Scotland game 'like the final' for South Africa
Monday 28 September 2015 17:47, UK
South Africa will treat their game against Scotland as if it were the Rugby World Cup final itself, according to hooker Schalk Brits.
The Springboks got their campaign back on track by beating Samoa 46-6 after the humbling loss to Japan in their Pool B opener.
"For us it's our final," Saracens forward Brits said. "If we lose this, we're out. We are in this position and we're ready to fight and make our country proud."
Scotland produced passages of fluent attacking rugby in beating Japan 45-10 and the United States 39-16 in their first two matches and won a barbed compliment from 34-year-old Brits.
"I actually like watching them, for the first time," he said.
"The way Vern [Cotter, Scotland coach] wants to play, he plays with discipline but he gives the players freedom.
"Not just from a national point of view but from a club point of view, they're playing some very good rugby. For me, it's great to see Scotland being strong."
Though Brits noted that New Zealander Cotter has managed to enlist "one or two Kiwis", he acknowledged the work the coach has done since leaving French club Clermont Auvergne for the Scotland job.
"Always it will take a while to change game patterns and he had to change certain players to play his style of rugby. It's paying off at the right time for him," Brits said.
"There's going to be a lot of Scots coming over the border. And they sing a lot. So to all the South Africans: I don't know if there's tickets left, but please come and be vocal."
