VIDEO: 'All the signs point to South Africa'

Wales captain Dan Biggar is enjoying being back on South African soil and relishing the chance of playing in a sell-out Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

While the opposition may be the World Cup champion Springboks – and not a second-tries Sharks team – the fact that there will be spectators is adding to the exhilaration occasion.

To add to the felicity of a trip to the Republic is the fact that the 2021 British and Irish Lions star is not cooped up in a COVID-controlled hotel for most of the day.

“It is great to get out – go to the casino, to a safari park and a bit of golf,” he said of the current trip.

“It is great to be back ‘touring’ as well,” the Wales skipper said, adding: “There are not many better countries to tour than here.

“We are just trying to enjoy ourselves as much as possible.

“Hopefully that will help us on Saturday.”

However, come 17.00 South African time on Saturday – 15.00 GMT – the pleasure may well turn into pain.

Biggar admitted Wales are massive underdogs.

The odds are stacked against the tourists, with the first Two tests being held at altitude – Pretoria this week and Bloemfontein next week.

Bookmakers are giving the Springboks as much as a 15-point handicap.

He spoke of the ‘nerves’ ahead of the opening Test, saying it is “up there” with the biggest Tests in the game.

Biggar said they have “come together” as a squad on the back of a very disappointing Six Nations.

The Northampton Saints playmaker broke records throughout the course of the Six Nations championship – having become the 140th player to lead Wales, while also winning his 100th Test cap against Scotland.

However, in Cardiff back in March, the 32-year-old won his 100th cap for Wales in the 21-22 loss against Italy – which saw them finish second from bottom, with just one win.

The fallout from that game was ugly, with heavy criticism flowing the way of the players and a clamour from critics to get rid of coach Wayne Pivac.

To make matters worse, no Welsh team has ever won on South African soil.

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“We know the challenge that awaits on Saturday,” he said of facing the world’s top-ranked team.

However, they are determined to start with a clean slate and not listen to all the negative talk about them getting a three-zero thrashing.

“If you listened to it all we might as well have packed our swim shorts and come on holiday for three weeks,” he said of the pre-match predictions.

“From our point of view, we have no control over what gets written outside of our camp.

“It’s about starting well but it’s about being realistic.

“There is no doubt we are going in as underdogs and everything you have seen so far over the last few months – all the signs point to South Africa.

“I think as a nation, that’s when we come alive.

“We want to make sure we put some pride back into the jersey and we didn’t quite do that in the last outing. It will tell you a lot about players and characters and it’s important we start well and get into it.”

The veteran flyhalf hopes the team’s performance reflects their “true character”.

He admitted that the Boks deserved their ‘favourites’ tag.

“We played them in November and they probably had a slightly stronger side than what they have named for Saturday,” he told a media scrum.

“There were no egos about any of the boys here, we just tore in and got stuck in.

“There is certainly no fear, it’s just about making sure we are up for it physically.

“All these players – [captain Siyamthanda] Kolisi, Faf [Francois de Klerk], [Jasper] Wiese – these boys are tremendous players, individually and when they come together.

“But if we spend all week bigging them up you almost believe it yourself.

“It’s about making sure we park that and making sure we get stuck it into it from the word go.

“We know if we put in our best, we are going to be right in the mix.

“If we fall a little bit below that and don’t get things right, we are probably going to be a way off it.

“It’s about making sure we are in this game around 60 minutes.

“If you get blown away by these guys in the opening 20 minutes, it is a difficult task to chase the game and all of a sudden you end up coughing up more.”

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