VILLA PARK, Birmingham -- South Africa felt as though they "owed something" to both the travelling fans and their supporters back home after last week's shock loss to Japan in Brighton, lock Eben Etzebeth says.

The two-time champions were desperate to account for one of sport's, let alone rugby's, greatest upsets after the Brave Blossoms snatched victory with a dramatic try in the corner two minutes into added time.

Springboks coach Heyneke Meyer endured a torrid week of headlines while the players, too, felt the wrath of a proud rugby nation.

But they were quick to respond; Saturday evening's 46-6 victory over Samoa has provided a course correction for their Rugby World Cup campaign, albeit with the loss off influential skipper Jean de Villiers to injury.

"Yeah it almost felt like we owed them something after last week's performance," Etzebeth told ESPN. "I think after this performance we did ourselves proud that we won this one.

"When we drove here on the bus and saw everyone wearing their Springbok shirts, and then I think when Samoa did their war dance we heard a couple of "Oles" going also in the crowd. So it's an unbelievable support we get here in England, I mean last week against Japan was also unbelievable. So I'd just like to thank the crowd and the supporters who support us."

Birmingham's Villa Park was awash with green on Saturday as the Springboks supporter army showed they wouldn't be giving up on their rugby heroes just yet.

The "Bokke, Bokke" chant reverberated around the stadium on several occasions and while Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, also made a brief appearance late on, there was little doubt as to who the majority of the 39,000 fans had come to see.

Veteran lock Victor Matfield, who deputised for De Villiers at the post-match press conference, said while it had been his hard week in a Springboks jersey, there had also been many messages of support since the defeat to Japan.

"Yes I must just say, like the coach said, this was one of my toughest weeks in a Springbok team for myself and for all the players," Matfield said. "But probably the most messages that I ever got in my life playing for the Boks. There was so many positives coming through and guys sending you almost inspirational stuff, so it was just unbelievable.

"Like the coach said, when we went out of the hotel there was people clapping for us; when we arrived at the stadium people went crazy. So we know there are a lot of very loyal Springboks fans out there and we know that we disappointed them last week and we're very happy that we set things right tonight. But like the coach said, it's one game. We start in exactly the same position than what we were before this game, so another big week for us."