Wales

Wales assistant coach Rob Howley admits that he is keeping more than a keen eye on what is happening in the Tri-Nations, with his side lying in wait for each of the three southern hemisphere super-powers at the end of the year.

Howley and his players are keeping tabs on the fortunes of South Africa New Zealand and South Africa with a view to their upcoming, which also sees 2011 World Cup Pool D opponents Fiji come to the Millenium Stadium.

Wales have just returned from a two-match tour of New Zealand, which saw the All Blacks victorious in both Dunedin and Hamilton, after the Springboks also notched up a win in Cardiff just a week before the Welsh boarded their plane to the home of the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

But, despite losing their June Tests, Howley has taken heart from elements of their showing in all three matches and he believes putting their performances in context with the All Blacks demolition of South Africa last week shows that his side are not far away from the top sides in world rugby.

"New Zealand are the best team in the world at the moment and they were a match for South Africa's physicality last weekend, but expect the Springboks to bounce back with an improved performance," said Howley.

"They are the reigning world champions after all. They have been in this situation before where they have lost to the All Blacks and they know how to turn it around, I expect they will present a different proposition next weekend.

"As we know ourselves and proved recently, there is nothing better for a side when you lose in that manner than to be able to pick yourself up again and have another crack at it a week later.

"There's only really the Tri-Nations and on mid-year tours where you are able to do that and it adds to the psychological motivation and preparation for the next game.

"Although it is early days in their competition and no doubt there is lots yet to happen, but watching how the All Blacks dominated the Springboks last weekend did tell us that we feel as a coaching team that we are not that far away ourselves.

"If you consider our performances and certainly during that second Test in Hamilton, in the second half in particular, when I think we gained a little more respect for what we are trying to achieve.

"We'd like to think that we are not that far off, we have learnt a lot and obviously there are areas for us to work on, but it is only by playing against the best teams in the world that you learn about yourselves and give yourselves the opportunity to improve."

Wales face Australia in the first match of their end-of year series ­on Saturday, November ­6 - seven days before the Springboks go to Cardiff.

Fiji are up next on November 19, before the series climax against the All Blacks on November 27.

In a gruelling schedule Wales will be looking for at least one southern hemisphere scalp as well as wanting to lay down a marker against Fiji and the Springboks ahead of their Rugby World Cup Pool D meetings next year, but Howley is resisting the temptation to target any particular game.

"Australia always seem to time it right and peak in a World Cup year and these November Tests will be an integral part of their preparation," said the former Wales and B&I Lions star.

"We'll be watching the Tri-Nations intently and we'll know from that what kind of form they are in, but regardless of the fact we have them up first there will be no chance of us catching them cold, they are always so well prepared and will be especially so with the World Cup approaching.

"They will be a huge challenge for us and it is up to us to make sure that we are ready for them. There's no doubt we have learnt a lot about New Zealand rugby and we really look forward to playing them once again in our last game of the November Series."

Speaking mainly about the schedule his team will face, Howley added: "To play against Australia, South Africa and Fiji, prior to the All Blacks, is a mouth-watering prospect, but every one of them will also undoubtedly be tough, physical challenges.

"There will be nothing like the Springboks match and the clash with Fiji to focus our minds in terms of the countdown to the Rugby World Cup beginning in earnest.

"Both teams are in our pool in the World Cup and we will find out a little more about each other in November. We obviously have recent history with Fiji in World Cup terms and they will pose a huge physical challenge.

"It will also be a opportunity to feel each other out, the result will have little bearing on what follows when we meet in New Zealand, but saying that neither side will want to lose.

"It has long been the stated philosophy of this management team to play the best sides in the world as regularly as possible in order to improve ourselves and this coming end-of-year campaign we will certainly be doing that, but our main focus this  series will be about winning rugby."