Sam Warburton, the Wales captain, was not surprised that his side ended their southern hemisphere hoodoo on Saturday.

The win over South Africa was only Wales' second in 108 years, and their first victory against the either Springboks, New Zealand or Australia since November 2008.

Despite suffering a number of agonising losses to world rugby's big three international sides during Warren Gatland's seven-year tenure as head coach, Warburton never lost heart that one day his team would triumph.

"It does not feel like a monkey off our back now," Warburton said. "It has always felt as if we have been able to achieve a win against one of these three sides and that's why I don't feel surprised that we have won. I always thought it was a matter of when, not if, and I never doubted the ability of our team.

"You only have to be in our changing room before the game and see how motivated everyone is to play these sides. What pleased me was that there was more talking in the last five minutes than I have ever heard in any Test match I have played in. That was one of the pleasing things."