Scots' Twickenham triumph bad news for Boks

South Africans were beaming as Scotland snatched a late victory over England at Twickenham, but the result could spell trouble for the Springboks at the World Cup, according to GAVIN RICH.

Scotland began their Six Nations campaign on a high as South African-born wing Duhan van der Merwe scored a brace to secure a 29-23 win.

While Bok fans would have revelled in England’s demise, Scotland’s sudden rise would not be good news for South Africa.

In his column for SuperSport.com, Rich argues that, if their current form continues, Scotland will present an unwelcome impediment to the Springboks in Pool B at the Rugby World Cup in France later this year.

“No doubt the Scotland win will have been greeted with glee by South Africans. Partly because Scotland are always underdogs in most eyes when they play England, particularly at Twickenham. And everyone loves underdogs,” writes Rich. “But also because of the England thing, meaning how much South Africans tend to love seeing England being put in their place on the rugby field.

“That glee though should be tempered, for the reality is that with the Springbok Rugby World Cup challenge that gets underway just seven months from now in mind, the first Saturday of the Six Nations should have been a sobering reminder to South Africans that this could be the Boks’ toughest World Cup yet.

“What should concern the Boks is that for the first time ever they are in a World Cup Pool that features not one but two other teams in the top five of the rankings. Coach Rassie Erasmus was extremely nervous ahead of his team’s clash with Italy in the last World Cup for fear of the calamity that a Group Stage exit would be, so imagine how he is going to be ahead of the early games in France.

“You’d bet good money on South Africa being able to beat Scotland at a neutral venue. But still, if Scotland can win at Twickenham, they can win a one-off against the other top sides. And if they beat the Boks, then it is even more imperative that the Boks beat the world’s current No 1 ranked side.”