Wales vs. South Africa: Key Battles to Watch at Millennium Stadium

Let’s not go over old ground. Wales and Southern Hemisphere teams have a heavily lopsided history.

The list of results doesn’t tell the full story, however, of how close some of those defeats have been for Warren Gatland’s men.

A case in point is the second Test of their trip to South Africa last summer, when they were a Liam Williams misdemeanor away from a precious win on Springbok soil in Nelspruit, per ESPNScrum.com

They have a chance to avenge that loss this weekend in what should be a crackling finale to the autumn Test schedule.

What a boost it would be ahead of the visit of England if Wales can prepare for the Six Nations with a Springbok win.

Here are the key battles.

Leigh Halfpenny vs. Willie Le Roux

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Two talismanic figures in their teams' respective No. 15 jerseys come into contact on Saturday, and both are capable of game–defining performances.

In Leigh Halfpenny’s case, this match–winning potential comes in the shape of his highly reliable goal–kicking allied with great finishing ability.

He is also a defensive rock for a man of his size. It was rotten luck on the Toulon man last week against New Zealand that Beauden Barrett’s chip bounced the wrong way as far as the Welsh were concerned. Other than that, Halfpenny put in a spotless display.

Willie Le Roux is a little more enigmatic, but when the chance to get into the game arises, he can damage a team in a flicker, as we saw against England when he raced onto a Pat Lambie chip, drew two men and put his colleague away for a score that stretched South Africa’s lead.

Much like the best New Zealand counter–attackers, Le Roux can rip a game away from opponents' grasps with his brilliance before they know what has hit them.

His style is a seldom–seen one in Springbok colours, and it has added an extra dimension to their armoury. Two great players in fine form. Sit back and enjoy them.

Samson Lee vs. Tendai Mtawarira

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Scarlets tight–head Samson Lee has done a decent job of earning his stripes this autumn.

Stepping into Adam Jones’ shoes was no easy task, and the young man has done it well. He faces the man known as "The Beast" in this final autumn Test.

Tendai Mtawarira can, when the mood takes him, wreak havoc on his opposite number, though we have seen less of this since the engagement laws changed.

In the loose, he is one of the better ball-carrying props around. It will be interesting to see how his experience fares against the relatively embryonic Lee in international terms.

The world’s best tight–heads are some of the best-paid players at their clubs. This Saturday, we’ll see how close Lee is to joining that bracket.

Sam Warburton vs. Teboho Mohoje

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What a shame we are not going to see Sam vs. Schalk this weekend.

Schalk Burger was awesome against England at Twickenham but didn’t feature in the Boks’ win over Italy and is not in the matchday group for Cardiff either.

Instead, Teboho Mohoje gets another chance to prove himself at the top level. He was heavily outgunned by the Irish in Dublin and needs to find another gear against Warburton.

The Welsh skipper put in a fine 80 minutes against New Zealand and will fancy his chances of getting to the South African ball without Burger on his case.

If Warburton produces his very best, Mohoje won’t be able to hold a candle to him.

The Second-Row Battle

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If one position has produced more great performances this autumn than the second row, this observer has not seen it.

In all the major contests between north and south, we have see the long–limbed heavyweights from the scrum’s engine room put in some awesome displays.

The likes of Paul O’Connell and Brodie Retallick have tackled themselves stupid, hungrily carried the ball and corralled and cajoled their fellow forwards in ferocious rearguard actions when required.

Add to those two Alun Wyn Jones, Jake Ball, Victor Matfield and Eben Etzebeth.

Each has brought the best of his attributes to the party in the last month, from exceptional lineout form to industrious work all over the park. The four come colliding together in Cardiff this weekend.

Ball has stepped up to the role of roaming, running lock well, while Lion Jones has looked as voracious as ever at the ruck.

Matfield is simply, well, Matfield in the lineout, and Etzebeth brings his own brand of mayhem to attack and defence.

The Welsh pair have an important role to play in stopping the South African maul at source on Saturday while providing the kind of muscular defence it takes to stop runners like Duane Vermeulen.

For South Africa, Matfield’s dominance of the lineout will be key to getting their runners over the gain-line, with Etzebeth in that second wave looking for holes around the fringes of the tackle area.

Locks are fast becoming the fourth and fifth-back rowers, strike runners, jackals, the whole package.

Winning this battle on Saturday can go a long way to winning the war.