Wales must save season

WALES have to beat South Africa on Saturday to avoid an autumn inquest, says former captain Martyn Williams.

Warren Gatland’s side have lost two of their three Tests in the Under Armour Series — to Australia and New Zealand — while winning unconvincingly against Georgia.

In his 10-year reign as head coach, Wales have lost 34 of 37 matches against the big three Southern Hemisphere nations.

And only twice in 17 years of autumn Tests have Wales lost three or more games at the end of the calendar year — 2010 and 2012. So with the wounded Springboks in Cardiff this week Williams thinks Wales should go in for the kill.

‘It would be nice to win in style against South Africa,’ he said. ‘We should beat them. A win would make it an acceptable autumn. Lose and there have got to be serious questions asked about where we are going.

‘It would put huge pressure on Wales ahead of that opening game in the Six Nations against Scotland.

‘If I was in that squad I would not care about the style of play, it is just about getting the win because we haven’t beaten Australia or New Zealand.

‘We look at our team and with the quality we have had in the last decade we should definitely have a better record in the autumn than we have.’ JOE Launchbury’s shoulder problem is not thought to be a major concern. He went off in England’s win over Samoa but Wasps are confident there is no ligament damage.