Springboks gear up for Ireland series with win v Wales

World champions South Africa warmed up for next month's Test series against Ireland with a 41-13 win against Wales at Twickenham, but needed two late tries to put a battling Welsh side to bed.

Despite conceding two tries and collecting two yellow cards during the opening 15 minutes, Warren Gatland's Wales defied most pre-match odds by making it a contest for the opening hour, before late tries from Bongi Mbonambi and Edwill van der Merwe saw the Springboks end any chance of an upset.

Wales’ list of absentees – players either injured, unavailable or rested – ran comfortably into double figures and they were widely expected to suffer a crushing defeat.

But they trailed only 14-13 at half-time following a try for captain Dewi Lake, with out-half Sam Costelow adding two penalties and a conversion.

The Springboks, who are building for a two-Test series against Ireland in a fortnihht, often struggled to impose themselves on a first outing since retaining the World Cup eight months ago, although Rassie Erasmus' side never looked in any major danger of a shock defeat.

There were touchdowns for centre Jesse Kriel, wings Makazole Mapimpi and Van der Merwe and hooker Mbonambi, plus a penalty try, while debutant number 10 Jordan Hendrikse kicked a penalty and two conversions, before Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu added a penalty and two conversions.

South Africa ultimately scored 27 second-half points without reply, yet Wales will take a considerable amount of confidence with them on tour to Australia despite suffering a seventh successive defeat since beating World Cup pool opponents Georgia.

Hendrikse missed an early penalty chance for South Africa but the Springboks went ahead after just four minutes when they shredded Wales’ defence through