Wales have come a long way in the 11 months for which Warren Gatland has been in charge but after winning the grand slam in March the New Zealander no longer sees the need to massage his charges with emollient words. The coach let rip on Saturday after they blew the chance to beat the World Cup holders, who were anything but champion.

The prospect a year ago of Wales holding South Africa to a five-point defeat was fanciful. They had failed to make the quarter-finals of the World Cup, sacked yet another coach and were trying to convince Gatland that he would not be wasting his time moving from Waikato. The Springboks were planning a tour to parade the Webb Ellis Cup. On Saturday the gap between the two had closed so much that, one crucial characteristic aside, only the colour of their jerseys marked them apart.

While Wales matched South Africa physically their decision making, especially under pressure, was suspect. Their kicking game in the first half should have been modified to allow for the two defenders positioned deep but it took an interval team-talk for the ball to be put into space. When Wales did break the line they were unable to make the telling pass.

Gatland was unable to disguise his fury afterwards and told his players to be angry at an opportunity lost. Wales have only twice beaten a major southern hemisphere nation in the last 21 years and, for all the advances they have made in strength and durability, on Saturday the Springboks had the mental fortitude to absorb pressure and take most of their few chances. They led by 10 points after eight minutes and 20-3 in the third quarter but again showed the fallibility at the breakdown that undermined their Tri-Nations campaign.

The referee, Alain Rolland, eventually lost patience and the final nine penalties of the game were awarded to Wales. The International Rugby Board, in its meddlesome way, had prefaced the autumn internationals with a reminder to officials to observe the summer directive for zero-tolerance at the breakdown, to enhance the impact of the experimental law variations being trialled this season. The effect on Saturday, as it has been in club rugby, was to turn a large part of the game into a dreary punt exchange, like two football sides playing a long-ball game, apprehensive of taking risks in their own half and conceding a penalty at the breakdown. The ambition Wales showed when they won the 2005 grand slam, running the ball from everywhere, has been replaced by caution; South Africa's back play has become disjointed. Their most dangerous man, Bryan Habana, is a virtual spectator. And all this is in the name of entertainment?

A side-effect of the IRB's directive is that match officials miss other offences. South Africa were regularly penalised at the breakdown but Wales got away with stepping up offside. The home side's best counter-attack came in the second half after the impressive debutant wing Leigh Halfpenny forced a turnover just inside his own half. The Springboks defended their line but the prop Adam Jones went a couple of yards offside in midfield.

The South Africa captain, John Smit, said: "Referees are under strict instructions from the IRB at the ruck but players would like to see simpler things highlighted, such as offside, to improve the quality of the game and not make it negative."

Wales struggled to get their back three into the game. Lee Byrne made two cleverly angled breaks and Halfpenny played with an assurance beyond his 19 years but Shane Williams was closed down early. The kicking game meant that the outcome hinged on a few plays. South Africa's first try, five minutes in, followed a garryowen which JP Pietersen claimed from Williams and their second came from James Hook's first touch of the ball. Wales had worked space on the right but the second-row Ian Evans found himself at scrum-half and took a step too many before passing. Hook carried on with the move and his pass floated into the hands of Jean de Villiers.

Wales dominated the final 20 minutes but had to rely on penalties as Victor Matfield messed up two lineouts. "We should have won but lacked a cutting edge," said the No8, Andy Powell. "I still think we can beat New Zealand in two weeks."

South Africa flew to Scotland yesterday, unsure of the fitness of the second row Bakkies Botha, who saw a specialist after receiving a finger in his eye. If the citing officer, Peter Larter, today decides the injury was the result of foul play, it will be another one in the eye for Wales.

Wales Byrne (Ospreys); Halfpenny, Shanklin, Roberts (all Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Scarlets; Hook, Ospreys, 52), Cooper (Gloucester; Peel, Sale, 52); Jenkins (Blues), Rees (Scarlets), A Jones, A-W Jones (both Ospreys), Evans (Ospreys; Gough, Ospreys, 66), R Jones (Ospreys, capt), M Williams, Powell (both Blues).

Pens Hook 4, Halfpenny.

South Africa Jantjes (Western Province); Pietersen (Sharks), Jacobs (Sharks; Steyn, Sharks, 60), De Villiers (WP), Habana (Blue Bulls; Fourie, Lions, 62); Pienaar (Sharks), Du Preez (Blue Bulls; Januarie, WP, 62); Mtawarira (Sharks; Steenkamp, Blue Bulls, 79), Du Plessis (Sharks), Smit (Sharks; Mujati, WP, 71), Botha (Blue Bulls; Bekker, WP, h-t), Matfield (Blue Bulls), Burger (WP), Smith (Free State), Spies (Blue Bulls; Kankowski, Sharks, 51).

Tries Jacobs, De Villiers. Cons Pienaar 2. Pens Pienaar 2.

Sin-bin Fourie 64.

Referee A Rolland (Ireland). Attendance 74,119.

Man of the match: Andy Powell

The Wales No8 looked anything but a debutant as he battered South Africa with several leg-pumping bursts

Best moment A charge from a ruck inside his own half on 20 minutes which took him into the South Africa 22, only for support players to squander his gain

The autumn ahead

Friday

Wales v Canada Millennium Stadium, 7.30pm

Saturday

England v Australia Twickenham, 2.30pm; Ireland v New Zealand Croke Park, 5.15pm; Scotland v South Africa Murrayfield, 2.30pm

Saturday Nov 22

England v South Africa Twickenham, 2.30pm; Ireland v Argentina Croke Park, 2.45pm; Scotland v Canada Pittodrie, 2.45pm

Saturday Nov 29

England v New Zealand Twickenham, 2.30pm; Wales v Australia Millennium Stadium, 2.30pm