With the Springboks, nothing is black and white

They go into the tournament with race representation plaguing them, but if South Africa come through the pool phase unscathed and purring, no team would relish taking them on in knockout rugby.

Heyneke Meyer’s tenure as Springbok coach went along relatively smoothly by South African standards for the better part of three years. But then came Dublin.

Last November, on a brisk night at the Aviva, spearheaded by a tactical master-class from Johnny Sexton, Ireland smothered the Springboks to secure a superb 29-15 win. And the aftershocks are still lingering.