WALES are being tipped to make the World Cup quarter-finals and give South Africa a run for their money by ex-Springboks star Thinus Delport.

And the former wing and full back gave Wales coach Warren Gatland a heads up on how to beat the mighty Boks in their opening match.

Delport, who made the last eight with South Africa in the 2003 World Cup, also warns Wales to learn from history when they face other formidable group foes Samoa and Fiji.

It won’t be mission impossible for Wales against South Africa, but he said the form book points to who the winner is most likely to be in that game on September 11 in Wellington.

“South Africa have a really good record against Wales although recent games have been close,” said Delport, who won 18 caps for the Boks between 2000 and 2003.

“The Springboks have a relatively conservative game plan and you have to stop one of their key players in scrum-half Fourie du Preez from getting that set piece going as well as their kick and chase game.

“The South Africa game plan is built upon physicality and the set-piece and we have some of the best lineout jumpers in the world.”

Delport said it may sound simpler than it really is for Wales to pull off just their second win against the Boks: “It’s easy to say that all you have to do to beat them is to beat them up front.

“You have to be smart about it, tire their big forwards out by retaining the ball and keeping it in play as long as possible, but it’s not an easy task to deny them those lineouts, scrums and driving mauls.

“It’s not impossible although it is going to be a tough ask – but Wales have got players who, on their day, can turn things around although their record against southern hemisphere teams isn’t great.

“But they showed against South Africa in the autumn they can compete and if they can keep their composure for 80 minutes, they’ll definitely be able to do it because they have come close in the past.”

Wales are in a difficult group, facing Samoa, who beat them in Cardiff during the 1991 and 1999 World Cups, and Fiji who vanquished them in the 2007 tournament.

The ex-Worcester and Gloucester favourite has also given a blueprint on how they can avoid falling flat on their faces against them this autumn.

“Samoa and Fiji both play on a lot of confidence and they will go into those games with that confidence of having beaten Wales on such a big stage before,” he said.

“It’s really tough to play these teams when they are flying high on confidence.”

It’s so important, he said, that Wales don’t underestimate them again. “Wales have to try and contain them – that will be key,” he said.

“They have to put pressure on them and disrupt them from getting that confidence and getting a bit of space. If you can do that you will be able to beat them.

“South Africa have a really good record against Samoa and Fiji. You have to physically overpower them and not allow them the space to weave their magic because they are both teams with athletes that can do anything on any day.

“Fiji came close in the last World Cup in their quarter-final against South Africa – they pushed us all the way, the same as Tonga did in the pool stages.

“It’s key not to underestimate them. The most important things are to win the collisions, stop them behind the gain line, disrupt them in the scrum and lineout so you deny them those good opportunities to start their attacks.

“If Wales keep their heads, I can see them going through.”