South Africa have had enough time now to digest, understand and eventually get over that near-unbelievable loss to Japan in their opening match of the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Now, the Springboks need to show just why they were considered one of the pre-tournament favourites when they lock horns with Samoa in their second Pool B match on Saturday.
Villa Park in Birmingham will want to witness another stunning upset, but with South Africa now a lot more wary and also with a point, and plenty more, to prove, expect the Springboks to make a statement against Samoa, a team yet to beat their opponents, despite eight previous attempts.
South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer said his team will look to blitz Samoa from minute one, putting early pressure on their opponents to try and finish the match off as a contest by halftime.
"It will be brutally physical," Meyer said. "I know if we play South African rugby, we can beat anyone. It's said you have to win seven matches to win the World Cup.
"Now we only need to win six games. We're still in there. If we win six games, there's a good chance we'll win the World Cup."
Meyer also came to the defence of captain Jean De Villiers, who copped a lot of criticism after the abysmal loss to Japan. "First of all, I just want to say that we deserve all the criticism, it was unacceptable for the Springboks," Meyer added. "We're a proud nation and a proud team, and it's just unacceptable.
"It was one of the most difficult decisions in my life to make, you are almost in a lose-lose situation because if you don't pick your captain and you lose they will say you should have picked him.
"It was a tough choice but I know it is the right choice and I back him. I think if we maybe back each other more, South Africa would be a much better place with maybe less hate, less violence and more love. I am going to go with my captain, I have got total confidence in him and I know it is the right decision for the team."
Samoa, who beat the USA 25-16 in their first match at this Rugby World Cup, will know this is as good an opportunity to beat South Africa as any, but they will also be wary of a Springboks backlash.
"Japan's victory doesn't change anything, other than if anything it's woken everybody up," Samoa coach Stephen Betham said. "It's the World Cup -- everyone brings their best team, and the teams who take their chances can beat anyone.
"The tier one nations have had a wake-up call. There will be a backlash from South Africa, but we'll be prepared for it. Our surprise factor has gone, so they will come out all guns blazing."
Teams: South Africa: South Africa: Mtawariri, Strauss, du Plessis, Etzebeth, Matfield, Louw, Burger, Vermeulen, du Preez, Pollard, Habana, de Allende, De Villiers (c), Pietersen, Le Roux.
Replacements: Brits, Nyakane, Malherbe, De Jager, Kolisi, Pienaar, Lambie, Kriel.
Samoa: Taulafo, Matu'u, Johnston, Paulo, Tekori, Ioane, Lam, Treviranus (c), Fotuali'i, Stanley, A. Tuilagi, Lee-Lo, Perez, Pisi, Nanai-Williams.
Replacements: Avei, Afatia, Perenise, Levave, V. Tuilagi, Afemai, T. Pisi, G. Pisi.
Where to Watch Live
The 2015 Rugby World Cup Match 15 is scheduled for a 4.45 pm BST (9.15 pm IST, 11.45 am ET) start. Live coverage of South Africa vs Samoa in India on TV will be on Sony Six.
This Pool B match of this 2015 Rugby World Cup will be shown live in South Africa on SuperSport, while the live stream option is on SuperSport Live Video.
Viewers in the UK can watch the action live on ITV1, with the live stream online option on ITV Player. Sky Sport will show the match live in New Zealand, while the action can also be watched via live streaming on Sky Go NZ.
Viewers in Australia can watch Springboks vs Samoa live on Fox Sports, with the live stream option on Foxtel Play.
Audience in the USA can watch the rugby World Cup game live on Universal Sports, while the action can also be live streamed on Universal Sports Online.
