Scotland assistant coach Jonathan Humphreys insists Scotland are not gambling with their World Cup ambitions after rejecting claims they are putting out a second string line-up against South Africa.

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The Dark Blues can all but clinch a quarter-final slot if they become the second Pool B team to beat the Springboks when they clash at Newcastle’s St James’ Park. But Vern Cotter has again tinkered with his team ahead of facing Heyneke Meyer’s men, making a raft of changes.

Al Dickinson, Ross Ford, Mark Bennett and Sean Maitland, key performers for the Scots in their opening two victories over Japan and the United States, are either benched or rested altogether.

Cotter is also without injured duo Finn Russell and John Hardie and in all, seven members of the starting XV to face the two-time former winners are not regarded as the Kiwi’s first picks.

But Humphreys denies the head coach has written off beating the Boks in preference to keeping his men fresh for their final – and potentially decisive – group game with Samoa.

He said: “I don’t understand why people are saying it’s a second string. What hasn’t been written is that international rugby is a hugely, hugely physical sport.

“I’d prefer them to write about a 31-man squad playing three huge games in 10 days. We’re confident in the group we’ve picked. They’re an extremely proud group of people. I haven’t seen a more together group.

“We are all after the same thing – every single player has worked so hard to be here and they’re here on merit.

“Next week will be next week. Our sole focus is on this game, and we cannot take our focus off this game. Right now we’ve not thought about Samoa. South Africa are an unbelievable threat to us and we want to get the job done.”

South Africa go into their third game still not certain of qualification and a new man wearing the armband in the shape of scrum-half Fourie Du Preez.

And he said: “I’m not one for many words so I’ll lead from the front on Saturday.

“Luckily we have guys such as Schalk Burger and Duane Vermeulen to back me up, as well as a lot of experience across the team. I’m really grateful for this opportunity.

“A few months ago I thought my rugby career was over, and a few weeks ago I didn’t think I was even going to be here in England today. But life sometimes takes funny turns so to sit here as captain is unbelievable for me.”