CAPTAIN Sam Warburton says it would eclipse their achievement of 2011 if Wales can beat the Springboks to make it to a second successive World Cup semi-final.

Waren Gatland's men upset the odds to make the last four in New Zealand where they endured heartbreak at the hands of France.

They will have to do things the hard way of they are to improve on their fourth-placed finish.

They may have made it out of their group of death but the Springboks and then in all probability the All Blacks stand between them and a Twickenham final.

Given that under Gatland they have beaten Australia just once, in 2008, and South Africa once, last autumn, the odds are stacked against them.

"I think it would be a better achievement than four years ago," said Warburton. "I thought getting out of group was as hard as getting to the semi-finals (in 2011).

"And we didn't beat a southern hemisphere team at the last World Cup so that's a target - to beat one when it matters."

Gatland revealed yesterday that the management team had read the riot act at the players for failing to score against 13-man Australia in last week's Pool A decider.

Warburton said it was a fair cop.

"We blew a lot of chances," he said. "We went over the line two or three times and can't believe we didn't get over. (Put the ball through) Two or three pairs of hands and we are in the corner.

"They're easy fixes. Not as if we were outplayed by Australia. They defended incredibly well. and deserved to win as they defended really well.

"But we can take confidence from that as Australia are one of the form teams in the competition. On another day it would have been a victory, they are very small margins at this level."

"We have the ability to do it but have to get everything right," he continued. "If you give away a dodgy penalty or miss a tackle it costs you so badly against those sides."