Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has called on the Japanese public to come out and support them when they cross swords with New Zealand in their first World Cup match.
The Springboks face the defending champions at the Yokohama Stadium in two weeks’ time.
And Erasmus believes the key to winning that match is getting support from the locals.
South Africa have opted to prepare for the encounter in Kagoshima - a city housing volcano Sakurajima.
It is more than 1 300km away from where the Boks will play the All Blacks.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/AllBlacks?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AllBlacksreceive an amazing Haka in Japan #RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/5Rlgm9eCTS
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup)
This, too, was strategic according to the Bok boss, who says: “The more extreme circumstances you train under, the better the body gets conditioned. So when you get to matchday, it becomes easier.
“Part of our planning is to get the body through tough times so that we get used to it.”
The other big plan is to get as much local support as possible.
Erasmus adds: “Our main goal is to start preparing for the New Zealand match.
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☀️ Keeping hydrated key in climate
🔥 Nothing going to keep Boks from working hard #StrongerTogether #LoveJapan pic.twitter.com/l0DnL40KWK
— Springboks (@Springboks)
“Apart from the on-field stuff, we would like to experience what the city has to offer and mingle with the people, because the people have been good to us.
“[For the match against the All Blacks] we would like to have a lot of Japanese support there.”
He adds of their Cup opener: “The conditions here are very different to South Africa and New Zealand.
"It’s very important which team adapts quickest to the conditions.”