FORMER Newport Gwent Dragons coach Leigh Jones believes Wales can follow in his Japan side's footsteps by turning over the Springboks in Saturday's World Cup quarter-final.

South Africa had to rally from an opening weekend loss to the Brave Blossoms in Brighton to qualify for the last eight.

They secured group top spot thanks to wins against Samoa, the USA and Scotland but Jones, an assistant to namesake Eddie with Japan, believes Warren Gatland's side can upset the odds.

"Wales are in a good position and this weekend is a good time for them to play South Africa. Despite the injuries, they have a good chance of winning the game," he said.

Jones was speaking when he facing students from the University of South Wales.

Taking questions from the final year sports studies and sports coaching students, Leigh – who did a PhD at USW called 'The Contextual & Micro-political World of Aspiring Professional Coaches' – gave an insight into how Japan cemented their famous victory.

"Because the players from Japan were so much smaller and lighter than the opposition – it was like a middleweight fighter coming up against a heavyweight – we had to approach the game differently," he said.

"We knew we had to be faster, fitter, and play the game closer to the ground – getting a lower centre of gravity.

"This meant a smaller man could get a bigger man on the ground more easily, but also it would make it more difficult for him to get up because he was bigger. It's tougher to get 18 stone off the ground than it is to lift 13 stone.

"Over the course of a game that made them much more fatigued, so we were able to get to them at the end of the game and secure the win."

Leigh, who coached at Ebbw Vale, Newport Gwent Dragons and with Wales under Graham Henry - also gave some insights into the way the coaching team ensured Japan were totally prepared.

"Our job is all about allowing an athlete to perform," he said. "A dynamic coaching team can hit the performance. If you're not right, the players aren't ready. I'm a great believer in the saying – 'A fish rots from the head', it's very true."

Anyone interested in the sports courses available at the University of South Wales can find out more at an Open Day on October 24. More details at southwales.ac.uk/open-days