Gatland had watched his side roar into a 17-6 lead but referee Steve Walsh, taking charge of his first international since being sacked by the IRB in 2009, allowed the Boks to take a scrum in first-half injury time which allowed Morne Steyn to trim the lead with a penalty.

But worse, from a Wales perspective was to follow, after the break when winger Bryan Habana turned over Jonathan Thomas without releasing in the build-up to a try.

And while Gatland’s winless streak against the Boks continued, he maintains it could have been a very different story if they had got the right breaks.

He said: “We were gutted at half-time because we believed the referee should have blown up before the scrum.

“To go in 17-9 up rather than 17-6 was disappointing because games are won and lost on fine-line decisions.

“It meant at the end we could have been looking to kick three points to win the game rather than needing a try.

“Andy Powell was penalised for ripping the ball in the first half, but when Jonathan caught the ball in the second, Habana has done exactly the identical thing.

“Nothing was given and South Africa scored seven points from it.

“It is not sour grapes. If you are going to beat the world champions you need those 50-50 calls going in your favour. Hopefully, one of them goes our way soon.”