Wales’ assistant coach, Rob Howley, is anticipating a tough and tight encounter when South Africa visit Cardiff next month.

The Springboks open their European tour with a game against last season’s Six Nations winners on 9th November before going on to face Scotland at Murrayfield eight days later and finishing their schedule with a match against France in Paris on 23rd November.

A former Wales scrum-half, Howley was at Ellis Park earlier this month to watch New Zealand justify their short odds in the rugby betting, and beat South Africa 38-27 as the All Blacks successfully defended their Rugby Championship title.

However, the Springboks enjoyed a fine competition, beating Argentina and Australia home and away before coming unstuck against New Zealand.
As a result, South Africa are second in the world rankings while Wales are sixth and Howley admits he was impressed with the Springboks’ play.

He said: “It was interesting to see how both sides managed the kicking game and the aerial battle. Being live at the game, it is not all about watching the ball but watching what players are doing off it as well and how they counter-attack, so it was really useful.

“One thing you have to do against South Africa is create opportunities but then you have to be clinical as well and that is exactly what the All Blacks did and that is what we will have to do as well.

“But I have been really impressed with the Springboks this season and we know we are facing one of the in-form teams in world rugby.”

South Africa have met Wales on 26 occasions, winning 24 of the encounters with one match being drawn. The last time the two teams met was at the World Cup in New Zealand two years ago when the Boks won 17-16 in Wellington, a fixture that attracted plenty of interest from people who bet on rugby.