![\"Wales](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/0_Wales.jpg\")
Wales rugby legend James Hook has defended the players after their 73-0 defeat to South Africa(Image: (Andrew Matthews\/PA Wire))<\/p>\nJames Hook has defended the Wales players after a humbling defeat to South Africa in the Autumn internationalsWales rugby legend James Hook has defended the players after their 73-0 defeat to South Africa(Image: (Andrew Matthews\/PA Wire))<\/p>\n
Former Welsh rugby star James Hook says that off-field issues are clearly impacting the squad after their heavy defeat to South Africa. Steve Tandy’s side were hammered 73-0 by the Springboks, with the visitors to Principality Stadium scoring 11 tries.<\/a><\/p>\n Wales had already suffered heavy defeats to New Zealand and Argentina, in between a last-gasp win over Japan, this month. And though their latest loss is particularly embarrassing, Hook has admitted the problems go deeper than blaming players.<\/p>\n He said on BBC<\/a> Radio Wales: “It’s not the time to pick out individuals or flaws in how we attacked or how we defended.<\/p>\n “Everybody knows the situation with Welsh rugby at the moment, on and off the field, there’s so much uncertainty and that’s having an effect on these players.<\/p>\n “The uncertainty as to whether these boys are going to have jobs in the next six months or a year, so it is taking its toll and then you add this fixture in at the end of an Autumn campaign, which has already been a struggle, against the world champions.<\/p>\n “Frankly, it was lambs to the slaughter today and it’s hard to blame any of those Welsh players.”<\/p>\n The chaos at the Welsh Rugby Union has stemmed from plans to cut a professional team with the Ospreys and Scarlets firmly in the firing line.<\/a><\/p>\n Meanwhile, complaints have also been directed at the scheduling of this latest international clash with 13 of Wales Wales’ English and French-based players not available for selection due to it falling outside the World Rugby’s international window. Such controversy forced the WRU to release a statement earlier this week.<\/a><\/p>\n It said: “We will have welcomed almost a quarter-of-a-million supporters through Principality Stadium turnstiles, across the four consecutive weekends in November which make up the Quilter Nations Series in Cardiff<\/a>, when we host South Africa this weekend.<\/p>\n “From a performance perspective challenging yourself against the very best sides in the world game boosts player and team development and from a business point of view the addition of a fourth international match in the series directly boosts resources available to invest directly back into rugby in Wales.<\/p>\n “We are hugely grateful to the hundreds of thousands of fans who have shown their support for our new head coach Steve Tandy and his team as they build for the future.<\/p>\n “We have received much positive feedback about the greatly enhanced matchday experience in Cardiff this year and look forward to another special occasion when we face the world champion Springboks on Saturday and expect another bumper crowd to join us.<\/p>\n “Tickets are still on sale through the WRU website, although availability is limited, with attendance again set to exceed the average for the series for the fourth match in a row.”<\/p>\n Follow all of our channels to ensure you stay up to date with the latest Welsh rugby news. Sign up to our<\/strong> free daily newsletter here<\/strong><\/a> and our <\/strong>WhatsApp channel here<\/strong><\/a> for all the breaking news.<\/strong><\/p>\n You can also follow us on social media on our <\/strong>X account<\/strong><\/a>, <\/strong>Facebook<\/strong><\/a>,<\/strong> Instagram<\/strong><\/a> and<\/strong> TikTok.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n For more exclusive stories and in-depth analysis, you can <\/strong>sign up for the Inside Welsh Rugby substack newsletter here.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n![\"Sacha](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1764484936_884_0_Wales.jpg\")
Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu of South Africa dives over for their sixth try(Image: (Photo by David Rogers\/Getty Images))<\/p>\n