Rob Howley assesses Wales Autumn Test series: 'We’ll have to go to another level'

“I’ve loved every minute. I wouldn’t change the last five weeks for the world”. How times have changed for Rob Howley.

A week ago he sat in the same chair, in the same stadium, in very different mood having scraped past second tier Japan following a dismal display against Australia.

But roll forward seven days and Wales can look back on a record equaling three wins from four in their 2016 autumn series after a last day 27-13 win over South Africa and head into the winter break with something to build from.

“I thought we were conformable. I thought we were able to stress South Africa more times than they were able to stress us.

“I’m just delighted for the players because they deserve that win today and it was in a manner than was comfortable and we were clinical, particularly at yellow card time.

“We gave a couple of penalties away which sort of put us on the back foot but the overriding emotion is really pleased for the players.

“We were much more consistent in our shape. Probably we were two tries short out there.

Despite facing a South Africa side in the midst of a rugby crisis Wales can now at least reflect on equalling their most successful autumn series.

Not since 2002, and not at all in the Warren Gatland era, have they managed to win three from four of their November tests. And the last time they did was against Romania, Canada and Fiji.

Leigh Halfpenny’s return to his metronomic best put Wales out in front, and kept them there, when they struggled to penetrate the South African line.

When they finally did, through a deftly worked rolling maul finished by Ken Owens, the door seemed, finally, to be open.

But as has been a running thread through this series that door refused to jam and South Africa’s own score, from debutante Uzair Cassiem reminded the less than capacity 55,122 Cardiff crowd that theirs is a team that is a work in progress.

It was perhaps apt then that the one man who encapsulates Wales’ new free-flowing philosophy more than most, Justin Tipuric, should be the one to put the game beyond reach of the visitors in the 76th minute with a line break, side-step and finish to rival any in world rugby.

But while this record equalling autumn will look good on paper it will not hide the work that now has to be done by Howley and his backroom team if they are to make strides forward ahead of the 2017 Six Nations.

England, Ireland, Scotland and to some extent Italy have all show signs of evolution this campaign. Wales know they must do the same.

“We came in and we set our own goals of bettering our 70% record, we’ve bettered that.

“We’ve beaten South Africa for only the third time by a record margin. We’ll take it.

“I said to players in the changing room afterwards there’s another level in us and we’ll have to go to another level if we are going to get near the likes of England and Ireland.

“That’s the challenge and it’s one to look forward to.