Rugby-Springbok reality check leaves Scots still up against it

Rugby Union - Rugby World Cup 2023 - Pool B - South Africa v Scotland - Orange Velodrome, Marseille, France - September 10, 2023 South Africa's Siya Kolisi in action REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) - Scotland always faced a monumental challenge to get out of a daunting World Cup pool but, having lost to defending champions South Africa on Sunday, nothing has really changed - they will just probably need to beat the world's number one team to avoid an early exit.

The Scots, ranked fifth in the world and the team to have suffered most from World Rugby's ludicrous decision to make the draw three years ago, arrived in France full of hope and ambition that they could unseat one, if not both of the pool favourites.