The Springboks kickstarted their World Cup title defence by unleashing the Bomb Squad to earn a victory over Scotland in Marseille on Sunday.
Tries from Pieter-Steph du Toit and Kurt-Lee Arendse in the second half helped the Springboks claim an 18-3 victory against a Scotland side that was determined to cause an upset.
There will, however, be concern over the status of Eben Etzebeth, after the second-row centurion limped off halfway into the first half.
The Springboks only took a three-point lead into the break, despite battering Scotland at the breakdown and causing no end of problems with aerial bombs.
A tense first half saw both sides get away with foul play, as Jesse Kriel escaped without punishment for a head-on-head collision, while Finn Russell was only penalised for a shoulder charge.
With Willie le Roux on the bench, the Springboks struggled to convert their dominance into points without the assist-king, only getting two Manie Libbok penalties as a reward.
Scotland, to their credit, fought back well towards the end of the first half and even won a penalty against the head just before the break, converted by Russell.
With the changeroom chat undoubtedly ringing in their ears, it didn’t take long for the fired-up Springboks to get a bit of payback, quickly winning a scrum penalty of their own to start the physical statement.
Once Rassie Erasmus unleashed the famed Bomb Squad, Scotland’s wall broke, as Du Toit forced his way over, before a moment of magic from a powerful counter-ruck saw Libbok find Arendse with a sensational no-look cross-field kick.
PIETER-STEPH DU TOIT! 🏉
The Springboks have come out firing in this second-half 🇿🇦
📱 Stream the #RSAvSCO match live: https://t.co/bDeiretgWP pic.twitter.com/8yUG9ZVht5
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) September 10, 2023
Otro de los nombres a brillar en la #RWC2023: Kurt-Lee Arendse. 🇿🇦🔥
⭐ Mirá todo el Mundial de Rugby en @StarPlusLA#RWCxESPNenStarPlus pic.twitter.com/raWLyN4td4
— ScrumRugby (@ScrumESPN) September 10, 2023
That gave South Africa enough of a buffer to see out the game, as Scotland saw plenty of possession in the closing stages, but could not find their way through an unrelenting defence.
Photo: Pascal GUYOT / AFP)