Nick Mallett | Boks cover bases for Tonga as they search for last answers before knockouts

While the Springboks have surely shrugged off the loss to Ireland and are fully invested in Sunday's meeting with Tonga, which should secure passage to the quarter-finals, the lessons from that defeat should be absorbed to provide the side with clarity going into the knockouts, writes Nick Mallett.

While you can bet top dollar that the Springboks have now archived the aftermath of their loss to Ireland and aren't looking beyond getting the job done against Tonga in Marseille on Sunday night, one can't deny that last weekend's agonising loss in Paris is significant.

By that, I mean there are a few tactical lessons that need to be absorbed by Jacques Nienaber and his troops ahead of an expected spot in the World Cup knockouts.