WALES will use the pain of the summer series defeat in South Africa as motivation as they take on the Springboks once again at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, writes Andrew Penman.

After defeats to Australia and New Zealand this is the final chance of a big southern hemisphere scalp in the autumn internationals.

But attack coach Rob Howley says the players will look back to the summer for inspiration against the Boks.

Having lost 38-16 in Durban, Wales were beaten 31-30 in the second Test in Nelspruit having led for 78 minutes.

“My main memory of Nelspruit is probably being 17-0 up,” said Howley.

“It is the learning we always speak about. Our cup is always half-full.

“I don't want to use the word revenge. This is another Test match. That Test match has gone.

“We always look forward. We will learn from the weekend against New Zealand and try to implement a strategy against South Africa.

“We know them, as they will know us, inside out in terms of the kicking game, attack and defence, and it comes down to those little moments in the game.

“I honestly believe that what happened in Nelspruit would be huge going forward to Rugby World Cup,” he added.

“For the players and coaches involved for this Saturday, this is possibly what might happen in the Rugby World Cup, where we've lost a game and now we are playing South Africa in the quarter-final.

“That is our motivation in terms of trying to put a script to it. It is important we front-up on the weekend because this could be exactly the situation in September/October next year.”

South Africa have been dealt another blow ahead of Saturday with JP Pietersen joining former world players of the year Bryan Habana and Schalk Burger on the unavailable list.

But Howley says they will still be formidable opposition, as always.

“They are still a world-class side, very physical,” he said.

"They have got world-class players, they have got a world-class driving lineout in Victor Matfield and Eben Etzebeth.

“They might be missing a couple of their back-row, but the strength in depth they have we've all witnessed during the past 18 months, in particular.

“We are expecting no different to what we had out in South Africa during the summer.”