Boks revive World Cup campaign

The Springboks ran in six tries through Schalk Burger, Schalk Brits and Bryan Habana, who all grabbed a try apiece. Sharks wing JP Pietersen looks to have rediscovered his form and scored a hat-trick of tries.

Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer was most pleased with the way in which his forward pack made amends for their poor showing against Japan last week. He laid down a challenge to his pack to do justice to the legacy and reputation of Springbok forwards.

"There was a lot of criticism of the team but to come out and deliver a performance like that - I salute them," Meyer said after the match.

"One of the pleasing things for me, and the purists out there will like it as well, was to see a Green pack going forward. I thought our driving and forward play was superb. Before hand, I said to the players that people don't respect our forwards anymore and it's time that we put our hands up and play like South African forwards."

The atmosphere at Villa Park was thick with anxiety before the match. The Springboks needed to win in order to keep their quarterfinal hopes alive and Meyer admitted he was under strain.

"It has been the toughest year of my career and it started right before the first game and hasn't stopped yet," Meyer said.

"How do I feel? I think we are already focused on the next game, there is no time to celebrate this win although the players will. We have to bring the same intensity and desire to play for our country. There weren't a lot of people that backed us but it was amazing to leave the hotel and see some people still believed in us.

"We have to keep our feet on the ground, there have been a few injuries with some guys going for x-rays. Scotland, especially there, is going to be a helluva tough but we are relieved and focused for the next one," the Bok coach said.

The Springboks are waiting to hear how captain Jean de Villiers' x-rays went last night. The Bok skipper took a knock to his jaw, which he fractured last month, and could be a possible injury concern ahead of their clash with Scotland.

The Boks face Scotland on Saturday, 3 October.

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(Image credit - Gallo Images)