Summary

  • Wales thump South Africa in Cardiff in WXV Global Series opener

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  • Wales end nine-game Test losing streak in spectacular fashion

  • Courtney Keight and Sisilia Tuipulotu score early Wales tries before Felicia Jacobs responds

  • Seren Lockwood scores third Welsh try inside opening quarter as South Africa's Lindelwa Gwala is yellow-carded, then Maisie Davies crosses for another Welsh try

  • Kelsey Jones and Lisa Neumann also go over in first half, with Danelle Lochner the second South Africa player shown yellow as Wales lead 38-5 at break

  • Lochner's yellow, for a high tackle on Kate Williams, upgraded to 20-minute red card at half-time

  • Tuipulotu powers over for her second try early in second period before Springboks rally with tries from Maria Tshiremba and Maceala Samboya

  • Alex Callender crosses to seal memorable win as Wales reach 50 points

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  1. Lions watchpublished at 20:13 BST 18 September

    HT: Wales 38-5 South Africa

    Ceri Coleman-Phillips
    BBC Sport Wales rugby reporter at Cardiff Arms Park

    Jo Yapp, the British and Irish Lions Women's head coach, is right here in front of me.

    It's very likely most of her touring squad to New Zealand next year will be made up of England's World Cup stars, but Wales' players have done their cause no harm here tonight.

  2. Postpublished at 20:12 BST 18 September

    HT: Wales 38-5 South Africa

    Dyddgu Morgan-Hywel
    Former Wales full-back on BBC One Wales

    All of the back line has stepped up tonight. Keira Bevan, when at 10, set the tempo and the combination between backs and forwards has worked so well.

  3. Tuipulotu powers overpublished at 20:11 BST 18 September

    HT: Wales 38-5 South Africa

    Media caption,

    Tuipulotu powers over after great handling

    Sisilia Tuipulotu gets Wales' second try against South Africa after great Georgia Evans handling.

  4. 'Impressive 40 from Wales'published at 20:09 BST 18 September

    HT: Wales 38-5 South Africa

    Siwan Lillicrap
    Former Wales captain on BBC One Wales

    I don’t think anyone expected this, but I’m so pleased that everything Wales has been working on has clicked.

    Everyone involved with the Wales setup has wanted this for a while, and I hope that this is the start of something.

    Sean Lynn has spoken about wanting a full 80-minute performance, but that was an impressive first 40.

  5. Postpublished at 20:08 BST 18 September

    HT: Wales 38-5 South Africa

    About an hour until you get to read Ceri's match report of a Welsh Test win, something she hasn't had the delight of doing since the victory in Australia in the summer of 2025!

    Wales scored eight tries when beating Spain in 2024, but you would hope they'll go beyond that figure in the second half.

  6. Postpublished at 20:05 BST 18 September

    HT Wales 38-5 South Africa

    Ceri Coleman-Phillips
    BBC Sport Wales rugby reporter at Cardiff Arms Park

    I don't often need a second page to write down Wales' try scorers!

    All the stat geeks on the press desk are now going through the archives to find out the last time Wales scored six tries.

    That will be one happy dressing room at half-time.

  7. Half-timepublished at 20:04 BST 18 September

    Wales 38-5 South Africa

    Wales will be ending their nine-Test losing streak, of that there is no doubt.

    A sensational first half to provide so much hope for what is to come.

    Six tries, so much slick play and a lovely balance of enterprise and power.

  8. converted try

    Converted try: Wales 38-5 South Africapublished at 37 mins

    Lisa Neumann (con: Freya Bell)

    Lisa Neumann goes overImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

    Slick and sparkling. Six tries.

    Wales with a try made through hard graft at their Vale Resort headquarters.

    A scrum in the middle is worked right for full-back Lisa Neumann to go over from Lleucu George's pass after more good work by Keira Bevan.

    Wonderful, clinical stuff and Bell adds the extras.

  9. Postpublished at 36 mins

    Wales 31-5 South Africa

    Philippa Tuttiett
    Former Wales international on BBC One Wales

    Catha Jacobs of South Africa is tackled by Courtney Keight and Freya Bell of WalesImage source, Getty Images

    These players are stars at their clubs. They stand out, but it has not clicked at the international level before tonight.

    This is the first time we have seen all of those impressive players doing their brilliant thing as a team.

  10. Sin-binpublished at 35 mins

    Wales 31-5 South Africa

    Wales go quickly again from a penalty and stress the South Africa defence again to earn another penalty, this time a high tackle.

    Referee Goldsmith wants a look at it on the big screen.

    It's shoulder to the head of Kate Williams. It's direct contact to the head and lock Danelle Lochner could have been lower.

    The Harlequins lock is sent for an off-field review.

    That could very well be a 20-minute red card.

  11. 'Everything is clicking'published at 34 mins

    Wales 31-5 South Africa

    Siwan Lillicrap
    Former Wales captain on BBC One Wales

    This has been a brilliant start from Wales. They are clinical when they get into the 22. The forwards are coming into play; the backs are executing.

    Everyone seems to be on the same page. Everything is clicking. They are on target, and it’s nice to see Wales's cohesiveness this evening.

  12. try

    Try: Wales 31-5 South Africapublished at 32 mins

    Kelsey Jones

    Freya Bell is absolutely smashed on a short line by Aphiwe Ngwevu but retains possession.

    Wales stay calm and hooker Kelsey Jones goes over with another powerful carry.

    South Africa are coming up short in defence and Wales are being ruthless.

    That's a lovely statement after a tough few years.

  13. Postpublished at 31 mins

    Wales 26-5 South Africa

    Break in play while Wales scrum-half Seren Lockwood gets treatment for what looks like a head injury made while making a tackle.

    South Africa were then penalised, so the hosts will hunt a fifth try when play resumes.

    Lockwood walks off the pitch, presumably for an HIA.

    That leads to Lleucu George coming on and Keira Bevan slotting back to scrum-half.

  14. Postpublished at 31 mins

    Wales 26-5 South Africa

    Philippa Tuttiett
    Former Wales international on BBC One Wales

    You can’t fault Keira Bevan so far. There was one speculative blindside pass when she could have put boot to the ball, but for her first international start at fly-half, I think she has looked absolutely brilliant.

  15. Postpublished at 29 mins

    Wales 26-5 South Africa

    Wales have been slick, South Africa have been a bit sloppy.

    Ayanda Malinga with a powerful carry down the left but the visitors fail to capitalise with some inaccurate passing leading to the attack fizzling out.

    They opt for a chip kick but Amy Williams covers it.

  16. 'Wales are on fire'published at 28 mins

    Wales 26-5 South Africa

    Caryl James
    Former Wales wing on BBC Radio Cymru

    Wales are capitalising on the situations that present themselves, something we haven’t been able to say in recent times.

    They have started on fire this evening, and hopefully it will continue.

  17. Postpublished at 27 mins

    Wales 26-5 South Africa

    Philippa Tuttiett
    Former Wales international on BBC One Wales

    From a South African viewpoint, every player was going for the ball in an attempt to stop Maisie Davies.

    Someone needed to go for the legs. Because they didn't, Davies just kept going to cross the white line.

  18. Postpublished at 27 mins

    Wales 26-5 South Africa

    Ceri Coleman-Phillips
    BBC Sport Wales rugby reporter at Cardiff Arms Park

    South Africa win a line-outImage source, Getty Images

    Oh my days.

    As someone who has covered Wales for the past 10 years, this is one of the most positive starts I have ever seen.

    They are playing with so much tempo, so much intent, so much confidence.

    They do not look like a team that hasn't won a Test in 14 months.

  19. converted try

    Converted try: Wales 26-5 South Africapublished at 24 mins

    Maisie Davies (con: Freya Bell)

    Maisie Davies of Wales powers over to scoreImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

    Wales are going at a point a minute!

    A first international try for impressive loose-head prop Maisie Davies, who shows power to rival her propping pal Tuipulotu to go over from close range, spinning out of tackles.

    Bell adds the extras.

  20. Wales profiting in wide areaspublished at 24 mins

    Wales 19-5 South Africa

    Caryl James
    Former Wales wing on BBC Radio Cymru

    That’s another brilliant try from Wales. Seren Lockwood gets over the line after some slick passing. Wales need to keep getting the ball into these wide areas.