As it was as yet unfinished, the crowd was limited to 27,500. It was a first ever win for Wales against South Africa in 13 meetings, Wales having notched up 11 defeats and a draw against the Springboks. Mark Taylor, who had played in the 96-13 defeat in Pretoria the previous summer, scored the first try at the Millennium Stadium.
The win took Graham Henry’s side to their sixth win in succession and the roars sounded like 100,000. Craig Quinnell left with a broken thumb, yet Wales were only seriously tested during a second-half spell of pressure by South Africa.
The visitors tried two different half-back combinations, changing them after the interval, but the Welsh front-row were on top of their opponents and both Brett Sinkinson and Neil Jenkins had fine matches.
It was 19-6 at half-time and when Jenkins sent Gareth Thomas over for his 19th try in 35 matches, it was a certain win, even though Percy Montgomery raced past Shane Howarth for a .late score.
FOUR YEARS AGO TODAY
26 June, 1999 WALES 29 SOUTH AFRICA 19
Millennium Stadium
Wales; S Howarth; G Thomas, A Bateman, M Taylor, D James; N Jenkins, R Howley (capt);
P Rogers (A Lewis), G Jenkins (J Humphreys), D Young, C Quinnell (M Voyle), C Wyatt,
C Charvis, S Quinnell, B Sinkinson.
Scorers – Tries: M Taylor, G Thomas. Cons: N Jenkins 2. Pens: N Jenkins 5.
South Africa; P Montgomery; S Terblanche, P Muller, J Mulder, P Rossouw; B van Straaten
(G du Toit), W Swanepoel (D von Hoesslin); R Kempson (O le Roux), A Drotske, C Visagie, S Boome (A Venter), K Otto. C Krige, G Teichmann (capt), J Erasmus.
Scorers – Tries: W Swanepoel, P Montgomery. Pens: B van Straaten 2, G du Toit.
Referee: E Morrison (England).
