Wales 15 South Africa 24 match report: Wales fail once again to beat South Africa Wales once again fell short of the southern hemisphere scalp they craved as South Africa claimed victory at the Millennium Stadium. Tries from Jean de Villiers, Bismarck du Plessis and Fourie du Preez, seven points from Morne Steyn and a conversion from Pat Lambie were enough to see off the Six Nations champions. Wales, who were hit by first-half injuries to Jonathan Davies, Liam Williams, Adam Jones and Scott Andrews, registered five penalties from Leigh Halfpenny but it was not enough. Wales were looking to record just their second win over South Africa and underline their 2015 World Cup credentials at the Millennium Stadium. The hosts had 10 of the summer's British and Irish Lions contingent among their starting line-up while centre Scott Williams came in for the injured Jamie Roberts and Liam Williams started on the wing after Eli Walker's hamstring strain. Centre Jaque Fourie made his first appearance for South Africa since the 2011 World Cup and there was also a recall for winger JP Pietersen. Tighthead prop Frans Malherbe made his Test debut in the front row. Wales were fast out of the blocks with Jonathan Davies making ground from a wildly misdirected Mike Phillips pass, and the pressure forced an early penalty opportunity which Leigh Halfpenny duly converted. South Africa responded immediately through Morne Steyn's boot before Davies' strong start continued as he again broke through the Springbok midfield to help give Halfpenny another easy penalty and allow the Cardiff Blues man to reach 300 points for his country. But the home side were cut to ribbons seconds later when Bryan Habana sliced though and linked with hooker Bismarck de Plessis to send skipper Jean de Villiers over, with Steyn converting. Wales were dealt a further blow as Davies and Williams were forced off having been hurt in the build-up to the try, with James Hook and Ashley Beck summoned from the bench. They fell further behind just before the end of the first quarter as Du Plessis finished off a controlled rolling maul, with Steyn again converting for an 11-point lead. Steyn was then forced off by injury himself as the brutal nature of the contest took a toll, with Willie le Roux his replacement. Halfpenny trimmed the deficit with his third penalty before Bradley Davies' charge in midfield sparked a period of sustained Welsh pressure which was ended by a knock on from Alun Wyn Jones. Hopes of a comeback were further dented when the substantial figure of Adam Jones was helped to the sidelines, with Scott Andrews filling the tighthead spot. But Halfpenny's fourth penalty kept Wales in touch at the interval, with South Africa then going down to 14 for 10 minutes after Francois Louw needlessly drove his forearm into Richard Hibbard's face. Wales, who were now on their third tighthead prop of the game as Scott Andrews was replaced by Paul James, had two promising attacking positions early in the second half but a scrappy rolling maul and a mis-throw saw them spurned. But they cut South Africa's lead to two points thanks to another Halfpenny penalty, this time after South Africa prop Frans Malherbe was penalised for collapsing a scrum. Another collapse saw referee Alain Rolland send Coonie Oosthuizen and Gethin Jenkins to the bin, before Tendai Mtawarira blew a wonderful chance for South Africa as he knocked on with the line at his mercy.