With 15 minutes left at Loftus Versfeld, Wales lead by nine points. It's not as decisive a lead as it had been previously, when the world champions trailed 18-3 at the break.
But, despite the Springboks turning the tide, a first Welsh victory on South African soil is on the cards after a remarkable hour from Wayne Pivac's men. However, it wasn't to be - with a frantic final 15 minutes seeing Wales reduced to 12 at one point, rallying to nearly scrape a draw and then once again falling at the final hurdle in heart-breaking fashion.
Here's just how those crazy final moments played out in Pretoria...
Read more: Wales suffer agony in Test match for the ages as excruciating turning point sees history slip away
64:54 - Cheslin Kolbe latches onto Damian de Allende’s kick through to score in the corner, reducing the lead to two points after Damian Willemse’s touchline conversion.
66:35 - Alun Wyn Jones trudges off the pitch after being yellow carded amid utter confusion. It's not clear what he's done but he appears to be paying the price for one offside too many from Wales in the build-up to Kolbe’s try. There’s more chaos to come, with Jones nearly refusing to leave the field before it becomes apparent it was in fact a yellow card.
67:19 - Wales restart through Dan Biggar, with his kick-off finding Jasper Wiese. He runs into the superlative Will Rowlands, with Faf de Klerk clearing to touch.
On the sideline, Jones still looks a little bemused at his yellow card - holding an animated conversation with Paul Stridgeon.
68:20 - Wales’s lineout is a little loose, but Nick Tompkins tidied up well. Wales go through one phase before Biggar puts the ball up in the air. Louis Rees-Zammit disrupts the catcher, but the Springboks retain possession and eventually clear through de Allende.
George North gets back to dot down behind his own line, with Kolbe taking issue with him and Biggar.
69:43 - Biggar restarts with a goal line dropout, which Willemse returns with interest. The Boks shift it from wing to wing, stretching the Welsh defence before eventually finding the edge.
However, a huge tap tackle from Rees-Zammit sends Lukhanyo Am flying, with his offload floating about a mile and a half forward. Heading into the final 10 minutes, there’s a break in play as Wales try get some air back into their lungs.
71:58 - A couple of scrum resets take time off the clock. Eventually, Tomos Williams gets the ball in. Once he does, the expected shove comes from the hosts, folding up the Welsh front-row.
Thankfully, they hold firm long enough to get the ball out, with Tompkins providing a platform to clear. Biggar launches it long to touch.
72:26 - South Africa take the lineout quickly. Kolbe finds a gap in the Welsh chase, stepping through before Tomos Williams cuts him down.
The Boks work it wide, with Willemse drifting in between Rowlands and Tompkins for a clean break. He draws Liam Williams before feeding Willie le Roux for what seems a certain try.
However, Rees-Zammit gets back excellently to drag him down a metre or two from the line. The Wales wing then appears to release le Roux, before getting back to his feet to jackal. The referee is quick to adjudge Rees-Zammit’s actions as illegal and cynical, with his arm going up for an advantage.
The Boks power over down the blindside, with Liam Williams and North doing well to hold Wiese over the line. No try, for now.
73:19 - With the penalty to come back to, things start to get interesting as Nika Amashukeli calls a halt to play. There’s a bit of afters between the players as the South African’s call for a penalty try.
The young official walks back and forth, without much of a purpose at times, speaking to Am, then Biggar, before heading back to the point of the infringement. Suddenly though, he decides there’s a yellow card to be handed out to Rees-Zammit, prompting frustration from the Welsh players and even more confusion as many think a penalty try had been awarded.
But no, it’s just a penalty. It’s now 15 v 13 - otherwise known as Nadine Dorries’ worst nightmare. To say Amashukeli has lost control of proceedings at this point would be an understatement.
73:43 - With a frustrated Rees-Zammit on the sideline alongside Jones, the Springboks go to the corner. There’s only one plan here.
They rumble the mail towards the line, only to fall short. However, this time, it is a penalty try.
Rhys Carre is adjudged to have pulled it down on the far side. There’s no flag from the the assistant on that side, but the referee is certain. South Africa now lead 29-24.
74:54 - The 13 men of Wales, now trailing for the first time, prepare to kick-off. However, suddenly Carre is called over to the official to be shown a rather belated yellow card.
No longer 13, now it’s 12. Wales kick off and a Springbok knock-on hands Owen Watkin possession on the home side’s 22.
He flings it infield to Dillon Lewis, who spreads to Biggar. He hands it off to Tompkins, with Wales’ numerical disadvantage becoming abundantly clear.
Despite being near smack bang in the middle of the pitch, there’s no one outside the centre. Regardless, Wales keep possession for a phase before Am and Kwagga Smith are pinged for hands in the ruck.
Five points down with four or so minutes to go, Wales decide to roll the dice. They kick to the corner.
Biggar's kick is ruled to be around 10 metres from the South African line, although the fly-half insists it travelled a little further. Wales' seven-man pack, with Jones back on the park now, convene to hatch a plan.
76:04 - Dewi Lake hits Taulupe Faletau at the front of the lineout. Despite being 10 metres out and having a numerical advantage, South Africa opt not to contest and instead wait for the drive.
It matters little though. The Bomb Squad get their calculations wrong, driving Dillon Lewis out of the left side of the maul as the right-hand side rattles around. Soon, Lake is mere metres away from the line and spots enough of a gap to charge over.
Despite the flurry of yellow cards, Wales are level. They might have forged ahead, but Biggar's conversion sails agonisingly wide.
77:45 - South Africa kick off, hoisting it up to Jones. However, the Welsh lock takes it under pressure and Wales survive the vigorous counter-ruck.
They move infield before kicking it back to the Springboks. North and Josh Navidi chase well to corner the Boks by the touchline, but a wild offload finds Kolbe and there's suddenly danger again.
However, Wales' chase swallows him up, before the 13-men defend solidly as South Africa probe for a gap. As a result, de Allende nudges it through - bobbling the ball into touch.
79:26 - Lake hits Faletau at the front once again. This time, South Africa compete but Wales secure it under pressure. With 20 seconds left, Williams clears his lines with a box-kick.
South Africa field it on their 22 and look to run it back, having been handed one last chance. They get around the Wales chase, but North gets back to drag Am down.
However, South Africa are now on the front foot. Back and forth they go, building up phases as the Welsh defence stays firm and disciplined.
Then, on the sixth phase, le Roux looks to find de Allende, only for the ball to hit Biggar's outstretched arm. Game over.
Instantly, referee Amashukeli signals for a penalty. Biggar's protests that he never once moved his arm towards the ball fall on deaf ears.
82:08 - Willemse starts his run-up to the ball, striking it cleanly off the tee. With it, Wales' hopes of a first result on South African soil are gone.
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