Rugby round-up:South Africa used the boot of outhalf Morne Steyn and tremendous resolve in defence to beat New Zealand 18-5 in their Tri-Nations test at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth.
Although the All Blacks scored the only try of the match through centre Richard Kahui and threatened the Springboks line several times, they could not overcome the tenacious scrambling defence of the world champions nor the boot of Steyn, who kicked five penalties and a drop goal.
The All Blacks spread the ball much more than the Springboks, but a committed defensive effort and intensity at the breakdowns meant South Africa eventually suffocated the visitors.
South Africa's defiant last stand, having lost their three previous Tri-Nations matches to ensure they finish bottom of the table, means they will travel to the World Cup with some confidence restored.
Seasoned players such as Steyn, whose only fault with the boot was a missed drop goal, wing Bryan Habana, and centre Jaque Fourie performed superbly to suggest they will still be a force at the World Cup.
Wales concluded their summer Test schedule by recording a comfortable 28-13 victory over Argentina at the Millennium Stadium.
Much of Wales’ early play was disjointed and littered with errors, but they ruthlessly took their scoring chances and outhalf James Hook made another composed goal-kicking contribution.
Number eight Andy Powell pressed a late claim for inclusion in coach Warren Gatland’s 30-man World Cup squad by scoring Wales’ opening try just before half-time.
Lock Alun-Wyn Jones then followed suit 90 seconds later, giving Wales a healthy advantage that they never looked like losing, before wing George North touched down seven minutes from time.
Hook slotted two conversions and three penalties, while his opposite number Felipe Contepomi replied with a penalty double and conversion of substitute prop Martin Scelzo’s late try.
Both sides though will need to find at least another gear before their World Cup openers against South Africa and England respectively.
Gatland will welcome back several of his big guns for that Springboks clash in Wellington on September 11th - the likes of Shane Williams, Mike Phillips and Sam Warburton - and they will head to New Zealand following a strong August showing.
They beat England and Argentina on home soil after outscoring England on tries during a narrow defeat at Twickenham, and there were mercifully no fresh injuries to trouble Gatland.
He has already lost Gavin Henson, Matthew Rees and Morgan Stoddart from his World Cup plans, while the likes of Gethin Jenkins, Ryan Jones, Stephen Jones and Rhys Priestland have been nursing various ailments.
But Wales appeared to emerge unscathed from a largely disappointing encounter, while Argentina offered little to suggest they will revisit the heights of their last World Cup campaign when they finished third after beating France twice.
Scotland warmed up with a second win in two by defeating Italy 23-12 at Murrayfield.
Alasdair Dickinson scored his first Test try following Max Evans’s mazy run after 10 minutes as Scotland made a promising start ahead of Monday’s squad announcement. But Italy responded after 24 minutes with a score from Tommaso Benvenuti, converted by Mirco Bergamasco.
Dan Parks, who finished with 13 points, kept Scotland in front with his boot, before Italy scored a second try early in the second half through Fabio Sementazo to cut the deficit.
However, Mike Blair claimed an opportunist score early in the second half and Scotland held on for victory marred by a knee injury to Nikki Walker which saw the replacement wing taken off on a stretcher with three minutes remaining.
The victory meant Scotland claimed a 100 per cent record from their two warm-up matches following the 10-6 win over Ireland a fortnight ago.
