South Africa v Wales winners and losers as Pivac earns respite and personal horror show unfolds

Wales’ latest defeat to South Africa was one that will live long in the memory of supporters from both nations.

It was a match full of twists and turns and, as ever, there was good, bad, and a fair bit of ugly.

So who were the winners and losers at Loftus Versfeld? Try these for size.

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Making your senior international debut is one thing, doing it against a world champion Springbok team at altitude is a different prospect entirely.

So take a bow Tommy Reffell.

Initial match stats suggested the 23-year-old Leicester Tigers flanker had made 15 tackles, which said it all about his industriousness and work ethic.

One crucial turnover on Jasper Wiese in the first half stands out because it stymied a South African attack which was looking likely to yield a try.

But that was just a snapshot of a hugely productive and mature performance for someone getting a first taste of the Test arena.

Another quality back row player rolls off a permanently fruitful Welsh conveyor belt.

When you are the head coach you take the flak in defeat and vice versa.

This was not actually a victory, but, as perverse at it may sound, it felt like one.

Pivac has presided over just 11 wins in 28 matches since taking over from Warren Gatland after the 2019 World Cup.

That’s not good enough by some margin and only a fool would consider his slate to be wiped clean by this.

Furthermore, you wonder just how critical the influence of his lieutenants Stephen Jones and Gethin Jenkins was to this turnaround. Both of those have so much experience of fronting up to South Africa in their own back yard.

Yet Pivac is the main man, and this has the potential to be a turning point.

The New Zealander has