The Springboks inflicted the worst ever defeat on Wales in Cardiff as they demolished them 73-0, scoring 11 tries in the process to end their November tour in perfect fashion.
But despite the perfect scorecard, a red card for the Boks’ most capped player in history, Eben Etzebeth, was a blight on the incredible performance that the Boks, missing more than a dozen players, put up in the Welsh capital.
Etzebeth’s card came after a off-the ball melee at the end of the game - in the 77th minute - when Etzebeth and Alex Mann clashed in the middle of the field, with replays showing Etzebeth had stuck his finger in Mann’s eye during the clash.
While we never saw what happened preceding that moment, the slow-motion replay was damning enough for referee Luke Ramos to give Etzebeth a permanent red card without hesitation.
From the video evidence it was clear the refereeing team had little choice but to go the permanent red route. It was a disappointing end to the game, especially from the most experienced player in the Springbok set-up.
RED CARD PUT DAMPER ON BIG WIN
Etzebeth is likely to face a big ban for the incident, which is likely to mean he will miss a number of matches for the Sharks in the Champions Cup and perhaps beyond.
The incident took the shine off an incredibly one-sided performance by the Boks -- one which continued Wales’ nightmare at test level and underlined South Africa's status as the best test side in the world by a few miles.
Wales literally had no answer for the Bok power and pace, and conceded 11 tries and probably could have conceded many more if the Boks were a bit more accurate.
This defeat ranks as the largest ever suffered by Wales in Cardiff and the first time in the professional era they have failed to score a point.
The Springbok trophy collection 🥶
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) November 29, 2025
Siya Kolisi and the team celebrated retaining the Prince William Cup in Cardiff after the match 🏆🇿🇦#SSRugby | #QuilterNS pic.twitter.com/usQTjul7vC
As always Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu was classy, scoring two tries and contributing nine conversions for a 28-point haul, but on a night where the Boks only had 24 players in camp, 11 tries will be celebrated as the perfect season-ending romp.
It is hard to say anything positive about the Welsh effort. They were hopelessly outclassed and at one point it looked as if it may plunge towards the depths of 1998 where the Boks were ruthless at Loftus Versfeld and won 96-13, but it thankfully didn’t materialise.
WALES WEREN’T NEGATIVE LIKE IRELAND
To the Welsh credit, while they didn’t really fire a shot, they at least didn’t resort to the negative tactics of Ireland and try to play negatively.
Their scrum was overpowered, but it didn’t cost them cards and, in general, they tried to play positively, but never had the firepower to match the Boks.
It is hard to find a Bok player who played badly on a night like this. But those who stood out were many.
Andre Esterhuizen deserves some incredible praise. His 10 carries went almost 100 metres and more importantly he did damage whenever he got the ball.
He made three telling turnovers as well and was by far the most influential player of the game.
🗣️ "Just happy to be standing here, we worked really hard for the clean sweep!"
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) November 29, 2025
Andre Esterhuizen caps off a sensational season with a Player of the Match performance in Cardiff 🏅#SSRugby | #QuilterNS pic.twitter.com/YeJ1S1zBm3
The Bok scrum was ruthless, totally dominating the set-piece, and the Boks were physically overpowering and had answers whenever Wales had the ball.
It wasn’t surprising that the Boks started strongly and dominated the first scrum. But it was their play in the loose, the pick and goes and the surge forward that led to Gerhard Steenekamp’s first try in test rugby came as early as the eighth minute.
A second Test try for Steenekamp, in his first Test start đź’Ş#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold #WALvRSA pic.twitter.com/tbnQP0j94F
— Springboks (@Springboks) November 29, 2025
They never looked back.
Ethan Hooker scored just afterwards from a scrum move where Damian Willemse - himself a star on the evening - moved the ball just at the right time to the winger for him to have a clear line to the tryline. The defenders never stood a chance.
Hooker's second try for South Africa đź‘Ś#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold #WALvRSA pic.twitter.com/hikkJq7mQh
— Springboks (@Springboks) November 29, 2025
POWER SCRUM
A power scrum delivered a hand on the ball over the line from Jasper Wiese and a big Esterhuizen charge did so much damage that Morne van den Berg added the fourth before halftime.
At 28-0 it looked like the Boks would do more damage, but the Welsh capital clung to hope it wouldn’t be too big.
They were to be wrong as Wilco Louw went over from close range two minutes into the second half and sent Taine Plumtree to the sin bin in the process for a cynical play.
Feinberg-Mngomezulu took the game by the scruff of the neck in the 45th minute, tapped and caught Wales napping, running through without being troubled for his first try.
Luck was also on the Boks’ side - Canan Moodie looked to have spilt a pass only to land on his shin and go forward, with the winger toeing it ahead and pouncing to claim a try 50 metres upfield.
Esterhuizen added his name to the list shortly afterwards for a try celebrated by his teammates before Feinberg-Mngomezulu got his second.
Great work from the photographers in Cardiff 🤝#Springboks #ForeverGreenForeverGold #WALvRSA pic.twitter.com/XimPMZmywG
— Springboks (@Springboks) November 29, 2025
Tries by Ruan Nortje and Etzebeth rounded off the whitewash before the latter saw red.
But while it was a distraction, the scoreline underlined one of the most dominant Bok tours in history and a clear reminder that this team ends the year No 1 in the world by some distance.
One of the 7-1ders of the World Cup ✨💣
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) November 29, 2025
Brilliant sign spotted in the crowd 👏🇿🇦#SSRugby #QuilterNS pic.twitter.com/3afkoukGCg
Scorers
South Africa - tries: Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu (2), Gerhard Steenekamp, Ethan Hooker, Jasper Wiese, Morne van den Berg, Wilco Louw, Canan Moodie, Andre Esterhuizen, Ruan Nortje, Eben Etzebeth. Conversions: Feinberg-Mngomezulu (9).
Wales - none