DEFENCE coach Shaun Edwards believes the way that Wales pushed South Africa hard in the face of adversity shows the progress made by the Six Nations champions, writes Chris Kirwan.

The autumn series started with defeat in Cardiff when the Springboks triumphed 24-15 at the Millennium Stadium.

It was yet another defeat to a southern hemisphere big gun but Edwards hailed the character of the squad for coping with a nightmare start to be in with a shout of victory entering the final quarter.

Wales lost centre Jonathan Davies, wing Liam Williams and talisman tighthead Adam Jones to injury and trailed 17-3 after an early Bok onslaught.

"With all the injuries that occurred in the first half it would have been very easy for us to fold," said Edwards.

"Three or four years ago, physically we could not have held on in that game. We would have run out and lost by 20 points.

"The way that they hung on there with the number of injuries, people coming in and playing in different positions, physically we stayed with them and they are pretty much the most physical team on the planet.

"We were mixing it with them. Three or four years ago, we'd have got blown away there.

"(Referee) Alain Rolland said after the game it's one of the most intense breakdown battles he's ever refereed and coming from a bloke who has refereed many big games that's obviously quite praise indeed.

"For us to be in them sort of battles it can only do us good."

Wales have turned their attention to Argentina and Edwards faces plenty of hard graft on the training paddock to bring a new midfield up to speed.

He has been used to the partnership Davies and Jamie Roberts putting up a brick wall in defence and admits it's impossible for the new 12 and 13 to hit those high standards.

"It's going to be a week where we've got to get combinations and confidence in each other," he said.

"But it's also important for me to remember I'm never going to get them up straight to the level of Jamie and Jonathan because they've played together the most record times for centres.

"I have to be realistic in my expectations of where we can get them, but hopefully to a level that is sufficient enough to win on Saturday."