The send-off the Springboks received on Friday at Montecasino in Johannesburg was reminiscent of the farewell I experienced as national coach in 2011. The way South Africans again came together to see the team off was heart warming. We clearly draw hope from such occasions.The Springboks are now settled in Eastbourne, England, and will be bracing for the hurdles that lie ahead. Drawn in Pool B, South Africa will first tackle Japan in Brighton on Saturday. My experience of the World Cup is that the first match is the most important because it sets the tone for the rest of the tournament. While we all have the luxury to criticise, the right calls will have to come from the coach. I imagine Heyneke Meyer knows who his best team is and, if I was in his position, I would afford my first-choice players the opportunity to start against Japan so they can settle in and get the confusion out of the way.A number of our players head into the tournament with a lack of game time, and the fact that South Africa last played a competitive match on August 15 is a valid concern. I believe the Springboks are at a disadvantage because they can't only utilise the pool fixtures to build momentum towards the knockout phase. Over and above a lack of game time, form and psychological healing from crucial injuries remain untested at the moment. How the players overcome these challenges will give meaning to their tournament. Furthermore, once we are comfortable with the above-mentioned areas, it will afford us the freedom to make those crucial decisions later on in the tournament, when it matters the most.While South Africa will take a horses-for-courses approach at the 2015 World Cup, our best match-day 23 will differ from game to game according to the situation.Meyer's men will first have to navigate the pool phase before setting their sights on the quarterfinal stage.Japan are a team that have grown immensely since their first World Cup qualification in 1987. While they have won only one World Cup match - against Zimbabwe in 1991- Japan are a competitive nation and take that trait to the rugby field. With Japan to host the 2019 World Cup, a substantial amount of money has been injected to grow their game. I believe they have found the balance between being professional and responsible.While we should not underestimate the role head coach Eddie Jones has played in preparing Japan for the World Cup since he took charge in 2012, the public announcement that he will step down post-tournament smacked of poor timing. The 55-year-old, tipped to take charge of the Stormers next year, should certainly not be thinking about his next job when he is in the midst of a World Cup campaign. Some will rightly call Jones's character and loyalty into question because his ill-timed announcement could have a negative effect on the team unit.Having served as South Africa's technical adviser at the 2007 World Cup, Jones's side will be well prepared in terms of what to expect.But being able to blunt the Springboks' attack is a different matter altogether. The Springboks will dominate the set pieces as well as the collisions. Japan will aim to play at a high tempo, but they might struggle on the heavier fields...