Springbok coach Nick Mallett was scathing in his criticism of Wales and branded them as the worst international team he had ever seen after this Test on Saturday. Wales's 96-13 destruction at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria was the biggest defeat ever suffered by one of the eight major rugby-playing nations.
The 15 tries Wales conceded were another record worst as was the 83-point losing margin - both surpassing the 12-try, 63-6 rout of Wales inflicted by Australia in 1991.
The victory achieved by the Springboks was also their best ever.
But caretaker Wales coach Dennis John said afterwards that he would like to be given the job on a permanent basis despite overseeing the heaviest defeat in his country's history.
John, who took over the reins from former Wales coach Kevin Bowring just three weeks before Wales left for the first leg of their tour to Zimbabwe, would like to carry on.
On Saturday, Mallett's contempt for the Welsh challenge was sufficient for him to use all seven of his replacements during a ludicrously one-sided second half.
South Africa led 31-6 at the break but having scored four tries in the opening period.
But Wales were blown away during the first nine minutes of the second half as the Springboks crossed the Welsh line four times including a hat-trick clinching score for Western Province wing Pieter Rossouw.
Wales then managed to stem the tide for a further 10 minutes and even achieved one try themselves through Swansea out-half Arwel Thomas.
But in the final 20 minutes of the Test Wales were routed as few international teams can ever have been before.
South Africa scored seven more tries in that period and the scoreline would have passed the 100-point barrier had replacement hooker Naka Drotske not dropped a pass in the final few seconds.
Scorers: South Africa: Tries - Rossouw (3), Montgomery (2), Terblanche (2), Venter (2), van der Westhuizen, Otto, Smith, Hendricks, Erasmus, Skinstad; Conversions - Montgomery (9); Penalty: Montgomery. Wales: Try: A Thomas; Conversion: A Thomas; Penalties: A Thomas (2).
South Africa: Terblanche, A Snyman, P Muller, P Rossouw; F Smith, J van der Westhuizen; R Kempson, J Dalton, A Garvey, K Otto, M Andrews, J Erasmus, G Teichmann (captain), A Venter. Replacements: B Skinstad for Andrews (42 mins); H Honniball for Muller (44 mins); W Swanpoel for van der Westhuizen (44 mins); M Hendricks for Terblanche (49 mins); A Aitken for Teichmann (61 mins); N Drotske for Dalton (66 mins); O le Roux for Garvey (66 mins). Wales: B Hayward; D James, M Taylor, J Funnell, G Evans; A Thomas, P John; M Griffiths, B Williams, J Davies, I Gough, A Moore, N Thomas, C Charvis, K Jones (captain). Replacements: D Williams for Hayward (48 mins); S Jones for Funnell (50 mins) D Llewellyn for P John (79 mins); G Jenkins for B Williams (66 mins); D Morris for Davies (60 mins); G Lewis for Charvis (71 mins); C Wyatt for Jones. Referee: P O'Brien (New Zealand).
