The Welsh have arrived at the Oliver Tambo International airport this morning to take on the reigning world champions in a three-test tour with two matches played at altitude. The Springboks, who are also ranked number one in the world, have a formidable home record, but Pivac is relishing the challenge.
Wayne Pivac has claimed Wales will face the ultimate challenge in South Africa but is confident his side will have improved significantly since the Six Nations.
“From our point of view it’s a huge challenge, we are playing the world champions in their own backyard at altitude in the first two Tests in front of their own fans for the first time since they won the World Cup,” said Pivac.
“So they will be heavily motivated. In Test rugby you want the ultimate challenge as players and coaches and this is probably the ultimate challenge with South Africa at altitude and us coming off the back of our Six Nations and where they are at in their game.
“I have to say the boys are working really hard and I think we will be a step up from where we were in our last match. In international rugby if you write anyone off you do it at your peril.
“You can look back at our Six Nations and the good performances was against France and a poor performance against Italy. It is a Welsh team that turns up on the day that South Africa will have to deal with and we hope that will be a very good one.
“We are certainly going there with things we want to achieve on the tour.” Pivac has named an experienced squad to tour the Rainbow Nation, but he has also shown faith in youth.
This is proven with the selections of uncapped tighthead pair Sam Wainwright (Saracens), and Harri O’Connor. And the former Scarlets coach is confident both players will learn a great deal from this tour, and be better for the experience.
“He (O’Connor) is one of number of young players across the positions in the game we are keeping an eye on,” said Pivac. “We have spoken to the guys at the Scarlets and they speak highly of him in terms of where he is at in his game currently and where he can get to in the future.
“He is one we think will benefit by being part of this trip. It’s always a concern if things don’t go well, but there is also the opportunity for young players to learn a hell of a lot and grow.
“There is no better learning than going up against the best in the world in any sport, and at the moment, you would have to say the South Africa scrum has probably shown it has consistently been the best in the world. Their lineout drive is superb, their forward play is probably second to none. They are not world champions for nothing.
“They are very, very good at what they do, so if you are a young guy going on tour and coming up against that, you are going to learn a lot. You are going to learn how much work you have got to do to get to that level, or hopefully, you are going to go very well and start off what could be a very long career for yourself.
“It’s an exciting time for any youngster going on a tour like this, I believe.”