Dragons trio Aaron Wainwright, Ross Moriarty and Elliot Dee saw their World Cup dreams dashed as, for the second consecutive tournament South Africa ended Welsh hopes of lifting the Webb Ellis Cup with victory at Yokohama.
Wainwright and Moriarty both started the game in Japan - with Dee a second half replacement - as Wales dug deep to stay in the arm wrestle, in what was a brutal match which saw Tomas Francis and George North depart in the first half.
Wales only trailed 9-6 at the break, with Handre Pollard’s three penalties edging his side in front as Dan Biggar’s boot kept his side in contention with two successful shots at goal.
In a tense second half, Pollard and Biggar continued their personal duel with the boot as neither side could be separated.
Damian de Allende’s converted try put South Africa back in front but Josh Adams replied – equalling Shane Williams’s record of six tries in a World Cup – to keep Wales in the fight.
But Pollard’s boot five minutes from time put his side through to the final where the Boks will face England.
Wales will now face New Zealand in the third place play-off match on Friday morning (kick-off 9am).
