Wales 0-73 South Africa: Head coach Steve Tandy ‘stung’ by ‘raw’ record home defeat

While the post-match video debrief by Tandy and his staff will underline the huge gulf between Wales and the world champions, serious questions will be asked as to why the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) arranged this fixture in the first place.

Wales were forced to field a weakened side minus their 13 England and France-based players with the match falling outside World Rugby’s official Test window.

The game was also played on the same weekend as Ospreys, Scarlets, Dragons and Cardiff were involved in games in the United Rugby Championship (URC)

Wales were forced to field a weakened side minus their 13 England and France-based players with the match falling outside World Rugby’s official Test window.

Tandy refused to blame the fixture scheduling for Wales’ 21st international defeat in 23 matches.

“The fixture is the fixture, you can’t change that,” said Tandy.

“I knew when I got the job, this fixture was in place. We need games of rugby as a nation that wants to get better.

“It was another opportunity to work with a different group.

“We had to bring people in and it wasn’t perfect circumstances, but you learn about people in these times.

“I’m not going to sit here and throw stones because ultimately it’s my job to coach the team. We need more games to get to where we want.”