Wales slump to record defeat against South Africa

Hooker Malcolm Marx got South Africa rolling with the first of their tries in Cardiff

World champions South Africa produced an eight-try demolition of an experimental and inexperienced Wales in a World Cup warm-up game in Cardiff.

Sam Costelow kicked three Wales penalties, while hooker Sam Parry scored a late consolation try.

Wales coach Warren Gatland names his 33-man World Cup squad on Monday.

It was a chastening record defeat for the humbled hosts in Cardiff against South Africa, as the Springboks proved the predictable step-up from the England double-header Wales had previously faced this month.

It was also the first time Wales have conceded 50 points under the head coach tenure of Gatland, who has claimed his side will do something special at the World Cup.

Gatland will now take Wales to France with a joint all-time low world ranking of 10th as they open the campaign against Fiji on 10 September in Bordeaux, before further group games against Portugal, Georgia and Australia.

Wales' starting side against South Africa had only 235 caps with the hosts losing the experience of British and Irish Lions trio Alex Cuthbert (calf), Dan Biggar (back), and Liam Williams (hamstring), the trio having pulled out of the starting line-up as "precautionary measures".

In contrast, there were 659 caps in South Africa's line-up featuring the likes of Cheslin Kolbe, Damian de Allende and fit again captain Siya Kolisi.

The Springboks skipper went off at half-time after coming through his return. Kolisi has spent the last four months on the sidelines because of a knee injury.

South Africa now head to Twickenham to face New Zealand next Friday in their final warm-up match.

More to follow.

Wales: C Evans; Rogers, Grady, J Williams, Dyer; Costelow, Hardy; Domachowski, Dee, Assiratti, Carter, Rowlands, Lydiate, Morgan (capt), Wainwright.

Replacements: Parry, N Smith, H Thomas, Teddy Williams, Basham, Tomos Williams, Llewellyn, Rees-Zammit.

South Africa: Le Roux; Moodie, Kriel, de Allende, Kolbe; Libbok, J Hendrikse; Kitshoff, Marx, Malherbe, Kleyn, Snyman, Kolisi (capt), du Toit, Wiese.

Replacements: Mbonambi, Nche, Koch, Mostert, van Staden, Vermeulen, G Williams, Willemse.

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU).

Assistant referees: Chris Busby (IRFU) and Eoghan Cross (IRFU)

TMO: Joy Neville (IRFU)

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