S Africa 43-17 Wales

Warren Gatland was made to squirm for the first time as Wales coach and admitted his face was as red as his players' jerseys.

The coach who led Wales to the Grand Slam by winning his opening five matches in charge was reduced to the status of mere mortal as he suffered the fresh sensation of defeat.

The Kiwi said: "That was an embarrassing performance. We came here with high expectations but we didn't come anywhere near them.

"We were confident in the Six Nations, but all of a sudden the players with the ball were having a look up wondering, 'Who's going to tackle me?'

"But that's what these occasions are about and we have to learn from them. We must make sure we improve by next week in Pretoria. We need to be a lot more efficient."

Without 10 of the side that savoured World Cup glory last October, the Springboks rarely touched the heights in a scratchy display in Bloemfontein - their first match on home turf as world champions.

But they did not need to be at their best as Wales - shorn of seven of the side that won the Six Nations - discovered that the strength in South African rugby runs deep.

The Boks scored four tries to set alongside a perfect kicking display from fly-half Butch James, who landed 23 points from four conversions and five penalties. Wales trailed 22-10 at the break and looked capable of closing the gap following a superbly worked try for fullback Jamie Roberts just before the interval.

But their improvement at the start of the second half lasted only five minutes and defence coach Shaun Edwards will be furious at the three soft tries the tourists conceded in the second half.

Jean de Villiers and Pierre Spies crossed without too much trouble for the world champions in the second period to add to South Africa's first-half try for Conrad Jantjes. Old wizard Shane Williams lifted Welsh spirits with his 42nd try for his country 14 minutes from the end, but former Newport Dragons star Percy Montgomery had the last word for the Boks.

But Wales had made too many errors to suggest the outcome was ever in doubt.

SOUTH AFRICA WALES

TRIES

Jantjes, de Villiers,

J. Roberts,

Spies, Montgomery

S. Williams

PENALTIES

James 5

S. Jones

CONVERSIONS

James 4

S. Jones, Hook

92 Tackles 70

8 Missed tackles 8

52 Rucks/Mauls won 70

16 Lineouts won 10

1 Lineouts lost 3

8 Scrums won 0

2 Scrums lost 0

9 Pens conceded 10

14 Turnovers con 19

1 Yellow cards 1

0 Red cards 0

ATTENDANCE: 80,000