Twenty-odd years ago a match between these two countries might have been for rugby's world title but times have changed and even the winners were not making any bold claims after the Springboks weathered a fine Welsh start for an ultimately comfortable victory, taking the try count 5-2 here on Saturday.

Steve Hansen, Wales's brutally down-to-earth Kiwi coach, was satisfied that his side had earned the Springboks' respect. The home side, led by a third new coach in as many seasons in Rudolf Straeuli, talked of crawling before learning to walk before thinking of running.

So fifth beat ninth on the unofficial world rankings - a small earthquake but these days a win is a win for the Springboks, who have had only 50% success rate over the last two seasons, and this one over a Six Nations side was eagerly grasped.

Wales for their part have kept a low profile on this two-Test tour and seem intent on getting in and out while suffering as little embarrassment as possible as they start their own rebuilding under Hansen.

He could be happy with the back-row work of his 21-year-old new cap Michael Owen - Wales's 1,000th international - and his side's defensive organisation. They also scored the try of the match from first-phase possession when Wales's outstanding player, the left-wing Craig Morgan, popped up on the right to slide outside two tacklers.

The fly-half Stephen Jones added a penalty to take Wales 8-0 ahead after the first quarter but any Springbok jitters were soon calmed by a black player who may well be a legend in the making.

The diminutive Johannes "Bolla" Conradie, a 24-year-old Western Province scrum-half from the tough ghettoes of Cape Town, took a quick tap penalty to set up a try for Marius Joubert.

Conradie, a George Gregan lookalike and one of five black players in a new-look 22, had a major hand in two more tries and could torment Wales again in Cape Town next Saturday.

South Africa: Loubscher (Russell, 45); Terblanche, Joubert, Snyman (Jacobs, 72), Paulse; Pretorius, Conradie; Human, Dalton (Le Roux, 69), Meyer (Rautenbach, 56), Labuschagne, Matfield, Britz (Van Niekerk, 61), Venter, Skinstad (capt).

Tries : Joubert, Skinstad, Matfield, pen try , Rautenbach. Cons : Pretorius 3. Pen : Pretorius.

Wales: K Morgan; R Williams, Taylor, Marinos (Shanklin, 71), C Morgan; Jones (Jenkins, 76), Peel; Thomas, McBryde, Evans (Davies, 76), Llewellyn (Sidoli, 60), S Williams, Owen, M Williams (Parks, 60), Charvis (capt).

Tries : C Morgan, R Williams. Pen : S Jones 2. Drop goal : S Jones.

Referee : K Deaker (New Zealand).