A hat-trick from hooker Carys Phillips on her long awaited return to Test match rugby proved key as Wales won their second match of the Autumn with a 29-19 win over South Africa at Cardiff Arms Park.
The hooker had been out of action for over 700 days prior to this match, and her return inspired Wales in an excellent forwards performance.
She went over the line first for Wales, scoring off the back of a driving maul after just six minutes, with Wales putting considerable early pressure on the Springbok defence.
Wales continued to be dominant in the opening exchanges, and scrum-half Ffion Lewis found herself diving under the sticks to double Wales’ lead.
Captain Siwan Lillicrap picked off the back of a dominant Welsh scrum and handed it to Lewis who walked it in for a try under the posts.
Elinor Snowsill was excellent off the tee for Wales and the Bristol Bears fly-half converted both tries to make the lead 14 points after 15 minutes.
Snowsill then knocked over a penalty to extend that lead to 17 points, with Wales spending almost the entire first half an hour in the South Africa 22.
When the Sprinboks did eventually get into Welsh territory, Lillicrap was there to turn it over, with Wales’ captain putting in an inspired performance for her side.
The half-time whistle came to much happiness from the impressive Welsh crowd at the Arms Park, with Ioan Cunningham’s side 17-0 up.
Phillips then crossed the line for a second time ten minutes into the second half, again on the back off the maul, putting Wales in an unassailable 22-0 position.
Nomawethu Mabenge scored a marvellous try for the Springboks, which briefly threatened a comeback, but the Welsh forwards soon regained control.
Some stubborn defence from South Africa kept Wales out for a considerable amount of time, but eventually Wales were able to penetrate their defence, with Phillips crashing over for her hat-trick try after several phases on the Springboks line.
Zintle Mpupha then crossed the line in the try of the match, with the South African’s again going off the back of the scrum this time inside their own 22 and working the ball wide, before Mpupha took the inside path and crossed under the Welsh posts unopposed.
South Africa then crossed the line for a third time in the final play of the game, with yet another fantastic backs try, this time with Libbie Janse van Rensburg crossing in the corner, but in the end, Wales were too strong despite a late rally from the away side.
Wales will face Canada next week, looking to go for a clean sweep this Autumn, although the World number three side will represent a massive challenge.
