The world champions South Africa were too strong for their Six Nations counterparts Wales at the Millennium Stadium this afternoon - although the champions of Europe made them work hard with a spirited comeback.

Substitute fly-half James Hook kicked four second-half penalties as Wales recovered from 20-3 adrift. but centre Jean de Villiers' try - he intercepted a Hook pass - ultimately saw South Africa home.

Wing Leigh Halfpenny also kicked a penalty for Wales, but de Villiers and his fellow centre Adrian Jacobs scored tries for the visitors - with Ruan Pienaar slotting 10 points in South Africa's 10th successive victory over Wales.

Wales went into battle without star centre Gavin Henson. His withdrawal less than 24 hours before kick-off because of an Achilles problem meant a late call-up for experienced Cardiff Blues centre Tom Shanklin, who was partnered by Jamie Roberts in midfield.

Wales boss Warren Gatland handed Test debuts to Shanklin's Blues colleagues, wing Leigh Halfpenny and No8 Andy Powell, while prop Adam Jones won his 50th cap.

South Africa paraded eight of their 2007 World Cup final team, which included a positional switch from hooker to tighthead prop for captain John Smit, as the Springboks targeted a 10th successive victory over Wales.

Lions head coach Ian McGeechan and manager Gerald Davies were among a capacity crowd, assessing both nations for next summer's South Africa tour, as Jones prepared to lead Wales out under a closed stadium roof.

Wales had high hopes against a Springboks side who finished bottom in this season's Tri-Nations tournament. But the visitors stunned Wales with a 10-point burst inside the opening nine minutes.

Wales full-back Lee Byrne was subjected to several early tests in defence, which he successfully coped with, but South Africa were merely softening up their opponents. They went ahead after six minutes following superb approach work by back-row pair Pierre Spies and Schalk Burger that disrupted Wales defensively, enabling skipper Smit to launch an initial charge before centre Adrian Jacobs touched down.

Fly-half Ruan Pienaar converted, then slotted a 35-metre penalty to leave Wales already in danger of chasing the game. Wales were not noticably rocked by making such a poor start though, and they enjoyed a spell of territorial dominance, yet South Africa continued to look by far the more dangerous side with ball in hand.

Debutant Powell finally broke through South Africa's first line of defence - it took Wales 21 minutes to make considerable gain-line headway - but referee Alain Rolland then penalised the home team.

Fly-half Stephen Jones sent a 24th-minute penalty chance wide, and with South Africa enjoying the cushion of a 10-point advantage, Wales could not exert a consistent foothold. But they finally opened their account 11 minutes before the break - and from an unlikely source.

With Jones receiving treatment after being on the receiving end of a hefty Springboks challenge, Halfpenny stepped up to nervelessly boot a 35-metre penalty and give his team a timely lift.

Wales though, should have fallen further behind when South Africa again attempted to cut them open from deep. Pienaar appeared to have done all the hard work, but as he dived over the line he lost possession under pressure from Shanklin and a lively Halfpenny.

Pienaar then restored South Africa's 10-point advantage with a second successful penalty, before Halfpenny narrowly missed a long-range effort.

South Africa made an early change in the second half, replacing lock Bakkies Botha with Andries Bekker, and it was Wales who made the initial running.

Halfpenny, performing with a maturity way beyond his years, set up a thrilling counter-attack that sent Shanklin sprinting inside South Africa's 22 before the Springboks cleared.

Wales, despite their deficit, still had an attacking spark about them, but they needed to string together an error-free passage of play. South Africa's defence also had a wall-like quality about it, which not even Shane Williams' dancing feet could surmount.

Wales' confidence continued to grow though, and Byrne's incisive break almost freed Halfpenny, who was tackled by J P Pietersen, but it sparked another Springboks substitution as Ryan Kankowski replaced Spies.

There was much more organisation about Wales in the second period, and coach Warren Gatland teed up the closing 30 minutes by sending on replacement half-backs Dwayne Peel and James Hook.

But Hook's first touch proved catastrophic from a Welsh perspective, as his intended pass to Roberts drifted straight to Springboks centre Jean de Villiers, who sprinted over from 55 metres. Pienaar converted, then Hook kicked a penalty, but Wales still trailed 20-6 with barely a quarter of the match remaining.

A second Hook penalty reduced the gap to 11 points, and Wales sensed they could claw their way back.

That optimism increased with 18 minutes left, after Springboks substitute Jaque Fourie was sin-binned for killing possession. Hook kicked the resulting penalty, and Wales knew they had to make a temporary one-man advantage count as South Africa displayed increasing signs of frustration.

A bloodied Smit then left the action to be replaced by Brian Mujati, and Wales found themselves engaged in a prolonged period of defending as South Africa kept possession at close quarters.

Another Hook penalty, which bounced over off the post, made it 20-15 - setting up a frenzied final seven minutes. It was all Wales, as they camped inside South Africa's 22 looking for a foothold to launch a try-scoring attack.

They had to remain patient, but South Africa called on all their experience - they were also helped by a Byrne defensive blunder - to stay ahead.