[imagesource:here]

Long before Gareth Anscombe slotted a last-gasp conversion to put Wales ahead in the second test against the Springboks, we knew we would have a close game on our hands.

Head coach Jacques Nienaber made 14 changes to the team which (just) won the first test and we were light on leadership in the home stretch. A number of uncharacteristic mistakes in the final 15 minutes, which we headed into with a 12-3 lead, saw the Boks suffer their first-ever home defeat to Wales.

We go again on Saturday at the Cape Town Stadium and I think we’ll see a fired-up home side desperate to take the series win.

Let’s turn our attention elsewhere, though, and a few tries you might have missed. Early on Saturday morning, before we watched Ireland stun the All Blacks and England down the Wallabies, Japan took on France.

The home side scored two superb tries, both via fullback Ryohei Yamanaka (above), and were unlucky to end up losing 20-15 in Tokyo.

🔥 pic.twitter.com/tZLsx7XcuU

— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) July 9, 2022

Yamanaka’s second try was even more impressive:

That offload by centre Shogo Nakano!

Hooker Atsushi Sakate keeps the ball alive too. pic.twitter.com/M4qO6zGCwN

— Murray Kinsella (@Murray_Kinsella) July 9, 2022

Sadly, the French rallied in the second half and Baptiste Couilloud’s try 10 minutes from the end helped secure a win which takes them to the top of the rugby world rankings.

Our loss means we drop to third, with Ireland climbing to second after their win in Dunedin. Had the Irish won by 16 points, and not just the 11 due to Will Jordan’s late try for the home team, they would have been top.

For the third try, we head to Georgia where the home side secured their first-ever win over Italy. They beat Italy 28-19 in Batumi, on the Black Sea coast, which included a great grubber through from scrumhalf Vasil Lobzhanidze for winger Aleksander Todua to dot down.

The try can be seen from the 30-second mark:

Full marks to the commentators for their passion.

Still some way to go before they can rival our isiXhosa broadcasters.

Saturday, 5:05PM kickoff, we want to see no mercy.