By Nick Said

(Reuters) – South Africa will face a challenge in adapting to the greater freedom in build-up play offered by northern hemisphere referees when they face Wales, but winger Francois Louw says the experience of their agent Richie Gray will help them.

Scot Gray was called into the Springboks squad in August to help them become more effective at the breakdown, and this year coach Heyneke Meyer’s focus is on an area he believes will be crucial for his team at the 2015 World Cup in England.

Louw, South Africa’s foremost representative of winning and securing the ball on the ground, says the skill plays a much greater role in games in the northern hemisphere, where referees generally prefer to give their teams more opportunities to contest.

“Richie has been great for us, he’s a great addition to our coaching team with his philosophies around the breakdown,” Bath striker Louw said at a press conference in Cardiff, where the test takes place on Saturday.

“As a Scot, he’s obviously a bit more attuned to the way the guys play here. He brings a different perspective to this area.”

“The guys really understand him and believe in his views and the things he says. He has come up with some great drills and helped the guys develop their breakdown skills.

“We are now making the right decisions, especially in defense, when to go in and when not to. And in attack, of course, we want to intervene early to prevent the opponent from slowing down the ball.”

Ireland’s Alain Rolland will take charge of Saturday’s match, the first time he has refereed the Welsh team since their 9-8 defeat to France in the 2011 World Cup semi-final, in which he sent off Welsh captain Sam Warburton.

“I think we’ve seen in the past, certainly in the last year, that referees in the northern hemisphere are happy to allow there to be a breakdown and there is more competition there,” Louw said.

“I think that’s an important point in northern hemisphere rugby. The guys there compete, they like to counterattack and slow down the opposition ball. That will be a big challenge for us.”

“Distribution is an important element. If we have a good platform for attack, it will make our team better and better.”

After Wales this weekend, South Africa will play Scotland in Edinburgh on 17 November and France in Paris on 23 November.

(Written by Nick Said; edited by Sonia Oxley)