With this success now behind them Warren Gatland’s side turn their attentions towards June and a three-Test series against Australia.

And the 29-year-old Dragons lock insists Wales are ready to ruffle some feathers on their trip Down Under.

“There’s always a determination to get results but I think we will go over there with more confidence now with a good World Cup and Six Nations behind us,” he told Wales Online.

“We know we need to up our levels if we are going to get results but we owe it to ourselves and we owe it to the Welsh public.

“We have the respect of the northern hemisphere, but if we want the respect in the world game then we have to go to the southern hemisphere and win games on their patch.

“By doing that, their teams start to sit up and take notice of you.

“If you can go down there and get wins suddenly you are in with a shout of being the top side of the world.

“The more you play them, the less daunting they become. You give them respect, but not too much.”

Charteris made two substitute appearances for Wales in the RBS 6 Nations and the 6ft9in second-row forward stressed that he was desperate to make the tour.

And he believes the different playing styles he encountered in the tournament would bode well for coming up against the southern hemisphere giants.

“It is the next step up for us, an old school international tour against a top team that includes three Tests and is going to see us away for a month,” he added.

“I just want to make that tour because it is going to be such a big challenge.

“We know we can compete on the fitness side of things and that has helped us improve other areas.

“When you play South Africa it is very physical, similar to when you play England or France.

“But when you play New Zealand or Australia they like to play a wider game and it is harder in terms of fitness.

“Ireland do that, Scotland as well. Teams everywhere play to their strengths and if you have big guys in your pack you are going to play a certain way.”