The Welsh rugby season concluded with a disheartening 43-0 defeat against the Springboks in Durban, marking Wales' ninth defeat in 12 Tests under head coach Steve Tandy. This loss highlighted the struggles faced throughout the season, despite a promising start with a 39-21 victory over Fiji in Cardiff.

Traveling nearly 20,000 miles for two matches, Wales' hopes for revival were dashed by consecutive defeats, including a prior loss to Argentina. The match against South Africa showcased the stark gap between the two teams, as the number one ranked Springboks overwhelmed the Welsh side, who currently sit 11th in world rankings.

Key observations from the match include:

• The Springboks dominated, showcasing their strength and depth, with notable absences from their top players failing to impact the outcome.
• Wales struggled to find their footing, managing to score no points for the second consecutive game against South Africa, contributing to an aggregate score of 116-0 over the last two fixtures.
• Former Wales hooker Scott Baldwin expressed disappointment, noting that the team appeared to have regressed since their last encounter with South Africa.

Tandy, however, remains optimistic about the season’s learnings, emphasizing the importance of facing top-tier teams to foster growth. Although Wales finished the season higher in the rankings compared to when Tandy took over, their victories came against lower-ranked teams.

Looking ahead, Wales aims to close the gap as the Nations Championship resumes in November with crucial matches against Japan, New Zealand, and Australia. Selection challenges persist, particularly in the midfield, as discussions about the ideal player combinations continue among analysts and former players.

Rassie Erasmus, the Springboks' coach, offered a glimmer of hope for Wales, suggesting that a significant victory could reignite belief within the team and its supporters. As the team prepares for future challenges, the journey towards improvement remains a priority.