SOUTH Africa coach Heyneke Meyer won't be lured into a false sense of security by Wales' catalogue of anguish against southern hemisphere big guns.

The Springboks head to the Millennium Stadium on Saturday afternoon with the intention of recording win number 28 against their hosts.

South Africa have lost more times to Newport than they have to Wales yet Warren Gatland's men were agonisingly close to adding to the solitary 1999 success in June.

They led 30-17 with seven minutes remaining in Nelspruit only for South Africa to snatch victory with a penalty try in the final seconds.

That disappointing finish has been a familiar tale for Wales against southern hemisphere opposition, with Australia and New Zealand also closing out wins in Cardiff this autumn after finding themselves trailing deep into the final quarter.

"In a sense I feel for them," Meyer said. "They've had a great season so far and when they played against us it was probably the two toughest games we've had all year, including those we had in the Championship.

"Those games could have gone either way and it was the same when they played New Zealand and Australia.

"I don't know why they seem to lose in the last 10 minutes, but I truly believe they are still a quality side.

"Every time we've played against Wales it's been very close and every single away game is even more tough."

South Africa will field wingers Cornal Hendricks and Lwazi Mvovo in their back three with full-back Willie le Roux.

JP Pietersen, Bryan Habana and Johan Goosen are unavailable because of club commitments and Meyer makes two more changes to his starting XV with prop Tendai Mtawarira and Bismarck du Plessis getting the nod.

Meyer wants to adopt an attacking approach but admits his side must win the physical confrontation first.

"Our discipline has to be 100 per cent because I believe it's going to be an arm wrestle," he said. "We want to open up the game and play some attractive rugby in our last game (of 2014), but it always starts up front and Wales have got a very good forward pack.

"Their defence is up there with the best in world and, if they get quick ball on the front foot, they have got one of the best back-lines. They are all big, fast and strong, so if they get quality ball they are a very dangerous side."

South Africa: W le Rouz, C Hendricks, J Serfontein, J de Villiers (captain), L Mvovo, P Lambie, C Reinach, T Mtawarira, B du Plessis, C Oosthuizen, E Etzebeth, V Matfield, C Coetzee, T Mohoje, D Vermeulen. Replacements: A Strauss, T Nyakane, J Redelinghuys, L de Jager, N Carr, F Hougaard, H Pollard, D de Allende