The Springboks kicked off their 2024 campaign with a commanding 41-13 victory over Wales at a sunny Twickenham in London on Saturday, hinting at a fresh attacking approach for the upcoming Rugby World Cup cycle.
South Africa demonstrated a renewed eagerness to move the ball swiftly with short, quick passes between backs and forwards, resulting directly in two of their five tries. This performance showcased promising signs of an evolving game plan under their coaching staff.
The match also marked the debut of several new players, including flyhalves Jordan Hendrikse and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, winger Edwill van der Merwe, and loose forward Ben-Jason Dixon.
Hendrikse, despite a nervy start missing an easy penalty, recovered to land three out of four kicks, while Feinberg-Mngomezulu impressed with a flawless kicking record including a successful long-range effort from 53 meters.
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Van der Merwe capped off his debut with a remarkable try under the posts, demonstrating exceptional footwork and pace to evade defenders from 40 meters out.
Though the Springboks faced early season challenges and occasional lapses in precision, they rallied strongly after halftime, shutting out Wales entirely while scoring 27 unanswered points. Starting brightly with a 14-3 lead within the first 12 minutes, they weathered a brief Welsh resurgence before dominating proceedings in the second half.
The Boks’ relentless pressure and efficient handling saw them add three tries after the break, with the likes of Makazole Mapimpi crossing over and Bongi Mbonambi scoring from a rolling maul. Feinberg-Mngomezulu further extended their lead with a penalty kick, while their defensive efforts kept Wales at bay, limiting their scoring opportunities.
