Coach Graham Henry last night issued an ominous warning to his Welsh players ahead of next week's Wembley clash against the world champions South Africa.

Wales were destroyed 96-13 by the Springboks in Pretoria barely four months ago and Henry said: "South Africa have improved about 30 per cent from when they won the World Cup in 1995.

"They've won 13 matches in a row, or something, and there is no doubt they are a better side now than in 1995. In my opinion, we will be playing the world's best team.

"They have tremendous self belief in what they are trying to do and it will be a little bit like walking the plank for us, going in against them without having a warm up match."

However, Henry is happy with preparations for the game.

Tri-Nations champions South Africa arrive in Britain later this week for a possible Grand Slam tour, featuring Tests on successive Saturdays against Wales, Scotland, Ireland and England.

Fears that Australia may be unfit for this month's international with Five Nations rugby champions France were voiced by former Wallaby captain Nick Farr-Jones yesterday. Farr-Jones, speaking from Paris, said his fear was that the rampaging French would be match fit while Australia would have just one warm-up game coming off a long break.

The vast majority of Australia's 26-man squad have not played since the last World Cup qualifier against Samoa on September 26th, with just one match against France A at Lille before the Paris international six days later.

Following the Test against France, Australia play England at Twickenham on November 28th.