Wales and South Africa have gone about their business quietly in Tokyo this week, avoiding the barbs, cheap shots, claims and counter-claims that have marked the buildup to the other Rugby World Cup semi-final this weekend.

The Welsh haven’t tasted defeat in a match of any meaning since March last year in the Six Nations. That’s 19 months ago.

The long goodbye to Warren Gatland, their coach of 12 years, could yet end at the country’s first ever World Cup final – possibly against his native New Zealand. Now that would be some way to go out.