World Cup holders South Africa have achieved the first goal in a three-part series, when they upstaged Six Nations champions and Grand Slam winners Wales 20-15 in Cardiff at the weekend.

They now move into the second leg of the trip, to face Scotland in Edinburgh this coming Saturday.

And based on their performance in Cardiff, the Springboks should prove far too strong for a Scottish team that looked decidedly unsettled in going down 32-6 to a largely second string New Zealand selection at the weekend.

However, the Boks know they will require a significant improvement in the final match of their tour ? against England next Saturday.

"We were playing the Six Nations champions in the middle of their season at home, so it was always going to be tough," Springbok vice-captain Victor Matfield said of the win over Wales.

"We came over here to get three wins and we are happy with the victory, although there is still a lot of work we can do.

"I don't think it was our best performance."

South Africa's hosts made it difficult, however, according to Matfield.

Bok coach Peter de Villiers also looked at the positives, complimenting his team on the champion qualities that saw them through a difficult period towards the end ? when they held on in the face of a late Welsh rally, despite being down a man for 10 minutes ? when replacement centre Jaque Fourie was yellow carded.

Wales, after trailing 20-3 heading to the last quarter, stormed back into the game through four penalties from replacement James Hook, and on several occasions in the last few minutes they had opportunities to launch the attacks that could have brought them victory.

However, De Villiers felt the Bok team's true character shone through in the latter stages.

"For me the big positive of this game was the way the team stuck together and played for one another when the pressure is on. That showed me that this team is a good team that is going places.

"We showed great composure in hanging on to the win when the pressure was on."

The coach complimented skipper John Smit for the way he led the team, and said that Smit's presence had brought a calmness that was missing when he was not present.