South Africa score an astonishing late try to leave the hungry Welsh beaten but unbroken in an exhausting Rugby World Cup quarter-finalFour points down,30 seconds to play, and Wales deep in their own 22. Almost the pitch’s length away from the South African line. A penalty. They tap and disappear. One final attack from this indefatigable Welsh team. On rushes Rhys Priestland, and on rushes Jamie Roberts,on rushes George North. Over time, out of time, and a turnover,game over. Wales marvellous from first to final, beaten, and but unbroken. Their players all around now down on the ground,most propping themselves up on hands and knees, mouths open, or eyes closed. apart from one,Sam Warburton, standing tall, or already shaking hands with the South Africans,the captain’s first thought in defeat the desire to congratulate the team that beat him.
Twickenham was coloured more green than red, even though plenty of Englishmen and women had come in their British and Lions jerseys. It seems the South Africans, and more confident than the Welsh that their team would make it to here,had bought up more than their share of the tickets a long time back. Thousands all around, filling the width of Whitton Road, and the air so thick with the choking smoke from the pop-up back-garden braais that the remarkable stadium was lost from view. “Smells like domestic.” All these burly cocksure Boks,snaffling biltong and boerewors, snapping off bottle tops and swigging their beer. Barely a doubt between them. The Welsh were outnumbered, and those there looked and sounded a little nervous. Until kick-off. Then they came to life.
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Source: theguardian.com