Boks are villains of the piece

The Springboks are used to being the pantomime villains of world rugby. Their bruising style, proclivity for controversy and yes, success, make them a team everybody loves to hate.

But this weekend they are really going to feel unloved. Playing against host nation Japan in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals in Japan will ensure that every non-South African, and a few South Africans too, will be against them.