The Springboks started as 30-point favorites and exceeded that in winning 45-12 in Cardiff on Saturday, but their score was not as high as feared by Welsh fans.
A Wales team with far less experience, size, power and X-factor restricted the Springboks to seven tries by making 215 tackles, even though they missed 46.Â
Wales also showed character to keep fighting and end both halves with tries that prevented South Africa from collecting the biggest win by margin against Wales in Cardiff.
Even so, Wales finished a calendar year without a win for the first time since 1937, when they played only three games.
South Africa bookended a sensational post-World Cup year with wins over Wales - 41-13 in June at Twickenham - 11 wins overall in 13 Tests, the two losses by one point each. They also won in Scotland and England this month.
The Springboks started on a tear.
Locks Franco Mostert and Eben Etzebeth - who have 207 caps compared to the entire Wales XV's 214 - galloped over in the first eight minutes.
When wing Kurt-Lee Arendse crossed after big passes from fellow backs Jordan Hendrikse and Aphelele Fassi, the Springboks were 19-0 after 19 minutes.
The Boks then sputtered. Fassi was held up over the line and a Siya Kolisi try was chalked off from a knock-on in the buildup. Etzebeth limped off, only to be replaced by the equally massive RG Snyman.
The visitors got back on track when they shoved back Wales' scrum and forced off tighthead Archie Griffin. Flanker Elrigh Louw then finished Jasper Wiese's tap and go.
With four minutes to go, Wales finally got into the Boks 22 and drew the crowd in the left corner to their feet. The Boks appeared to hold out three consecutive attacking lineouts, including a 14-on-8 maul, but the ball found wing Rio Dyer who glided between two defenders to score in the right corner.
Flyhalf Sam Costelow couldn't convert and didn't return after the break.
The game meandered as both sides cleared their benches, with debuts for Boks flanker Cameron Hanekom and Wales lock Freddie Thomas, and it took a while for the Springboks to get back into gear.
Then tries followed for Fassi from an Arendse break; Gerhard Steenekamp got his first in Test rugby; and Hendrikse, starting with his brother Jaden for the first time, scored after offloads by replacements Handre Pollard and Cobus Reinach.
But right at the death again, Wales flanker James Botham plunged over to cap a standout effort beside Jac Morgan and captain Dewi Lake.
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