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Rugby Union

White leaves with Wales win

24/11/2007

Jake White saw his South Africa side beat Wales 34-12 in Cardiff in his final match in charge of the world champions.

White will step down before the tourists take on the Barbarians at Twickenham next weekend and was given a rousing send-off by his players.

Wales initially took the upper hand as the Springboks struggled to a slow start in their first outing since their final victory in Paris last month.

James Hook's prodigious kicking from hand kept the visitors pinned back in the opening 20 minutes but despite their superiority in possession and territory in the opening stages the Dragons could not prise an opening and were soon made to pay.

A Francois Steyn penalty had been the only difference between the sides before a sweeping move took South Africa from one end to the other and culminated with flanker Juan Smith plunging over for the game's first try.

A fluffed penalty from Hook kept White's side ten points clear and their lead grew through two tries in three minutes from Jacques Fourie.

Large holes suddenly appeared in the Welsh defence as the centre enjoyed the freedom of the Millennium Stadium to nudge the score on to 22-0.

Colin Charvis clawed back some of the deficit with a try on the brink of half-time after debutant full-back Morgan Stoddart collected his own chip ahead and was hauled down just short of the line.

However an explosive break from speedster Bryan Habana tore the home backline to shreds shortly after the restart and fellow winger JP Pietersen was on hand to cruise over and restore a comfortable cushion.

Stoddart marked an impressive debut with a try after gathering Hook's cross-field kick, but South Africa had more than enough experience to keep the Welsh attacks at bay for the rest of the game and a Ryan Kankowski try secured the inaugural Prince William Cup.