CARDIFF, Wales — The reigning world champions, South Africa, marked an impressive achievement by completing their first undefeated rugby tour of Europe in over a decade. On Saturday, they faced Wales and secured a convincing 45-12 victory, extending Wales’ losing streak to a record 12 matches.

The Springboks entered the match as heavy favorites, predicted to win by 30 points, and they surpassed these expectations. However, the final score did not reach the feared heights envisioned by Welsh supporters. The Welsh squad, although lacking in experience, size, and overall prowess compared to their opponents, demonstrated remarkable resilience. They made an impressive 215 tackles, despite missing 46, which enabled them to limit the number of tries scored against them.

Wales showcased their determination by fighting until the end, managing to score tries at the conclusion of both halves. This effort prevented South Africa from achieving the largest victory margin against Wales in Cardiff’s history. Nonetheless, this match marked a disappointing milestone for Wales as they wrapped up the year without a single victory, a first since 1937 when they only played three matches.

South Africa’s year was remarkable, featuring a total of 11 wins from 13 tests, with their two losses both coming by a mere point. They rounded off their post-World Cup campaign with notable victories against Wales in both June and November, as well as triumphs over Scotland and England earlier this month.