NOW comes the acid test for Wales. They deserve every credit for fighting back to share the series against Argentina, but next up comes South Africa.

That's going to be a different ball game altogether, not because the Springboks are suddenly world beaters after years of indifferent form, but because they will be another step up again.

Argentina may be rated in the world's top six and Wales performed pretty well to win a Test there, but the Pumas were under strength, as were Wales, and they don't look a match for the current Springboks.

South Africa look a formidable outfit and were far too strong for Ireland in both Tests this month and the Irish are a better side than Wales.

It appears South Africa have reinvented themselves after some disarray, relying, as ever, on a mighty pack but with backs to match this time and, at last, some real team spirit in their ranks.

It should form far too powerful a cocktail for Wales, especially as the game is being played at altitude and Wales will have had little time to acclimatise after a long journey.

Wales have had problems up front in both Tests against Argentina when there were periods when they were under the hammer and looked like crumbling.

Whatever Argentina can manage the Springboks can achieve threefold. They've got a fearsome pack, blindside Schalk Botha like a runaway bull, which will be stiffened on Saturday by the return of abrasive lock Bakkies Botha.

On top of that Percy Montgomery has taken to international rugby like a duck to water again after his three-year absence, though he did no more against the Irish than he did for Newport Gwent Dragons all season.

At least Wales were the only Northern Hemisphere side to win at the weekend, though what England might have achieved if lock Simon Shaw hadn't ludicrously been sent off so early will never be known.

It wrecked the game when it was nicely poised with England leading.

In defence of England and their rivals, to have to go Down Under following a similar visit last summer, the World Cup, the demands of the domestic season and the Six Nations is all too much.

There shouldn't be any tours in the summer after a World Cup and all the surfeit of Test rugby is doing is burning players out, causing injury (look at Jonny Wilkinson) and forcing many to retire early.

The game at the highest level is ever more demanding physically, the hits are huge and there is only so much the body can take.

But it's all about money, of course. Take Wales as an example.

There there were already three November games planned against Romania, Japan and New Zealand.

But that wasn't enough. A fourth had to be slotted in, a real money-maker against South Africa. Money is what it's all about and to hell with the players and their needs.

And to hell with the golfers in the US Open with the Shinnecock Hills course rendered almost unplayable. No wonder many golfers condemned the authorities and respected golf writers called for resignations at the top. But what a win by Retief Goosen, who kept his cool wonderfully well against Phil Mickelson and most of the 40,000 crowd. Talk about phlegmatic.

Now it's back to earth with a bump with the vile, beer-bellied England 'supporters' bringing disgrace on the country.

I'd pack the offenders off on a boat about 10 miles out and then get the bottom taken out, either that or, if England can't mercifully get themselves knocked out, force them to play all games behind closed doors without any cameras present.

That way the genuine suffer along with the head-bangers, I know, but I'm not convinced the loonies are in the minority as many apologists claim they are.

We are already the dumping ground of the world, so let's try to salvage whatever self respect we have left.