“The Scots are unpredictable, and you can never write them off. This is going to be one of our most important games if we want to progress beyond the group stage.”
The Boks face Scotland, Ireland, Tonga and Romania in their pool B matches as they bid to navigate a path to the quarterfinals.
“All of us South Africans are putting our heads too far ahead,” Erasmus said.
“Common sense says you must plan well and play well in our second [against Romania] and last [against Tonga] pool games because there are players there that can play.
“But we face Scotland in the first match. If we beat Scotland, then we’ve got a little more breathing space in the rest of the pool.
“Everybody’s talking Ireland, Ireland, Ireland, but people are underestimating the importance of the Scotland game. Scotland will probably be saying, ‘Why are you guys not talking about us?’”
Etzebeth, Erasmus send warning on Boks’ World Cup opener against Scots
Image: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
Unpredictable Scotland will be gunning to knock the Springboks off their perch when the sides collide in a pivotal opening World Cup showdown on September 10, says lock Eben Etzebeth.
The world champions, who flew to Europe on Saturday, have warm-up games against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday and New Zealand in London the next Friday before their World Cup opener against the Scots in Marseille on September 10.
Though the Boks are in the same pool as top-ranked Ireland, Etzebeth and South Africa’s director of rugby, Rassie Erasmus, both feel Scotland loom as a major threat.
“It’s going to be a tough tournament because there are quite a few teams that have played incredible rugby in the last season or two,” Etzebeth said.
“Scotland are always a tough team to play against, as we saw when they beat France two weeks ago and narrowly lost to them on Saturday.
“The Scots are unpredictable, and you can never write them off. This is going to be one of our most important games if we want to progress beyond the group stage.”
The Boks face Scotland, Ireland, Tonga and Romania in their pool B matches as they bid to navigate a path to the quarterfinals.
“All of us South Africans are putting our heads too far ahead,” Erasmus said.
“Common sense says you must plan well and play well in our second [against Romania] and last [against Tonga] pool games because there are players there that can play.
“But we face Scotland in the first match. If we beat Scotland, then we’ve got a little more breathing space in the rest of the pool.
“Everybody’s talking Ireland, Ireland, Ireland, but people are underestimating the importance of the Scotland game. Scotland will probably be saying, ‘Why are you guys not talking about us?’”
Etzebeth is confident Marvin Orie can slot in at No 5 for the world champions in France in the absence of regular second-row partner Lood de Jager.
“Lood is the best in the world for me in the No 5 slot,” he said. “He’s a great guy on the line and we’re going to miss him. I am very sad he is not in the group, but it is more important that his health is better soon.
“With us, it is usually the No 5 slot that decides the linemen and Franco [Mostert], Marvin Orie and RG [Snyman] will now play a bigger role.
“Fortunately we have depth, and it gives peace of mind that Marvin started a Test against England at Twickenham last year. It will give him the confidence to make his mark at this level.
“Guys like Schalk Brits, Francois Louw and Beast Mtawarira quit after the previous tournament and there are one or two injuries, but it’s the same core and we’re much more experienced now.
IN PICS | Rousing send-off for Springboks as they depart for Rugby World Cup
“You try to win the cup every time and we feel like the whole of South Africa is behind us again.
“We are going to France to defend our title and it remains the greatest honour to represent your country in the tournament.”
Springboks' warm-up fixtures
Springboks' World Cup fixtures
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