IN the end, it was a simple matter of physics. Perhaps David Denton, the Zimbabwean-born back row who was one of three Afrikaans speakers in the Scotland starting XV against South Africa in Newcastle on Saturday, summed it up best. “It’s not that we weren’t prepared for it, or indeed ready for it," he mused. "It’s just that they were very big men throwing themselves about."

All the preparation in the world couldn't prepare Scotland for the onslaught they faced in the opening stages at St James' Park. While the Springbok pack was only 4kg heavier in total, from the Du Plessis brothers and their fellow front row Tendai Mtawarira right through to deadly winger JP Pietersen, these were big men throwing themselves about alright. The Scots tackled everything that moved, but too often found themselves retreating in the face of ferocious Springbok rucking, while their own attacking thrusts were often repelled. Denton carried more frequently than anyone else on the pitch, but he still went off into the night chiding himself for his failure to make too much in the way of yardage.

“We didn’t play our game, probably because they didn’t let us," said Denton. “Defensively we were alright, this team will always tackle. But we didn’t get across the gain-line and I take the blame because it’s a big part of my job."

While Vern Cotter's side grew into this game, trailing 20-3 at half time was never likely to prove a platform for victory. One by one, the bulk of this shell-shocked Scotland team trooped out afterwards and admitted it was the most physical match they had ever been involved in. "It wasn’t a massacre," said Alasdair Dickinson. "But we’re still disappointed we didn’t adapt to how physical they were. There probably isn’t another team in the world like the Springboks."

"They’re big men," said Fraser Brown. "You carry it into contact and they’re double-hitting you and clearing out. It’s a very simplistic game plan they’ve got, but it works really well for them and it’s difficult to try and break it down when they get on the front foot. It was probably the most physical game I’ve ever had.”

While the queue forming outside the concussion protocol office gives Cotter a selection headache or two, at least Scotland didn't crumble. There is a togetherness about this squad which the Kiwi has nourished and it stood them in good stead in what was a match with an undercurrent, with a few punches traded even as Nigel Owens consulted the TMO to determine whether Schalk Burger had exerted sufficient downward pressure on the ball for the opening try.

“There was a lot of needle, a lot happening off the ball," admitted Denton. "There was an edge to the game but that’s good because there was an edge to our game too. We didn’t win the physical battle against South Africa but we didn’t back down either and that is going to be so important moving on in this competition. We were beaten by a better team but we didn’t back down, and we’ll need to front up against Samoa too. You can say about this team, 100 per cent, that we’ll never leave a man on his own. More often than not, South Africa were coming up and taking out or wee guys. But we stood together as a team and if we’re to progress to the knock out stages we need to stay together as a group.”

Samoa have nothing other than pride at stake, having been well-beaten by both South Africa and Japan thus far, Scotland come into the match well warned that it is they who must grasp the early initiative. Further good news is the fact that, after three games in ten days, Scotland have a full week to prepare for Samoa, without any additional travel required from the North East. Judging by the queue forming outside the concussion protocol room, they may need it.

"We have a week to prepare," said Matt Taylor, the Scotland assistant coach. "Samoa are a big physical side. We sat down there at the end and said it was still within our control. We just have to prepare as well as we can this week and get a result next week. Samoa will want to finish the tournament in a good spot and will really have a go at us."

While South African supporters more than matched Scotland fans for their support on Saturday, this ground really should be more akin to a home crowd on Saturday. The likes of John Hardie, Finn Russell and Mark Bennett could return for Samoa, but Taylor resists the notion that he had fielded a second side against the Springboks. "In the end we pick the team because we needed to give guys game time and to beat South Africa," he said. "It was not a second team - we are not going to make excuses. We have to sit down as a coaching group and as a team and talk about it and do our best to solve the problem [starting slowly]. We have a lot to play for next week so the boys will be fired up."