Wales kicked off their 2000 international season with a tough encounter in the heat of Pretoria with a physical and determined South Africa. The Rhinos, buoyed by a partisan crowd, were on the charge inside the first minute with the lightning fast wing Brian Best latching onto a kick from stand-off Van Wyk. Indeed Wales trailed for most of the first quarter, sloppy handling seeing them fail to convert a number of chances created for them by Iestyn Harris.

Mick Jenkins darted over from dummy-half after 18 mins and Harris goaled to take a lead which Wales were never to surrender. They increased their lead before the half hour with winger Sterling darting through the defenders for Wales' second.

The first half and indeed the game was mainly characterised by an array of big hits between the two packs, and it was Wales' forwards who made the breakthroughs, Jenkins and Busby crossing with Harris' immaculate conversions seeing Wales to a comfortable 24-8 half time lead.

South Africa emerged with a fierce spirit and it took some committed tackling to keep the Welsh line intact as Queensland-based hooker Sean Skelton and skipper Jamie Bloem orchestrated their side on a series of assaults on the opposition defence.

But inevitably it fell to Harris to break the tension. Throughout he was the stand out

world class player on the park, and with 56 min on the clock he stepped through the line and raced half the length of the field to score the settling try.

30-8 down the Rhinos' huge efforts in the earlier part of the game began to tell and the Welsh forwards seized a control of possession which gave Harris the freedom to weave his magic. Wingers Chris Smith and Wes Davies registered their first international tries before Best struck again to restore some respectability to the scoreline.

The game finished 40-12 and though Wales were always favourites to win the game they had been given a fair examination by the proud and determined Rhinos. Clive Griffiths verdict was "just what we wanted before the World Cup". There was little over a week before the real business started…

Wales 40 (t: Jenkins 2, Sterling, Busby, Harris, C Smith, W Davies; g: Harris 6)

South Africa: Venter; Johnson, Best, Barnard, Dames; Van Wyk, Bloem ©; Powell, Skelton, Booysens; De Villiers, Mulder; Rutgerson (Interchange - O'Shea, Webb, Erasmus, Hurter, Louw, Nel)

Wales: Atcheson; Sterling, Critchley,Tassell, Sullivan; Harris ©, Briers; Anthony Farrell, Jenkins, Carvell; Morgan, P Highton; Busby (Interchange - Eaton, O'Hare, C Smith, Whittle, C Morley, W Davies, Watson)