WARREN Gatland wants Wales to be fired up by being written off again, stating that he’s more confident of success in tomorrow's semi-final against South Africa than he was in the quarter-final with France.

The head coach will be in charge of his penultimate game at Yokohama (kick-off 9am) with the prize being a place in the final next Saturday rather than the third-place play-off on Friday.

Wales lost to New Zealand in the 1987 semis and France in 2011 but Gatland’s men head into this game on a strong run of form.

They have won 20 of their last 23 Tests and have beaten the Springboks in all four meetings since the quarter-final defeat at Twickenham four years ago.

Wales spluttered to an undeserved quarter-final win against Les Bleus last Sunday thanks to Dan Biggar's conversion of Ross Moriarty's try, but Gatland is confident his players will raise their game.

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"I just think for us to get to the final of a World Cup, it will be unbelievable given the small playing numbers we have in Wales," head coach Gatland said.

"We feel like we continually punch above our weight. But the greatest thing about this group of players, since I have been involved with Wales, is when they put that red jersey on and play for Wales, how much that means.

"If we can make the World Cup final with the playing numbers we have got, it would be one hell of an achievement.

"It's one step at a time. We have got a challenge on our hands on Sunday against a side that has been improving.

"I am excited about it. I'm more looking forward to this game than I was last week, and more confident about this game than we probably were against France.

"There are probably nine or 10 players who won't be involved in another World Cup as well, so they have got to relish that opportunity and be excited about this.

"You have got a chance to do something special in your life, and these chances come along very rarely and you have got to grab them with both hands.

"When you want something bad enough and you really, really want it, then it can happen."

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The stage is set for two tight semi-finals but most tipsters predict a repeat of the group stage clash between New Zealand and the Boks for the Webb Ellis Cup.

"If they continue to do that (write Wales off) over the next couple of days, that would be brilliant," Gatland said. "Please continue to do that, as it does get us up when people write us off.

"It will probably be a kicking fest, they kicked 30 times against Japan, so we just have got to be able to handle their game.

"It won't be the prettiest game in the world, it will be a tight Test match with probably teams playing for territory, depending on what the weather is like."

All three Dragons are involved with Moriarty starting at number eight in place of the injured Josh Navidi. Aaron Wainwright continues at blindside with hooker Elliot Dee on the bench.

Wales: L Halfpenny; G North, J Davies, H Parkes, J Adams; D Biggar, G Davies; W Jones, K Owens, T Francis, J Ball, AW Jones (captain), A Wainwright, J Tipuric, R Moriarty. Replacements: E Dee, R Carre, D Lewis, A Beard, A Shingler, T Williams, R Patchell, O Watkin.

South Africa: W Le Roux; S Nkosi, L Am, D de Allende, M Mapimpi; H Pollard, F de Klerk; T Mtawarira, M Mbonambi, F Malherbe, E Etzebeth, L de Jager, S Kolisi (captain), P S du-Toit, D Vermeulen. Replacements: M Marx, S Kitshoff, V Koch, RG Snyman, F Mostert, F Louw, H Jantjies, F Steyn.

Referee: Jerome Garces (France)