Roberts and co came within a Leigh Halfpenny kick of the World Cup final this time last year and chalked up a third Grand Slam in eight years in the spring but they remain sixth in the world rankings.

With vital ranking points for 2015 World Cup seedings – and considerable pride – on offer this autumn when Wales hosts Argentina, Samoa, New Zealand and Australia, Roberts is desperate to see his side end their Southern Hemisphere hoodoo.

Both Samoa and Fiji have caused Wales trouble in the past while they have not beaten New Zealand since 1953 and they last defeated the Wallabies in 2008, following this summer’s tour Down Under which saw a series of near misses.

And 25-year-old Roberts, who is set to add to his 44 caps this autumn, is desperate to improve that record.

“I don’t know if there’s a need to strike one up against Australia or New Zealand but we want to,” he said.

“It is the next step for us as a team. We played at the World Cup, albeit we didn’t make the final and it was pretty heart-breaking to be a part of that.

“Then the Grand Slam last year was fantastic. Obviously we’ve then gone to Australia and lost three Tests and now we welcome four very strong teams.

“We know that if we’re not on our money then we could lose every game so we know we need to put in some very strong performances.

“Argentina are a very strong team and they’ve come on leaps and bounds since they’ve joined the Rugby

Championship, then Samoa, as we know, almost beat us at home a couple of years back and they’re a very physical team, as we found out at the World Cup.

“And then we’ve got the All Blacks and Australia – the top two teams in world rugby. It’s a very tough autumn coming up and the guys know that and we need to take that belief in from the Six Nations and go win them all – that’d be nice.”

And Roberts admits he has extra motivation for the autumn, having missed out on the summer tour due to knee surgery.

“It was very hard to miss the Australia tour. I had the operation on my knee in April and I was out for five and a half, six months,” he added.

“You see Wales playing and you’re not there and you miss it and you crave it again.

“And that’s what drives me as a rugby player.

“To wear that red of Wales is a very special feeling and hopefully come the autumn I will get my opportunity again but I know I need to work really hard and put in some good performances to be worthy of wearing the shirt again.”