Boks eye Wales-Australia clash

The Boks will face the loser of the final pool A clash, which promises to be one of the matches of the tournament. Both Australia and Wales will be looking for the win as that would setup, on paper, an easier clash against either Scotland or Japan in the quarterfinals.

Springbok assistant coach John Macfarland said the Boks would watch Saturday's pool A clash with great interest but their experience playing both sides meant that there weren't many surprises in store.

"We played three Tests against Wales in 2014 and I think we know what they bring and they know what we bring. Australia we play regularly and the guys see them 24/7 - I think they are in a good space and they played really well last Saturday. We will look at both of them and put video work together on both teams and wait for the result on Saturday," Macfarland said.

After what was a far more tense pool stage than expected, Macfarland said the extended break was a welcome relief.

"What's great for us now is that we've had three very challenging, hard weeks in terms mental pressure and now we have a four day break to refresh our bodies and mind's and come back on Monday with a new focus."

Whatever the outcome of Saturday's clash, which will determine who the Boks face in the first knockout stage of the competition, Macfarland believes South Africa have been adequately tested. A shock 34-32 defeat to Japan was a wake-up call which saw the Boks surge to a 46-6 win over Samoa, record a 34-16 victory over Scotland which they followed up with a 64-0 drubbing of the USA on Wednesday.

"All international teams will Test you. Ask these guys, when there are 110 guys coming at you, you have to hit them backwards. So yes we have been tested and obviously it now becomes a one game season for us and we're looking forward to the playoffs."

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