WAYNE Pivac described Wales’ South Africa tour as “a big step in the right direction” despite seeing their dream of Test series glory dashed.

South Africa took the decider 30-14 in Cape Town, with head coach Jacques Nienaber having recalled eight of the Springboks’ 2019 World Cup-winning team after Wales levelled the series seven days previous.

And it worked a treat as South Africa claimed the series 2-1 through tries from Handre Pollard, Bongi Mbonambi and Siya Kolisi, with Pollard kicking three conversions and three penalties for a 20-point haul.

“For us, it was a big step in the right direction,” Wales head coach Pivac said.

“When we get together again for the autumn series, we will be less than 12 months from the World Cup, so we need to build on this tour. I am very pleased that the positives outweigh the negatives.

“The players enjoy rolling their sleeves up and each other’s company. There is disappointment about losing a game of rugby, but, overall, we will have a couple of beers tonight and it will be positive heading into the next series.

“I am a little frustrated and disappointed with the scoreline, but I am certainly not disappointed with the effort that has gone in during the last six weeks.

“We came here with a goal to try and win a series and we were serious about that. It wasn’t just talk and the players worked really well together.”

Wales’ second Test win in Bloemfontein was their first against the Springboks on South African soil, while they were beaten by Damian Willemse’s last-gasp penalty in the first Test, going down 32-29.

This could be seen as quite the turnaround, coming just four months after losing at home to Italy in the Six Nations,

Pivac said: “Obviously, we are pleased to have got the history with the win last week.

“You look at the first Test and there were one or two moments you look back on and think, ‘if only’. We certainly know we played very well on that occasion.

“We were right in the game and then to win the second Test, coming to South Africa I don’t think many people would have predicted those first two weeks.”