Double European Champions, the majority share of a successful Lions squad, and fourth place at the 2011 World Cup was where this Welsh squad all started their journey in the national jersey. It hasn't been a bad two years if you are a Welsh rugby fan, in fact it has been one of the greatest periods ever recorded. However, there is one sticking point which will be a question asked of this side over and over, until they finally answer it on the field. That is; Why can't they beat the Southern hemisphere teams? They have beaten everybody in Europe twice in two years, barring one dreadful display against Ireland. The performance against England on the other hand was one that any Southern Hemisphere side would be proud of, clinical, efficient and championship winning. Wales can perform like the best against European opposition but can't take that onto the field against the best and really challenge them. It has become psychological, almost a 'we can't beat them' attitude has existed in the past. Probably the best example of this were the four 2012 games against Australia losing four matches by a grand total of just fourteen points. Some of these were lost in the dying minutes of the game, a young squad just unable to close a game out against the best.
- Kurtley Beale crushes Welsh hopes last year
But this is a Welsh side on the up, this side oozes confidence and has the class to back it up, but at the same time they are grounded. The camp is very settled and they know that they are building towards the 2015 World Cup, which is effectively a home World Cup for the Welsh as well as the English. Sam Warburton has already confronted the psychological issue of not being able to beat the Southern hemisphere sides in his pre-match interviews. His response has been what we have come to expect from this Welsh team, short, direct, straight forward, "We expect to win on Saturday". This is part of the building process to the World Cup, to be a serious contender, which I would say Wales could be, but only if they can start winning these games against the Southern Hemisphere sides.
- Winning is what Sam Warburton expects from this side
The team is very much the same as it has been for Wales over the last two years, with such a young squad it hasn't needed to change. However, Priestland will come back in at 10, causing the inevitable debate in Wales that the fly-half position always does. With Cuthbert out, Eli Walker was set to start, but like on two other occasions he misses out on his first cap with an injury sustained on Thursday. So it looks like Liam Williams will play at full back and the invaluable Leigh Halfpenny will be shifted out to the wing to try and contain Bryan Habana. Jamie Roberts is also injured, so Scott Williams will play alongside fellow Scarlet Jon Davies in the centre, I think he could be the surprise package of this Autumn. He is coming into this international break on excellent form, and teams don't know him as well as they know Jamie Roberts, he could be a dark horse for Wales.
- Scott Williams scores the winning try against England in 2012
The South Africans then, what have they got, or probably more accurately what haven't they got? They always come with plenty of power and the pack is dominant over almost all rugby nations, but Wales will compete there. Adam Jones will want to show why he is considered one of the best scrummager's in world rugby. In the back row Francois Louw is one of the best blindsides in the world right now. An enticing duel against Sam Warburton will be great viewing, and whoever comes out on top will put their team in a great position. Where the Springboks have really improved is behind the scrum, once so one dimensional and played basic 'truck it up' rugby based entirely on their power. Although this still remains to an extent, they spin it wide far more now. Jean De Villiers was been brilliant in the rugby championship, where South Africa were narrowly pipped by the All Blacks in that outstanding final game. Bryan Habana looks back to his best and thriving in Heyneke Meyer's new coaching set up. Against the All Black's he put in one of his great wing displays before his hamstring forced him off. He will be up against rugby's hot property Leigh Halfpenny, undoubtedly an outstanding defender, but hasn't played much on the wing since he excelled at full back. Possibly some rustiness that a player of Habana's quality could exploit.
- A twenty year old Halfpenny when he played for the BaaBaa's with Habana
South Africa are comfortably second in the world right now, New Zealand are a different level again but not many teams are near the level South Africa are at. It will be the first game in this tour, South Africa will have had just over a week to prepare, whereas Wales have been in camp for what will be close to a month by Saturday tea-time. In a packed Millennium Stadium, possibly with the roof shut the atmosphere will be electric, because Wales expects. More importantly this time, Wales believes.
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