The Springboks were not at their bustling best on Sunday night, but a resilient defence bodes well for the rest of the tournament.
Facing off in their opening game against an in-form Scotland team in Marseilles, the Boks were never going to canter to victory and both teams will surely be carrying a series of aches and pains this week.
As South Africa prepares for its second Pool B assignment against Romania on Sunday at 3pm, flyhalf Manie Libbock’s inconsistent goalkicking success rate remains a major concern among fans – and surely the Bok brains trust.
Goalkicking will only grow in importance as the tournament progresses.
Libbock missed two penalties and a conversion, while stand-in kicker Faf de Klerk missed a late penalty… 11 points left on the pitch.
As this becomes more and more of a talking point, Libbock is going to need to shut out the noise should the Boks make a deep run.
Lock Eben Etzebeth leaving the field with a shoulder injury also caused a scare, but word is he’ll be back and ready for combat in 10 days’ time.
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The Scotland clash was a bruising encounter which ultimately played to South Africa’s forward strength.
In 160 minutes against Scotland and New Zealand, South Africa have conceded just 10 points, an encouraging sign. Defence and forward domination win tournaments.
With only a few penalties dividing the teams at the break, Pieter-Steph du Toit crashed over in the 47th minute to set the ball rolling.
A touch of brilliance from Libbock then unlocked the Scottish defence to allow Kurt-Lee Arendse to touch down in the corner three minutes later.
The scorers would not be troubled again as the game finished 18-3 in favour of the Boks.
And although only three points separated the teams at half time, South Africa were never heavily pressured over the 80 minutes.
Sure, Duhan van der Merwe probably would have scored if Darcy Graham had offloaded during a breakaway and there has been widespread chatter about whether Jesse Kriel should have been carded for a high tackle.
But ultimately the statistics tell a story of quiet dominance.
Scotland had just one kick at goal in the match and got no point returns from six trips into the South African 22.
They lost four lineouts and bar two scrum penalties won in a row, were completely outmatched once the bomb squad came in for the second half.
In fact, South Africa made more metres post-contact (315) than Scotland made in total (226).
Elsewhere in the first round, France proved themselves to be the real deal, edging the All Blacks in a thrilling opening Pool A game last Friday.
Matthieu Jalibert deputised ably for the injured Romain Ntamack at flyhalf, while scrumhalf Antoine Dupont and No 8 Gregory Alldritt delivered on their status as the world’s best in their respective positions.
When the lights shone brightest, this team delivered. Be wary the French in their own backyard.
In Pool D, Argentina disappointed as a potential dark horse when they were beaten by 14-man England as flyhalf George Ford scored every one of the team’s 27 points off the boot.
Australia were briefly threatened by Georgia and Wales were pushed all the way by an exciting Fiji. Do not count the Pacific Islanders out of Pool C.
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