CAPTAIN Sam Warburton has backed Wales to bounce back from their World Cup anguish against Australia by repeating their success against the Springboks in the quarter-finals.

Warren Gatland’s men were downed 15-6 by the Wallabies at Twickenham and now face an encounter with a resurgent South Africa at Twickenham next Saturday rather than Scotland.

The Boks will be favourites after recovering from their shock against Japan but Wales triumphed when the sides met in Cardiff last autumn.

“We beat South Africa 11 months ago and could easily have won over there (in Nelspruit the summer before when beaten at the death),” said Warburton.

“We can take massive confidence from that and if there’s one thing this group of players doesn’t mind it’s a challenge.

“Great teams bounce back and I’m more than confident we can because we have in the past. I’m disappointed we lost today but I definitely back us next week.”

Wales were left to rue a failure to take advantage of Australia being reduced to 13 men in an incredible spell of pressure inside the Wallabies’ 22 in the second half.

The skipper didn’t regret not pointing for the sticks, only his side’s failure to take their chances.

“We got extremely close a few times and backed ourselves going to the corner when they were one then two men down,” he said.

“Got to give Aus credit to defend like that but if we spend that much time in their 22 we have to come away with a try. If we had done that we really would have put them under pressure.

“I felt that we needed a try to beat Australia, we were six points behind and they were two men down.

“Any country would back themselves to go over, it’s disappointing we didn’t manage to get more from the scrum and driving lineout considering they were a man down in the pack but at the same time you have to give Aus credit.

“I am still proud of the effort from the guys, we threw absolutely everything at them and backed ourselves. We tried everything but you have to give credit to Australia’s defence.”