Dragons RFC lock Ben Carter is relishing facing the world champions alongside club team-mate Matthew Screech this weekend – insisting ‘who better to test yourself against?’.
The new-look Wales second-row partnership of Screech and Carter face a stern test at Twickenham when they tackle South Africa at Twickenham on Saturday (kick-off 2pm).
The Dragons duo face South Africa's lock pairing of Eben Etzebeth and Franco Mostert - whose last international game together was the World Cup final victory against New Zealand in Paris last October.
Etzebeth has more caps (119) than the Wales starting pack (118) - the Springboks lock pair this weekend have 192 internationals between them.
Carter and Screech have 12 caps – and five starts - but they are determined to face the test face on.
"I think it is is exciting," Carter told the Scrum V podcast. "They are the world champions - who better to test yourself against?
"I love playing with Screech, he has been a great help to me coming through at the Dragons and I'm looking forward to doing it in the Welsh shirt."
Carter, 23, last played a Test when he faced South Africa in the World Cup warm-up match - where the Springboks won Wales 52-16 in Cardiff.
And Carter, who missed the global tournament and Six Nations because of a hamstring injury, is eager to make up for lost time after bulking up during his spell on the sidelines.
"I am probably five or six kilos bigger," said Carter.
"I put a lot on when I was injured with my hamstring and in the first few games, I was a bit worried it was too much, but I feel I have got used to it and carrying that extra weight in collisions.
"It will only benefit me in my career the quicker I can get used to being a bit heavier.
"If I can get to a point with my fitness levels where I was before, that will only be beneficial.
"One of my work-ons since the start of my professional career has been the collisions and physicality.
"This season I put a big focus on getting bigger and stronger to help in that aspect, so Saturday will be a brilliant test."
I love playing with Screech, he has been a great help to me coming through at the Dragons and I'm looking forward to doing it in the Welsh shirt...
