The World Cup has sprung to life thanks to Japan’s stunning 19-12 win over Ireland on Saturday.
Not only was it a win for the tournament hosts, but a victory for South Africa as well.
It changed the complexion of the global showpiece completely.
Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus’s pre-tournament prediction that they would face Japan in the knockouts seemed to have been wrong when SA lost to New Zealand in their tournament opener.
Still, I got the feeling that South Africa weren’t too concerned when they lost the opener - in my books it was always a good game to lose when you start paving the way to a possible final.
And now it looks like things might just work out the way the Boks want it to.
PREDICTIONS ON POINT: Rassie Erasmus. Picture: Mark Cristino/EPA.
If Japan can repeat their Ireland heroics against Scotland they will finish at the top of Pool A, meaning they will face the runners-up of Pool B in the first knockout game. That should be South Africa.
The winner of that match will then go on to face Wales in the semis.
Now let’s look at a possible road to the final for the winners of Pool B, who are expected to be New Zealand.
If the beaten Ireland finish second in their pool, they will face the Kiwis in the quarters, with the winners of that match possibly crossing swords with Eddie Jones’s England in the semis.
A lot still has to happen before these scenarios become true.
HEAD ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK: Hooker Bongi Mbonambi rumbled over for touchdown. Picture: Mark Cristino/EPA.
But few believed Lomano Lemeki last week when the Japan winger predicted they would beat Ireland 33-26, nogal.
As for the Boks, they next face the top team in their pool - Italy. Now Erasmus has again warned fans that this will not be an easy game for his players.
While the Boks shouldn’t have a problem getting past the Italians, I won’t go against Erasmus’s forecasts at this stage of the competition.
The Azzurri are unbeaten up until now and will see the match as a knockout, they will go all out against SA.
But despite it being a must-win match for the Boks, I still feel Erasmus should be bold in his team selection.
You couldn’t read much into the match against Namibia - it was one-way traffic from the first whistle.
IMPRESSIVE ALLROUNDER: Stand-in skipper Schalk Brits covered No.8 and hooker well. Picture: Christophe Ena/AP.
But captain on the day, Schalk Brits, proved that he is a vital asset, even at the age of 38.
Having moved from hooker to No.8, Brits was a good link between backs and forwards and had some special touches on the day.
What he has done is open up a new option to Erasmus from the bench.
A player that can cover the looseforward position as well as the middle of the front row is undoubtedly a better fit than one that can just cover one position.
And here, despite also having a good game, Bongi Mbonambi’s place on the bench might be under threat.
Another player who impressed on the day was Lood de Jager, who won the official Man of the Match award.
Playing at No.5, De Jager was a constant threat and combined well with lock partner RG Snyman.
IMPRESSIVE: SA's Lood de Jager. Picture: Christophe Ena/AP.
Unfortunately for De Jager, Franco Mostert is one of the hardest working Boks in the first team and I find it tough to see that Erasmus will drop him.
Once again, it is the spot on the bench that De Jager is pushing for. Able to play in both the No.4 and No.5 jumper, he is now putting pressure on Snyman.
In the backline, Frans Steyn had a decent match at No.12.
He made metres whenever he touched the ball and gave the Boks good go-forward possession.
His big boot and versatility, coupled by this performance, probably earned his spot on the bench again.
The “duel” I was looking forward to most was on the wing.
LETHAL FINISHER: South Africa's Makazole Mapimpi. Picture: Christophe Ena/AP.
Despite playing on different sides of the pitch, Sbu Nkosi and Makazole Mapimpi, I believe, would have fought for a starting berth against Italy.
On the day, Nkosi didn’t get much ball possession and therefore couldn’t really show what he is capable of.
Mapimpi, meanwhile, got his chances and he used them to prove once again that he is a lethal finisher.
Based on the evidence of the match against Namibia, I doubt whether Erasmus will change his first team back-three for the Italy match.
As for Japan, at the last World Cup they won three out of their four pool matches and still failed to make the playoffs. Therefore the match against Scotland will be a must-win for them.
Now is the time to get out the calculators gents...