South Africa enjoying Rugby World Cup marathon after their false start | Robert Kitson

The Springboks have responded ominously well from that infamous first-weekend defeat and they will line up against Wales a very different team to the one that fell to JapanHow distant the opening weekend of this Rugby World Cup now feels. Back in mid‑September, England were in pole position in Pool A courtesy of a bonus point victory over Fiji while South Africa’s head coach, Heyneke Meyer, was apologising to his country after the Springboks’ defeat to Japan. Few would have bet that Saturday night on South Africa making the last eight and England failing to do so.To see the Boks looking increa…