The long wait is almost over, as a new era in Springbok rugby under a new coach is set to begin on Saturday when the Springboks take on Wales in the first Test in Bloemfontein.

It seems like a very long time now since that surreal Bok World Cup victory in Paris, and Jake White's subsequent departure after the end-of-year tour to the UK.

Interestingly, Wales were South Africa's opponents in their last Test match. It was also Jake White's last Test as Springbok coach.

Wales will also be the team to baptise coach Peter de Villiers in his first game in charge of the Boks.

Not only that, but Wales are also the first team with the opportunity of claiming the scalp of the World Champions. In fact, by next weekend they will have had three consecutive stabs at it!

Wales are of course the Six Nations champions. They achieved the Grand Slam in the process under new coach Warren Gatland, a remarkable achievement considering they never made in past the first round at the World Cup.

Unfortunately a number of Wales' Six Nations heroes were unavailable to tour South Africa due to injury.

Thus Gatland had to fly out to SA with a 'weakened' squad, although that term creates the premise for underestimating the Welsh ? a very dangerous mistake that any Bok sympathisers should avoid.

Bok coach Peter de Villiers has picked a very solid-looking squad for the Tests against Wales and Italy.

But he did raise some eyebrows with the selection of his match 22 ? there was no place for Percy Montgomery or Victor Matfield in the starting XV, while the talented Frans Steyn missed the boat completely. Bolla Conradie also cracked the nod above other players arguably in better form, and the controversial Luke Watson was selected to start at openside flank.

With Percy Montgomery on the bench, and Francois Steyn not in the matchday 22, South Africa will be without their first-choice goal-kickers. Butch James will be the only option in that department. The Boks do however have three excellent goal-kickers on the bench, in the shape of Monty, Peter Grant and Ruan Pienaar.

Of course the proof is in the pudding, and the match result will determine the response that De Villiers will get from the media and the public.

Whatever the combinations, South Africa will still be a formidable unit, and coach Gatland has repeatedly told the media in the build-up to the match that he expects a massive physical onslaught from the home side.

Wales forwards coach Robin McBryde spoke about this aspect: "We've got a bit of consistency in our pack, it's a strong South African pack, physically they're in good nick, it will be a big challenge for us but it is one we look forward to.

"I am pretty happy with where we are at the moment because of the consistency, there's been one or two changes but we are ready," he said.

McBryde also worried about Wales' chances in the line-outs, considering the height difference between the Wales locks and the Bok second row, with Andries Bekker towering at 2.08m.

"Because it is a strength of theirs we're never comfortable with it, but we have to be at our best.

"We must focus on the small details and make sure we are at our best. If we look at the Test we played against the Boks in November, even though time has passed since then, there are lessons to be learned from that [match].

"I'd like to think that we have grown in our maturity and our composure at this level, so hopefully we'll take another step forward."

There has also been much talk about the possibility that the South African players might enjoy a fitness advantage over the Welsh, having played at a faster tempo under the Experimental Law Variations (ELVs) of the Super 14, and the fact that the Test is taking place at altitude.

Wales' defence coach Shaun Edwards raised his concerns in this department.

"There is no doubt we could be a little bit rusty going into this Test as regards match preparation, but physically I think the guys are in pristine condition, they have worked very hard on their physical condition.

"There is no doubt that we'll have to start the game well because there is that element that we could be a bit rusty because we haven't played for a couple of months."

But Wales will have the advantage of having played regularly and recently under the old laws of the game, as they will be implemented in the Bloemfontein Test.

Gatland has also stated that the Wales were quite comfortable with the interpretations of English referee Dave Pearson, who will be in charge of the Bloemfontein spectacle.

Wales have only won one Test match against South Africa. They have never won a Test on South African soil, which means that Gatland and his charges will be going all out to make history against the Boks.

Another fact to consider is that Wales have not lost a Test yet under Gatland's stewardship.

Either way, an unbeaten record is about to be broken.

Players to watch:

For South Africa: All eyes will be on the guys replacing the World Cup stalwarts. Conrad Jantjes has some awfully big (white) boots to fill at fullback with Percy Montgomery on the bench. Adrian Jacobs will also have to prove himself at number thirteen - an average performance will have players like Frans Steyn and Gcobani Bobo knocking on the door. Another high-profile selection is Luke Watson. Inevitably, all eyes will be on the player to prove that he is there on merit.

For Wales: It's a case of keeping up with the Joneses! Flank Dafydd Jones has been somewhat of a surprise inclusion in Warren Gatland's starting XV. Also keep an eye out for livewire lock Alun-Wyn Jones, who has made a name for himself in recent times with his big workrate and his dynamic play in the loose. But the man that Wales will look to for inspiration is captain and eighthman Ryan Jones. He will be the man who will have to lead by example.

Head to head: It will be fascinating to watch the battle on the wing between the lightning-quick 'rookie' Tonderai Chavhanga and the prolific veteran Shane Williams. Chavhanga has been electric when fit, but will be playing in only his third Springbok match. Williams is an old pro of 58 caps who knows how to score tries. At number ten, Butch James and Stephen Jones will vie for supremacy, and try to mobilise their backs. But the quality and amount of possession they have will of course depend on the work of the forwards, and particularly the loose trio. Eighthman and captain Ryan Jones will have to prove his worth against the intimidating Pierre Spies, who in turn will have to show why Ryan Kankowski, who had a stellar Super 14 for the Sharks at number eight, was not needed for this match.

Recent results: 2007: South Africa won 34-12, Cardiff 2005: South Africa won 33-16, Cardiff 2004: South Africa won 38-36, Cardiff 2004: South Africa won 53-18, Pretoria 2002: South Africa won 19-8, Cape Town 2002: South Africa won 34-19, Bloemfontein 2000: South Africa won 23-13, Cardiff 1999: Wales won 29-19, Cardiff 1998: South Africa won 28-20, London 1998: South Africa won 96-13, Pretoria

Prediction: The Boks will struggle more than most realise against the Six Nations champions, and will most likely experience some early-season cobwebs in their game. But the home side's fitness and familiarity with the altitude should give them the advantage. Springboks to win by ten points.

The teams:

Springboks: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Butch James, 9 Bolla Conradie, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Luke Watson, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 John Smit (captain), 1 Gurthro Steenkamp. Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Victor Matfield, 19 Danie Rossouw, 20 Ruan Pienaar, 21 Peter Grant, 22 Percy Montgomery.

Wales: 15 Jamie Roberts, 14 Mark Jones, 13 Tom Shanklin, 12 Sonny Parker, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Stephen Jones, 9 Gareth Cooper, 8 Ryan Jones (captain), 7 Dafydd Jones, 6 Jonathan Thomas, 5 Alun-Wyn Jones, 4 Ian Gough, 3 Gethin Jenkins, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Adam Jones Replacements: 16 Richard Hibbard, 17 Duncan Jones, 18 Ian Evans, 19 Gareth Delve, 20 Warren Fury, 21 James Hook, 22 Morgan Stoddard

Date: Saturday, June 7 Venue: Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT) Conditions: Sunny, light westerly wind, High 20?C, Low 1?C. Referee: Dave Pearson (England) Touch judges: Lyndon Bray (New Zealand), Stuart Terheege (England) TMO: Graham Hughes (England)