The World Champions South Africa against a full strength Wales side had the potential to be an extremely painful experience for the men in Red. However, with the home side missing thirteen players who ply their club rugby trade outside the country defeat, and a very large one, was almost a certainty.

When you also take into account injuries to talisman Jac Morgan and hat trick hero Tom Rogers the word daunting does not even come close to describing the task that loomed ahead.

There was certainly a case for this match to be cancelled on health and safety grounds after the Springboks put 32 points on a supremely talented French side, saw off Italy, and destroyed the Irish scrum in Dublin.

As the match in Cardiff took place outside the official autumn international test window, the English clubs (and Montpellier) had full protective custody of their charges, depriving Wales of the few world-class performers they have at their disposal in these lean times.

A crowd of 50,112 masochistic individuals turned up to watch, I would normally say more in hope than expectation but on this occasion there was very little, if any, hope or expectation, although trepidation was in plentiful supply.

A Wales defeat by 73 points to Nil was what we feared, but the manner of the loss was hard to swallow. Conceding eleven tries and not scoring a single point made it a humiliating experience.

The value of a match like this can be regarded a success solely in financial terms for the governing body. A depleted home side being used as cannon fodder against the best team in the world will have done nothing for squad morale, or indeed any limited optimism for the upcoming Guinness Six Nations.

So putting to one side the annihilation and humiliation of Saturday’s result how do we assess the Autumn programme from Wales point of view ?

In the opening game against Argentina there were some positive signs, but in a 50+ points defeat they tend to come into the clutching at straws category.

The match against Japan was in effect a knock out game with priority seeding for the 2027 Rugby World Cup the reward for the victor.

A match that just a few years ago would have been used as an opportunity for Wales to play their second string outfit was filled with jeopardy, nervousness and foreboding.

As it turned out Wales produced a dreadful performance that earned them a last minute victory such are the vagaries of sport.

Of course one swallow doesn’t make an Autumn and just a week later that swallow turned into a giant gulp when the All Blacks came to town. Smarting from defeat to England they put 50 points on Wales but there were encouraging signs in defeat, particularly in attack where Wales managed to score 4 tries.

And finally to last Saturday when our worst fears were realised. Having earlier making the excuses for Wales and their absentees, in the interest of balance it is worth noting that South Africa were without World Rugby Men’s Player of the year Malcolm Marx, Thomas du Toit, Boan Venter, Lood de Jager (who was still serving a suspension for a dangerous tackle), RG Snyman, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Grant Williams, Handre Pollard, Manie Libbok, Jesse Kriel, Cheslin Kolbe, and Edwill van der Merwe, who had all returned to their provincial unions and clubs.

Next up for Wales are England at Twickenham on February 7th part of the opening weekend of the 2026 Guinness Six Nations. The ‘hymns and arias’ are in cold storage and have been for quite some time, but perhaps the ‘long and winding road’ would now be a more appropriate musical accompaniment as things stand.

Autumn is turning to Winter and there are some bitter days ahead for the game in Wales. As the cold dark nights descend, the game at all levels is on a precipice.

In meteorological and sporting terms it is worth remembering that after the longest night the sun always returns and even the toughest winter ends in spring.

But for now in Wales the total eclipse continues, let us hope 2026 provides a few shafts of light.