Smit relieved as world champions scrape home

South Africa captain John Smit was a relieved man after his side squeezed out Wales 17-16 in their opening Pool D match at Wellington Regional Stadium, scoring two tries to one.

Behind 16-10 at the 64-minute mark, the defending world champions shunned a kickable penalty goal to kick for the line and press for a try.

Their enterprise was rewarded a minute later when replacement back Francois Hougaard took advantage of a tiring Wales defence to storm through a gap and dive triumphantly under the posts for what turned out to be the winning try.

"We're happy to get off the mark like that (with a win)," said South Africa captain John Smit.

"Wales played well and kept us in our half so we didn't get the chance to play much. But when when had our chance (to score a try) we took it."

Things could have been different had a penalty from Welsh full-back James Hook been awarded when it looked as if it had curled inside the right-hand post, but was waved away by referee Wayne Barnes.

That would have made the score 7-6 after 15 minutes, but it remained 7-3 and South Africa immediately went down the park and were awarded a penalty, which Morné Steyn converted take it to 10-3.

Gatland philosophical

Wales coach Warren Gatland was philosophical about the kick that was not awarded.

"I thought it was interesting at half-time when we went in the tunnel and we were saying we thought the kick was over and Frans Steyn said, 'Yeah, I thought it was over as well'.

"That's the drama of sport. That's why we're all involved in it. You take the good with the bad and that penalty was potentially costly, but we missed a drop goal and a penalty.

"Good sides take disappointment on the chin and they face up next week."

South Africa had played the match at a territorial and possessional disadvantage, as Wales scrapped and fought for every ball. The Springboks' normally reliable kicking game often gifted easy possession straight back to Wales, who ran it bravely back into the teeth of the brutal South Africa defence.

Their hard running was rewarded when number 8 Toby Faletau twice busted the otherwise solid Springbok defensive line and also bagged himself a try with another strong run.