If the Natal-based province had won through to this Saturday's final, De Villiers would have had just seven days to incorporate the Sharks players into his set-up.

BBC: Jones eager for Springboks test

The final point is that De Backer decided to keep touring and to work hard on the live show, and it shows.

FORBES: Startup Lessons from Gotye: Don't Become Somebody That You Used To Know

One of the most painful of those was the 19-13 loss in the 2007 World Cup quarter-final at the Stade de France and, when Argentina beat Scotland in the first Test in South America last year, one feared it could yet be a long wait until victory was experienced again.

BBC: Johnstone hopes for Scots hat-trick