Wales run in eight tries to thrash South Africa and end winless run

Wales ended nine Tests without a win in emphatic fashion, beating South Africa 50-19 at Cardiff Arms Park on Friday 18 September in the WXV Global Series.

It was done by half-time. Wales led 38-5 at the break and finished with eight tries. The result was reported by BBC Sport.

The win carried extra weight. South Africa arrived ranked three places above Wales, who were 13th in the world. Wales had won six of the previous eight meetings between the sides, but their last victory had come five years earlier.

This was also the opener for the second weekend of the WXV Global Series in Cardiff, the global women's international competition, according to World Rugby. Wales played like a team determined to set the tone.

Courtney Keight scored the opening try. Prop Sisilia Tuipulotu, a front-row forward, added two. Seren Lockwood, Maisie Davies, Kelsey Jones, full-back Lisa Neumann and Alex Callender completed the set.

A try is worth five points for touching the ball down over the line. Freya Bell added five conversions, the kicked extras worth two points each after a try. Davies had special reason to celebrate. Her score was her first international try.

South Africa replied with three tries of their own. Felicia Jacobs, Maria Tshiremba and Maceala Samboya all crossed, with Dolf kicking two conversions.

Discipline hurt the visitors. Hooker Lindelwa Gwala, the forward who throws into the lineout, was sin-binned for offside and spent 10 minutes off the field. Lock Danelle Lochner was then sin-binned for a high tackle on Kate Williams. That was later upgraded to a 20-minute red card, meaning South Africa were a player down permanently but could bring on a replacement after 20 minutes.

Wales had to reshuffle too. Lockwood did not return after a head injury assessment, the sideline check used when a head knock is suspected. Lleucu George came on at fly-half, the playmaker who directs the attack from No. 10, and Keira Bevan moved back to scrum-half, the passer who feeds the ball from rucks and scrums. Bevan had started the match at fly-half after switching positions.

Callender was named player of the match on her return from injury. She capped her night with Wales' final try.

What makes this stand out is the control. Wales kept their shape, moved the ball quickly and punished every South African error. For fans, this means momentum at last after a long, winless stretch.