South Africa have maintained their winning dominance over Wales with a brutal 24-15 victory based on a suffocating blanket defence and an unerring knack of doing the basics well.

The Springboks scored three tries through captain Jean de Villiers, Bismarck du Plessis and Fourie du Preez, fly-half Morne Steyn bagging two conversions and a penalty, and Pat Lambie also hitting a conversion.

Wales had just five Leigh Halfpenny penalties to their credit, meaning that under coach Warren Gatland they have now lost 21 of their 22 Test matches against southern hemisphere giants New Zealand, South Africa and Australia, the exception a 21-18 win over Australia in 2008.

Their sole victory over South Africa, in 27 internationals stretching back 107 years, came back in 1999.

“We were more clinical than Wales, but not happy with the performance,” said de Villiers.

“It was all a bit iffy – there’s a lot of work to do before next week’s match (at Twickenham against England).”

Wales skipper Sam Warburton admitted it had been a frustrating outing.

“We had the belief that we could win but it was not to be,” he said.

“At 15-17 in the second half, we were in control but one loose pass and we got punished badly. You make one little mistake against these teams and you pay the price.”

The match at the Millennium Stadium was one of attrition, notably in the first-half when a series of high-impact collisions saw Wales forced into three replacements and South Africa one.

But for all of Wales’ endeavour, they could not breach a Springbok line led superbly by lock Eben Etzebeth and hooker Du Plessis, the pair also instrumental in their side’s effective driving maul and disruptive line-out play.