[b] Wales’ dejected players stand rooted to the spot, like they do when they’ve just helplessly watched a ball sail through the posts that consigns them to defeat.
Not Dan Biggar, though. He marches towards the tunnel without so much as glancing at anyone. A member of the Welsh bench moves towards him, as if to stop him heading straight to the sheds, an act that would not go down well with the game’s purists.
To his credit, it is not his style. He stops on his own esteem and waits for the rest of his team-mates to form a tunnel to clap the victorious Springboks from the field.
Meanwhile, referee Nika Amashukeli, who is cutting his teeth on the Test scene, has walked away from where the players are shaking hands in the Welsh half. He retreats to halfway and walks behind a backdrop that has been erected for TV interviews and down the tunnel, flanked by two members of security. He doesn’t glance at the players, let alone shake their hands.
It wasn’t quite a repeat of Craig Joubert at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, but it was of that ilk. He had just given four yellow cards and a penalty try against Wales, allowing the game to spiral out of control as flare-ups took place off the ball.
In front of 52,000 baying Springbok fans, watching their heroes play in the flesh for the first time since they became world champions, the Georgian official lost control.
If emotions were high in the stands, they were rocketing within both camps. Wales were storming into Pretoria with a point to prove to the world after being dismissed by all comers. They raced into an 18-3 half time lead but there were more storms to weather.
Bongi Mbonambi scored soon after the break and the tide was flowing the way of the hosts. Biggar had just been penalised after gathering a high ball and the stadium was shaking to its foundations. Welsh players looked shell-shocked.
Talisman Alun Wyn Jones, who had been sitting in a tiny blue chair, unbefitting his giant frame, in his role as replacement sensed a spark was needed.
South Africa v Wales winners and losers as Pivac earns respite and personal horror show unfoldswalesonline
Dan Biggar of Wales remonstrates with the referee at the end of the match
Everything that happened as South Africa v 12-man Wales descended into utter chaos in final 15 minuteswalesonline
He raged towards the edge of the technical area and bellowed words of encouragement, trying to liven his team-mates up. He stormed back to that tiny blue chair like a caged animal. With that, team manager Martyn Williams tapped him on the shoulder and told him he was about to take the field.
Just after Wales had steadied the ship and Biggar had booted them back out to a four-points, Faf de Klerk turned the visitors with a kick in behind.
Liam Williams was there covering it as the ball trickled dead just before Makazole Mapimpi raced onto it. Fans reacted to the passage and Williams responded by tapping his chest and puffing his cheeks towards the crowd as if to say: “Thanks goodness for that.”
It didn’t go down too well with the 100 or so fans in the first few rows, who responded by erupting in boos and flipping their middle fingers in the direction of the Welshman.
Things got a little ugly 11 minutes from time and again it began with a Springbok kick. This time George North was covering across begging the ball to trundle over the dead ball line but he had to ground it over his own try line just before Kolbe pounced.
Williams and Kolbe then squared up for a brief moment, when a fan on the far side saw fit to lob an empty beer cup in the direction of the two Welshmen. Fortunately, it missed its target but the intentions were ugly.
The game spiralled out of control as we entered the final 10 minutes, with things kicking off all over the field. As the referee was dithering over a decision to sin bin Louis Rees-Zammit, Biggar was on other side of the field apoplectic about something, remonstrating with the touch judge when Kolbe meandered over with a few choice words.
The pair squared up and Kolbe gestured his head sharply in Biggar’s direction. There was never an intent to headbutt but to startle the Welshman. He did not flinch and the pair were nose to nose.
Then came the final, heartbreaking passage for red jerseys. When Biggar was adjudged to have deliberately knocked down a pass, Springbok replacement Willie le Roux got right in the Welshman’s face and screamed with delight. Moments later, Damian Willemse, with ice in his veins, clipped over the winning penalty.
....
Ignore below!!!!!
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Wales refute psychological issues in South Africa after regional drubbings
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