South Africa’s 34-32 loss to Japan in Brighton on Saturday (Sunday NZT) sent shock waves through the rugby world and left the Boks scurrying for positives.
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In previous meetings between the sides, Scotland have been able to dominate physically and in 2004, they ran in 14 tries against the Japanese in a 100-8 victory. “They get outscored consistently in the second half”. Are we fitter? Definitely.
Japan will have only four days between their two matches.
However, Burger warned that tough tests still awaited the fearless Blossoms at this World Cup.
Jones also took umbrage with Scotland’s coach, Vern Cotter, who has since apologised, for suggesting Japan might “tank” against South Africa to save themselves for his side.
“We prepared very well to beat the Springboks, our preparation was nearly flawless , so working towards Scotland we have to make sure we don’t get too ahead of ourselves”.
“I don’t think there are scores to settle”. Their minds seem to be ok.
“We obviously watched the Japan v South Africa game”. We play Japan quite a bit, at least once a year, and they are always tight battles.
“Having worked with the Springboks in 2007, and in the process working closely with people like Gert Smal, Allister Coetzee, Jean de Villiers and Schalk Burger, it gave me a brief taste of what Stormers rugby and Western Cape rugby is all about”, Jones said. It was very emotional but we have got to put that emotion aside. We knew as a squad we couldn’t underestimate them and that proved to be the case. “And we know the English don’t like the Scottish, so that’s another bonus for us”.
Scotland assistant coach Matt Taylor has shrugged off suggestions that the Dark Blues are under extra pressure as they prepare to face World Cup shock-troops Japan.
“Scotland are going to maul, so it’s probably not going to be a pretty game”, said Jones, who identified Greig Laidlaw as the player his team feared most.
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Leitch and his team-mates will have barely had time to come back down to earth following Saturday’s stunning win over mighty South Africa when they meet the Scots at Gloucester’s Kingsholm ground on Wednesday. So I think the thing that from our point of view that we all, we really knew they’re a good side and they showed that at the weekend.
