Scotland 3, South Africa 27:The phoney stuff is over and England have been warned. Their World Cup pool rivals South Africa look ominously strong and the Springbok coach, Jake White, is almost blase about his team's prospects against the defending champions in Paris on September 14th. "If we play well there's no reason why we shouldn't win," he said. Few neutrals, let alone Scots, would argue.
Some will regard White's optimism as premature given South Africa managed only three points in the closing 52 minutes of their final pre-tournament run-out. But there is something about this side that hints at much more to come and the input of the former Australia coach Eddie Jones as a technical adviser is already evident.
It is no secret South Africa can defend like cornered lions. What they need - and they are not alone - is a bit more stealth in their opponents' 22 and Jones's influence was conspicuous on Saturday. Bryan Habana's 22nd-minute try, bursting unstoppably on to a short ball from the base of a close-range scrum, was straight out of the old Wallaby play-book.
Nor are there many outsiders with a better insight into British players. Simply by dint of his insider status, the presence of Jones, who is heading back to Saracens after the World Cup, is a headache for Brian Ashton and his England management team. "Eddie's known as a very astute rugby man and he adds a huge amount of value," confirmed White.
"He's coached against us and he's analysed all the opposition. His other great asset is he knows what's involved psychologically when it comes to big knock-out games."
Jones himself dismissed any notion of divided loyalties and offered a teasing morsel. "I think there is more to come from this side. If you can score three tries in six minutes you can do it for a longer period of time."
Between them, White and Jones are also convinced they know what Ashton is up to. "England have gone back to what worked for them in 2003," White said. "There's no doubt in my mind they've gone for a huge pack of forwards, a 9 and 10 who are physical and can kick and a 12 who will keep the forwards in the game."
The pre-match theory had been that the biggest team in Scottish history might just upset the Boks. With Schalk Burger dominant and Juan Smith picking up the scraps, Scotland barely had a sniff after a promising first quarter. They hung in bravely but their midfield created nothing and the Springboks eased home with tries for Jaque Fourie and Fourie du Preez.
SCOTLAND:R Lamont; N Walker, R Dewey, A Henderson, S Webster; C Paterson, M Blair; G Kerr, R Ford, E Murray, N Hines, J Hamilton, J White (capt), K Brown, J Callam. Replacements: A Jacobsen for Kerr (28 mins), H Southwell for Henderson, S Murray for Hamilton (46 mins), A Parks for Paterson (55 mins), A Hogg for Callam (63 mins), R Lawson for Blair (70 mins)
SOUTH AFRICA:P Montgomery; J B Pietersen, J Fourie, F Steyn, B Habana; B James, F Du Preez; O Du Randt, G Botha, C J Van der Linde, B Botha, V Matfield (capt), S Burger, J Smith, D Rossouw. Replacements: M van Heerden for Rossouw, J Pretorius for F Steyn (56 mins), R Pienaar for Montgomery, B J Botha for Du Randt, B Du Plessis for G Botha, A Van den Berg for B Botha (62 mins), A Willemse for Pietersen (73 mins).
Referee:C Berdos (France).
