As Stuart Hogg cleared Scotland's lines, the fullback received a glancing touch from charging South African Tendai Mtawarira and fell to the ground theatrically.
The incident was replayed on the giant screen in one corner of St. James' Park — to jeers from South Africa's vast contingent of vocal fans — and, before long, Hogg was being reprimanded by referee Nigel Owens.
It was a microcosm of Scotland's biggest shortcoming in the 34-16 loss to South Africa at the Rugby World Cup on Saturday — a failure to stand up to the Springboks' physicality.
"We were dominated in that contact area," Scotland coach Vern Cotter said, "and we struggled to move forward. We were being pushed around."
It's a bad omen for the Scots considering their next, and final, Pool C game is against another physical team in Samoa. It's likely a must-win match for Cotter's side in the race for qualification for the quarterfinals.
"We will need to raise the physicality levels," Scotland captain Greig Laidlaw said, "and win the physical battles. That will be a huge area of the game."
A good start would be welcome, too.
Against Japan and the United States, Scotland was below par in the first half, only to score five tries after the break in both games to secure bonus-point wins.
The Scots took 40 minutes to get going against South Africa, too, and were 20-3 down at halftime. A brief fightback at the start of the second half — when Scotland scored 10 points in four minutes — was repelled by the Springboks, who ran out easy winners.
Cotter is bewildered by the slow starts.
"I'm unsure," was the New Zealander's reply, when asked why they were happening. "It's a valid question and we'll certainly be finding out why we don't have that confidence to start well, and how we need to develop the confidence to start the game well, and ruthlessly."
And he played down suggestions that the Samoans will be pushovers, now they are out of contention for the quarterfinals.
"I'll get our manager to send them a couple of crates of beer to convince him," Cotter said, "but I don't think that will happen. We'll be preparing for a fired-up Samoa team."
Hogg, Scotland's most dangerous back against South Africa, hobbled off during the second half in an injury scare ahead of the Samoa game. Cotter said the fullback has a tight back and cramp, and that it was too early to say how long he will be out.
Scotland is looking to avoid being eliminated in the pool stage for the second straight Rugby World Cup, having previously always reached the quarterfinals.
This content appears as provided to The Globe by the originating wire service. It has not been edited by Globe staff.