DEBUTANT WING JACO Williams scored a try and created another as South Africa thumped Wales 43-0 on Saturday to reclaim first place in the Nations Championship southern hemisphere standings.
Despite the wide winning margin in Durban, it was not a vintage performance by the Rugby World Cup title-holders, who committed numerous handling errors and conceded a string of penalties in the first half.
South Africa began the match needing a bonus-point win by at least 14 points to overtake New Zealand on points difference, after the All Blacks beat Ireland 40-21 in Auckland earlier.
That objective was achieved 40 seconds into the second half at Kings Park when a break by lock Cobus Wiese set up Williams to go over in the corner.
South Africa and New Zealand have a maximum 15 points each in the southern hemisphere table with the Springboks ahead on points difference.
Fly-half Vusi Moyo was another of four debutants. After a nervy start, the 20-year-old settled to kick three conversions from four attempts and show promise in front of a 40,000 crowd.
South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus rang the changes early in the second half with Manie Libbok taking over as playmaker from Moyo.
Wales barely left their half before the break and did well to restrict the home team to tries from No. 8 Jasper Wiese, scrum-half Cobus Reinach and outside centre Jesse Kriel.
After Williams struck, Wales enjoyed a spell deep in Springbok territory, but could not penetrate an excellent defence.
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Replacement scrum-half Herschel Jantjies scored a fifth try for South Africa, then Wales substitute prop Ben Warren was yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle.
South Africa kept pressing in the closing stages and wing Kurt-Lee Arendse and flanker Paul de Villiers crossed the tryline. Libbok succeeded with one of his three conversion kicks.
*****
Scotland 33
Fiji 17
SCOTLAND SURVIVED A scare from Fiji as Jamie Dobie came off the bench to inspire a 33-17 victory in the Nations Championship in Edinburgh on Saturday.
Gregor Townsend’s much-changed side were in danger of a shock defeat after falling 17-7 behind at the interval.
But Scotland stormed back in the second half to avoid a major embarrassment at Murrayfield, clinching a bonus-point win.
Dobie scored two tries after the break to spark Scotland’s revival, while fellow replacements Pierre Schoeman and Scott Cummings also crossed over.
The Scots’ escape act secured their second win from three matches in the new tournament.
They defeated Argentina 47-38 in their opener before losing 42-28 in South Africa last weekend.
Scotland will resume their Nations Championship campaign in November with matches against New Zealand, Australia and Japan.
“Fiji played really well, we knew they would, I felt they picked their strongest side today and it took a lot of work for us to break them down,” Townsend said.
“We changed the team. That was always the plan. We want to build more depth.
“I thought our bench did really well. Something I’ve learnt over the last 12 months, the bench can help you change momentum.”
Townsend’s decision to make 14 changes looked like coming back to bite him as Fiji dominated the first half.
Jonny Gray’s close-range try and George Horne’s conversion gave Scotland an early lead, but Fiji were unfazed.
Tevita Ikanivere touched down following a maul to cap an immediate response from Fiji, who struck again through Selestino Ravutaumada’s sensational effort.
Taking possession wide on the flank, Ravutaumada kicked ahead and recovered the ball before racing away to score.
Elia Canakaivata pounced on the loose ball after a break down and jumped over the line for another Fiji try, with Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula adding the conversion.
But Scotland were revived by Townsend’s switches in the second half.
Playing with renewed intensity, they battered Fiji into submission as the visitors gradually faded.
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South Africa thump Wales as Scotland survive Fiji scare in Nations Championship
LAST UPDATE | 58 mins ago
South Africa 43
Wales 0
DEBUTANT WING JACO Williams scored a try and created another as South Africa thumped Wales 43-0 on Saturday to reclaim first place in the Nations Championship southern hemisphere standings.
Despite the wide winning margin in Durban, it was not a vintage performance by the Rugby World Cup title-holders, who committed numerous handling errors and conceded a string of penalties in the first half.
South Africa began the match needing a bonus-point win by at least 14 points to overtake New Zealand on points difference, after the All Blacks beat Ireland 40-21 in Auckland earlier.
That objective was achieved 40 seconds into the second half at Kings Park when a break by lock Cobus Wiese set up Williams to go over in the corner.
South Africa and New Zealand have a maximum 15 points each in the southern hemisphere table with the Springboks ahead on points difference.
Fly-half Vusi Moyo was another of four debutants. After a nervy start, the 20-year-old settled to kick three conversions from four attempts and show promise in front of a 40,000 crowd.
South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus rang the changes early in the second half with Manie Libbok taking over as playmaker from Moyo.
Wales barely left their half before the break and did well to restrict the home team to tries from No. 8 Jasper Wiese, scrum-half Cobus Reinach and outside centre Jesse Kriel.
After Williams struck, Wales enjoyed a spell deep in Springbok territory, but could not penetrate an excellent defence.
Replacement scrum-half Herschel Jantjies scored a fifth try for South Africa, then Wales substitute prop Ben Warren was yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle.
South Africa kept pressing in the closing stages and wing Kurt-Lee Arendse and flanker Paul de Villiers crossed the tryline. Libbok succeeded with one of his three conversion kicks.
*****
Scotland 33
Fiji 17
SCOTLAND SURVIVED A scare from Fiji as Jamie Dobie came off the bench to inspire a 33-17 victory in the Nations Championship in Edinburgh on Saturday.
Gregor Townsend’s much-changed side were in danger of a shock defeat after falling 17-7 behind at the interval.
But Scotland stormed back in the second half to avoid a major embarrassment at Murrayfield, clinching a bonus-point win.
Dobie scored two tries after the break to spark Scotland’s revival, while fellow replacements Pierre Schoeman and Scott Cummings also crossed over.
The Scots’ escape act secured their second win from three matches in the new tournament.
They defeated Argentina 47-38 in their opener before losing 42-28 in South Africa last weekend.
Scotland will resume their Nations Championship campaign in November with matches against New Zealand, Australia and Japan.
“Fiji played really well, we knew they would, I felt they picked their strongest side today and it took a lot of work for us to break them down,” Townsend said.
“We changed the team. That was always the plan. We want to build more depth.
Townsend’s decision to make 14 changes looked like coming back to bite him as Fiji dominated the first half.
Jonny Gray’s close-range try and George Horne’s conversion gave Scotland an early lead, but Fiji were unfazed.
Tevita Ikanivere touched down following a maul to cap an immediate response from Fiji, who struck again through Selestino Ravutaumada’s sensational effort.
Taking possession wide on the flank, Ravutaumada kicked ahead and recovered the ball before racing away to score.
Elia Canakaivata pounced on the loose ball after a break down and jumped over the line for another Fiji try, with Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula adding the conversion.
But Scotland were revived by Townsend’s switches in the second half.
Playing with renewed intensity, they battered Fiji into submission as the visitors gradually faded.
– © AFP 2026
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