Cape Town - Scotland coach Vern Cotter believes Japan will target his side more than the Springboks at this year’s Rugby World Cup in England and Wales.
The three teams are grouped together in Pool B along with Samoa and the USA for the September 18-October 31 tournament.
The “Brave Blossoms” kick off Pool B on Saturday, September 19 against the Springboks in Brighton and then face a tight four-day turnaround before facing the Scots in what will be the latter’s first tournament hit-out at Kingsholm Stadium in Gloucester on September 23.
Cotter expects Japan coach Eddie Jones to rest his key players for the clash against the Boks.
“Japan have openly said that they’re targeting us. They play South Africa first and they’ll probably throw that game away and look at us,” Cotter was quoted as saying on THE SCOTSMAN website.
“So we can’t make any errors there: there’s no complacency whatsoever. It will be so important to focus on that one. The first two games will be critical.”