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Here's a stat Scotland fans won't want to hear - they've never managed to beat South Africa outside of their own country.

Now, in fairness, they've only played in South Africa seven times, with the two teams never having met on neutral territory before today.

It's also probably worth pointing out that Newcastle lies just 60 miles from the Scottish border.

But, alas, a stat is a stat.

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So on the subject of all those Scotland changes, wing Tim Visserhas been busy trying to persuade us allthat their team isn't a weakened one for this afternoon.

Recent impressive performers Sean Maitland and Mark Bennett are left out, while experienced front-row duo Ross Ford and Alasdair Dickinson are on the bench.

"In a World Cup you don't go out half-hearted to get through to the next game," said Visser.

"I don't think any coach puts out a second string squad to do that against South Africa."

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I can tell you that today's other Pool B match at Stadium MK has literally just come to an end, with Japan hammering Samoa.

You can follow the aftermath by clicking here.

It'd be easy to fall into the trap of making some terrible joke about Scotland producing some magic this afternoon, but you won't find me going down that road. Nope, not me...

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Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Trevor Nyakane, Frans Malherbe, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Willem Alberts, Ruan Pienaar, Pat Lambie, Jan Serfontein.  

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Replacements: Ross Ford, Alasdair Dickinson, Jon Welsh, Tim Swinson, Ryan Wilson, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Peter Horne, Sean Lamont.  

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Scotland head coach Vern Cotter has made a whopping 11 changes to the side that beat the United States last time out, with only Stuart Hogg, Tim Visser, Richie Gray and Josh Strauss retaining their places.

Duncan Weir comes in for the injured Finn Russell at fly-half, while back-rower Blair Cowan, who was called into the squad as an injury replacement, is thrust straight into the starting XV.

South Africa's team show three changes, as scrum-half Fourie du Preez captains the side in the absence of Jean de Villiers.

Bismarck du Plessis steps in for Adriaan Strauss at hooker, Lodewyk de Jager comes in for Victor Matfield at lock and Jesse Kriel starts at outside centre.

And a quick reminder too, as we zip towards kick off, that as well as following our text commentary you can also listen to live radio coverage of today's action right on this very page.

To tune in to either BBC Radio 5 live or BBC Radio Scotland just pop up to the 'Live Coverage' tab at the top of this page.

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Now, there's nothing worse than having to miss the unmissable, is there?

Well, I bring you good news - with the BBC Sport app you can now have rugby union alerts sent straight to your phone or device of choice, ensuring you'll always have the information that matters right at your fingertips.

Click here to find out how to get it all set up.  

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So while the fans seem a cheery bunch heading into this one - what do we reckon is really possible for Scotland, both at St James' Park and for the rest of the World Cup? Does greatness beckon? Or is reality about to hit home?

Let us know what you think by using #bbcrugby on Twitter.

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That infamous defeat by the Brave Blossoms may well have proved that South Africa are "just 15 guys", who are "just like any other team" and should be analysed as "human beings". Scotland centre Matt Scott's words, not mine.

But make no mistake; these are 15 guys with an eye-catching pedigree, from a country with a World Cup record to envy and yet with a whole lot still to prove in this tournament.

And so Scotland may well face a "mountainous task" to topple the Springboks. But if they do, a quarter-final place is sure to be theirs.

We should probably know by now, of course, that sport is seldom that straightforward.

And so, after a barmy fortnight of wonderful World Cup action, Scotland head into today's match against South Africa top of Pool B, with two convincing wins in their pocket and a three-point advantage over the Springboks.

A Springboks side without their injured talismanic captain and still recovering from that epic opening-weekend loss to Japan, no less.

Good old sport. Seldom straightforward, but that's why we love it.

Just make sure you beat the other three teams and a quarter-final place will be yours, they said.

And you can forget about South Africa, they'll top the group regardless, they said.

Because they'll hammer Japan and after that there will simply be no stopping them, they said...

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... Won't they?