Rio De Janeiro - Skipper Kyle Brown said South Africa's 12-5 defeat to Australia in their final Pool B game was a very timely reminder of how quickly things can change for the team.
"That wasn't great. We were very poor, but the tournament actually starts now," Brown explained.
South Africa still topped their group, due to a superior bonus point haul, but now they know that one mistake wI'll be deadly.
"We were flat, and didn't start the way we normally do," Juan de Jongh added.
The team were quickly ushered into the team bus, to head back to the village for lunch, and no doubt a stern talking to from coach Neil Powell.
"We will get the guys some proper food, then have some time to regroup and think about tonight's game," a calm Powell told Independent Media.
The South Africans will find out their opponents at the conclusion of the pool stages. - Independent Media