Wales wing Alex Cuthbert believes Warren Gatland’s side can finally claim a major southern hemisphere scalp when they play South Africa in Cardiff on Saturday.
It is six years and 26 Tests since Wales last beat the Springboks, New Zealand or Australia, although they went close against the All Blacks last week when they led 16-15 with 11 minutes remaining before a late burst of points saw the visitors prevail 34-16.
They now have another chance of glory against South Africa, who they have beaten only once in 29 attempts – at the Millennium Stadium 15 years ago.
"They are a totally different team to New Zealand," said Cuthbert. "When the All Blacks have the ball you don't know what they are going to do because they have so much quality in the forwards and backs.
"The South Africans are more direct. Their forwards love mauling and beating the other pack into submission. They will be wary of our backs, and if we get a lot of ball in hand we can do some damage. We have got the firepower to confront them, and we showed that in the summer.
"If the forwards can do the job they have been doing over the last couple of weeks, then hopefully we can get the result.
"Myself and everyone thought we were going to go on and win that game against New Zealand with 11 minutes to go. We felt they had thrown quite a lot at us and we felt we had held them out.
"You could see they were getting a bit frustrated at times, and we just needed to control the game. I would be worried if we were getting thumped by 40 points. We are there or thereabouts."
Changes
Wales head coach Warren Gatland will name his team on Thursday to face South Africa, with a minimum of two changes to be expected.
Prop Paul James and hooker Richard Hibbard, who both started against New Zealand, are now back with their respective Aviva Premiership clubs Bath and Gloucester as Saturday's Test falls outside the International Rugby Board autumn window.
Gethin Jenkins, who has been troubled by a hamstring problem, is on course to replace James, with Ospreys forward Scott Baldwin taking Hibbard's place.
Wales' medical staff have also been assessing full-back Leigh Halfpenny (shoulder), wing George North (concussion) and scrum-half Rhys Webb (groin) this week.