Wales have won just one of the 27 matches between the two teams to date and are yet to taste Test success on South African soil but Meyer has no doubt how dangerous Warren Gatland’s troops can be.
Gatland’s tourists may be without a host of injury victims, including skipper Sam Warburton and fly half Rhys Priestland, but they claimed back-to-back RBS 6 Nations titles in 2012 and 2013 and played a starring role in last summer’s British & Irish Lions series in Australia and Meyer expects a ferocious battle at Kings Park in two days’ time.
“There has been talk in South Africa that Wales are sending a second string team and there are many injuries,” said Meyer. “We know they have got a whole team out basically and a new captain, but I have always had respect for Wales.
“They have got unbelievable backs, big strong ball carriers. If you look at their backs, they are all over 1.9 metres and over 100kgs. What they do is get go forward ball with their backs and attack the 10 and 12 channel so we know we have to defend well there.
“They are a team that can keep the ball for a lot of phases, like they showed (against Eastern Province Kings); they have a quality pack; they are good in the set phases; and obviously they are very motivated coming to South Africa and playing against the Boks. They are a real quality side.”
Meyer’s men thrashed a star-studded World XV 47-13 in their first international of the year last weekend but the former Leicester boss insists they will have to be even better to beat Wales.
Just 4.4 points have separated the sides on average across the past five encounters since 2008 and Meyer doesn’t expect things to get any easier this time around.
“I have always respected their coaching team as well and if you look at their previous games against us, you will see they have always been close, even before my time,” added Meyer.
“We know it is going to be a tough, tough battle. They have come from the Six Nations, they have had trials and they have had a week off to prepare.
“We want to use this week to prepare but we need to also improve because we know it will be a much tougher battle than the previous Saturday.”
