WATCH | Bok coach concerned over Libbok's goal-kicking? 'Not if he wins man of the match'

South Africa's last two World Cup titles, in 2019 and 2007, highlighted the importance of a sharp-shooting goalkicker, Handre Pollard and Percy Montgomery's consummate skill off the kicking tee a key factor in their teams' success.

But questions were raised after South Africa's 18-3 opening Pool B victory over Scotland on Sunday when Bok flyhalf Manie Libbok missed two penalties and a conversion in a tight game where every point counted.

Apart from the anomaly of the 2011 World Cup, which New Zealand won with the unlikely figure of Piri Weepu their top scorer after injuries to flyhalves Dan Carter, Aaron Cruden and Colin Slade, every team winning the Webb Ellis Cup has had a reliable goalkicker.

England had Jonny Wilkinson in 2003, Carter marshalled the All Blacks in 2015, Montgomery racked up 105 points in 2007 while Pollard was top scorer with 69 when the Boks won in Japan four years ago.

"Not if he wins man of the match," was Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber's blunt response to whether he had any concern over Libbok's missed kicks.

Libbok, 26, won that award after taking control in the second half of a gritty forwards-based match in Marseille and coming up with one particular piece of magic for the Boks' second try that effectively sealed the win.

The Stormers flyhalf produced a perfectly-judged, no-look cross-kick to Kurt-Lee Arendse, the winger catching the ball in full flight and speeding away for a try that Faf de Klerk, having taken over the kicking duties from Libbok, duly converted from the touchline.

Springbok skipper Siya Kolisi was quick to defend Libbok, saying: "This question about missing kicks gets asked a lot.

"We play as a team and sometimes you're not good at one thing on the day.

"But the way Manie attacked,