for an injured Chris Coleman who limps off.

Ben Thomas replaces full-back Blair Murray.

Meanwhile, South Africa win another scrum.

63'

TRY! WALES 0-61 SOUTH AFRICA (MNGOMEZULU 63')

Andre Esterhuizen does the damage from the back of a lineout before Feinberg-Mngomezulu scoops up the ball and slips through.

This is relentless from the Springboks.

The conversion is good too - 26 points today from Mngomezulu alone.

63'

WALES BIGGEST HOME DEFEAT?

It came earlier this year, losing 68-14 to England in the Six Nations.

Wales' biggest ever defeat was 96-13 against South Africa in 1998.

61'

YELLOW TO REMAIN A YELLOW

Luc Ramos has just informed us that Wainwright's yellow card will remain just a yellow as the camera pans to show Wainwright icing his eye injury from earlier.

59'

SOUTH AFRICA SHUT OUT

The Springboks stop Wales brilliantly and win a penalty to alleviate the pressure.

Andre Esterhuizen got on top of the ball at the breakdown - they are tireless.

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