'Samoa the Pool B bolter?
Southwell, capped 59 times by his country, said there is no such thing as a soft pool – even though some so-called pundits have suggested South Africa may have an 'easy' run-in to the play-offs.
While the Springboks – who will face Scotland, Samoa, Japan and the United States in their pool matches – will start as favourites, Southwell warned them against complacency.
In fact he feels that Scotland could cause an upset along the way.
"There is an aura [around the team] that they can do something special at the World Cup," he told rugby365, when asked about the Pool B candidates at the global showpiece – when gets underway next month.
"As we have seen in the past, they have managed to win the one-off games," Southwell said of his compatriots.
"The question is just, can they produce that level of performance on a consistent basis against the likes of South Africa and Samoa.
"We saw Samoa, in Samoa, against New Zealand [in July] how well they played. They may not be a physical big side, but they are not a pushover."
He suggested that the encounter between South Africa and Samoa is going to be a "big" pool game.
"I don't think it can be treated as an easy group, looking at those three sides," Southwell said.
While the Boks' form in the last 12 months suggested they are a team in trouble, Southwell said nothing should be read into past form.
"Just look at South Africa's record in the World Cup," he told rugby365, adding: "They are a team that is designed for the World Cup, much like Australia.
"Some teams are just World Cup teams and South Africa is such a World Cup team.
"They may not be brilliant all year, but they can produce a brilliant performance in a World Cup quarterfinal or semifinal.
"I feel teams like South Africa perform every four years – they seem to save their best for the World Cup. I wouldn't pay that much attention to South Africa's recent form.
"I feel it is on the day and South Africa can produce a performance worthy of a place in the semifinals or Final.
"I don't think South Africa's form is a major worry. Come the World Cup they will be totally in the zone – it will be a whole new ball game."
However, Scotland will have to perform "over and above" throughout the tournament.
"Every single player will have to play their heart out."
Southwell said he is "encouraged" by the strength in depth his compatriots are busy building in the lead-up to the World Cup.
"Scotland can now put out a second team, sprinkled with some regulars, that is competitive.
"That is the key in World Cups. To be able to cope with a six-week World Cup, you have to have that kind of depth."
He pointed to the Scottish midfield are one of the areas where this could be invaluable.
"Look at the centres, where Richie Vernon just recently converted from the back row to centre.
"He [at 196cm and 102kg] is adding a whole new dimension to the Scottish backline. He gets on the ball in the outside channels and can slow down the ball for the opposing teams. These second choices that put their hands up [in the warm-up matches] are going to make [Scotland coach] Vern Cotter's job very difficult.
"Also, you can't play your best team very week, you need other players. That is going to be important for Scotland, to have additional resources."
Southwell finished the interview by giving us his prediction of the four semifinalists to emerge from the quarterfinals – suggesting hosts England are destined for an early exit.
"On form at the moment it would be Ireland, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.
"England, as much as it is a home World Cup for them, they are just a bit too far away from making that jump – from reaching the quarterfinals to make the Final."
By Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
* This interview was brought to you courtesy of ssereward.com. Hugo Southwell was speaking at the SSE #soundsofvictory pop-up shop in London. SSE is proud joint sponsor of ITV's coverage of World Cup 2015.
