Warren Gatland’s side return to the Millennium Stadium for the first time since they defended their RBS 6 Nations crown with a convincing 30-3 victory over England last March.
This autumn, attentions turn to South Africa, Argentina, Tonga and Australia with Heyneke Meyer’s side the first to visit the home of Welsh rugby. The Springboks’ blend of brute forward power and pace out wide saw them impress in the recent Rugby Championship, their clash with the All Blacks in Johannesburg last month, albeit in defeat, showing just what they can do to an opposition defence.
Today, they face a Wales side which features 11 players who toured Australia with the British & Irish Lions last summer. Skipper Sam Warburton led the Lions on the 2-1 series win, a tour in which a number of Welshman played leading roles. Full back Leigh Halfpenny was just one to impress, the Gorseinon product scoring 114 points down under, including three tries.
It completed a remarkable year or so for the Cardiff Blues man, having helped Wales to successive Six Nations titles and being named player of the tournament in 2013. This week, he added the International Player of the Year to his burgeoning trophy cabinet at Midi Olympique’s Oscars du Rugby.
Despite all these accolades, Halfpenny remains grounded and says Wales are determined to improve their performances over the next month.
“There is expectation we put on ourselves. Coming into the autumn, we’ve won the Six Nations for two years and last autumn was a poor one for us,” said Halfpenny.
“We’ve got to take it to the next level as a squad and put out a statement and start beating these southern hemisphere sides.
“We’re all familiar with each other’s games. We’ve been together for a while now and that’s great coming into an autumn series.”
Halfpenny starts at full back once again this afternoon with George North and Liam Williams completing the back three. Williams replaces Eli Walker who was forced to pull out late this week due to a hamstring injury suffered in training. Rhys Priestland returns at fly half after missing the Six Nations with an Achilles injury and partners Mike Phillips at half back.
With his goal kicking and attack key to hopes of a Welsh success, Halfpenny will be a marked man this afternoon. But despite his impressive last 12 months, he insists there is still plenty of room for improvement in his game.
“I’m just doing my job for the team and what’s expected of me,” said the down to earth 24-year-old.
“When I take that field, I don’t like to be individualised. Without my teammates winning the penalties and scoring tries, I wouldn’t have the opportunity to kick goals.
“I’m just trying to work as hard as I can. It’s been great to come back into camp, keep my head down and try to improve as a player all the time.
“I still see myself as the same player I always have been. I need to improve as you can never stop learning.”
Wales face a South African side which boasts 667 Test caps worth of experience with captain Jean de Villiers and Springbok record try scorer Bryan Habana leading lights in southern hemisphere rugby. In the centre, Meyer has recalled Jaque Fourie to partner de Villiers in a team boasting a significant blend of youth and experience.
In the pack, Frans Malberhe makes his Test debut, a significant contrast to opposite number Gethin Jenkins. Wales’ first choice loosehead wins his 99th Test cap this afternoon and although a century is on the horizon, the Cardiff Blue is focusing solely on securing what would be a famous Welsh win.
“You have targets in your head but I’m just thinking of it as another game, you have to do your best for the team and if you don’t perform, you expect to be out,” said Jenkins.
“We’re building towards that complete performance. The England match was the last time we had our full squad together and we performed on that day. We have to repeat that now on a regular basis.
“South Africa have been outstanding – their last game was unbelievable. Everyone knows what they’re like and how they approach games. They’ve got that one mentality and we’ll have to match that.”
Jenkins and his fellow forwards know that like any game, today’s encounter will be won and lost up front. If they can get the better of the Springbok eight, in which there is no place for Bakkies Botha, they will lay the platform for a repeat of Wales’ win over South Africa in 1999.
“If this side is successful, it will be a better victory than the one we achieved in 1999,” said Wales coach Rob Howley.
“For us to be involved in potential World Cup finals, we have to beat southern hemisphere sides along the way.
“That is why it is key for us to do it over the next three and four weeks.”
In Halfpenny, Wales have a man who might allow them to do just that.
