Scotland vs South Africa LIVE: Rugby result, final score and reaction from 2021 Autumn international fixture
Follow live coverage as Scotland take on the Springboks aiming to build on their impressive win over Australia last time out
Scotland are taking on South Africa at Murrayfield hoping to take another huge scalp a week on from their impressive win over Australia. This time though they will need to go up another gear as they face the reigning world champions, and a Springboks side who have not lost to the Scots since 2010, winning their past six encounters.
Gregor Townsend has made four changes to the team which started the win over Australia, with Rufus McLean installed on the wing and Matt Scott given his first start at centre since 2017, while Stuart McInally and Nick Haining come into the pack. Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber has made three changes to the side which edged Wales, including full-back Willie le Roux replacing the injured Damian Willemse.
Townsend knows it will be a tough encounter, but believes home advantage could again be key. “We know what to expect from the Springboks in how they play and the physicality they will bring across the team. We have therefore selected a side that we believe can both meet that challenge and give us the platform to impose our game on the opposition. It should be a full-blooded contest and will require an intensity and focus across our 23-man squad for the full 80 minutes.”
Follow all the action below, live, followed by Ireland against New Zealand:
Ireland 5-3 New Zealand
25 mins: Ireland dive up the inside through the hooker Ronan Kelleher following the lineout, but the All Blacks stood strong and forced the turnover after five phases. New Zealand clear by Ireland come again...
Ireland 5-3 New Zealand
23 mins: Ireland’s pressure following the New Zealand scrum is excellent. They flood the ball with green shirts and force the turnover as New Zealand tried to play out.
They win the scrum and then win another penalty after the All Blacks collapse. Sexton kicks to the corner.
Ireland 5-3 New Zealand
22 mins: Ireland spring left following the scrum, but New Zealand’s defence is perfect and Ireland can’t make any gains. Ireland knock-on where they started, but on the opposite side of the pitch.
There is concern for New Zealand though after Beauden Barrett took a head knock when tackling Conway.
Ireland 5-3 New Zealand
20 mins: Brilliant work from Conway from kick-off sees the All Blacks knock-on under the high ball. That sets up a scrum just inside the New Zealand 22.
Ireland 5-3 New Zealand (Jordie Barrett pen 19’)
Ireland’s restart is poor and New Zealand quickly take up possession in the Ireland half. The All Blacks then win a quick penalty after Iain Henderson is caught not moving away from a ruck.
Jordie Barrett converts the kick as New Zealand hit straight back.
Ireland 5-0 New Zealand
16 mins: Sexton can’t add the conversion from the touchline, as the ball drifted wide of the posts from a tough position.
TRY! Ireland 5-0 New Zealand (LOWE 15’)
Ireland take the lead! After keeping the ball from the line out, the forward pack dial up the pressure with a succession of heaves towards the corner. With New Zealand holding on, Sexton switched the ball towards Aki, who fizzed a fine pass out wide. It ends up in the hands of James Lowe, who touches down in the corner under pressure from Barrett.
YELLOW CARD! Ireland 0-0 New Zealand
13 mins: Codie Taylor is sent to the bin for a high tackle on Sexton! The fly-half will kick for the corner form the penalty.
And Sexton nails it to give Ireland a brilliant position against 14 men.
Ireland 0-0 New Zealand
12 mins: Ireland make a mess of the lineout but are able to regather possession. Sexton then looks for the quick switch, with Conway in space on the right wing. Sexton took a late hit, however, and it’s going to come back for an Ireland penalty.
The referee is also looking at an earlier tackle, again on Sexton, from Codie Taylor as the Ireland fly-half collected the ball from the original lineout.
Ireland 0-0 New Zealand
11 mins: New Zealand had a spare man out wide but Ireland stand strong! Beauden Barrett lands the ball in Will Jordan’s hands before the winger burst for the line - but brilliant defence from Garry Ringrose keeps him at bay. It’s popped off to Jordie Barrett, but Ringrose again crashes into a tackle to stop him at the try-line, before Ireland win the penalty and clear for touch!
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