Wales’ Scott Baldwin plays down Springboks win

“We are in a good space, we have certainly improved and we have set a marker in terms of our physicality”, McFarland said. ‘The only way to better that is to get to the final.

North played outside center for only the third time for Wales in the 15-6 loss to Australia in last Saturday’s Pool A decider, and admitted he made a few mistakes. “It will be a tough one but one that we’re excited about”. We’d like to be a part of another and win that one, too. That gives us a really good platform’.

It was a theme echoed by Springbok backs coach Richardo Loubscher, who said: “Bryan is a special player. you just have to look at his record”.

“Both George and Alex will likely be on the wings”, he said.

Since losing to Japan in their opening pool game, South Africa have got back in touch with their rugby DNA and become a force to be reckoned with once more; the rolling maul is rumbling again, the kick- chase finding its target. That had Jannie du Plessis and Tendai Mtawarira as props, Handre Pollard at flyhalf, Jesse Kriel at outside centre in place of the injured and retired Jean de Villiers, and JP Pietesen on the right wing opposite Bryan Habana.

“Much respect for what they’ve achieved. We were composed and clinical when we needed to be, and saw out the game”.

Leigh Halfpenny, Scott Williams, Rhys Webb, Liam Williams, Hallam Amos and Cory Allen have all been ruled out at various stages, with Ospreys wing Eli Walker the latest player called up on Tuesday, although he will not be available for selection this week after recently shaking off an injury.

“It’s essential. If you look at the England game (against Wales), the score was 28-25 with one try each, but the chance to build the score through penalties influenced the game”.

However, Springboks fly-half Pat Lambie, who started that game, said: “What happened in the past needs to stay in the past, Saturday is the only thing that counts now”.

“I think the plan will be the same, nothing has changed, we’re still in the situation where we have to win so on the weekend there’s another opportunity for us to show what we can do”. It could be the biggest physical test of my career’. The world’s most capped prop is competing in his fourth World Cup at the age of 34, but has no plans to hang up his global boots if Wales fail to progress.

“It is very very brutal in terms of the collisions but I think what has been impressive this World Cup has been the performances of Japan through to Namibia”, he said.

‘I have no plans to quit just yet. “He will, without a doubt in my eyes, go down as one of the real legends of the game”. I’m enjoying my rugby so I’ll carry on for as long as I can’.