Scotland vs South Africa as it happened: Result and reaction after late surge takes Springboks to victory
Scotland 15-32 South Africa: The world champions overcame a fighting performance from the hosts to open their November campaign with a win
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Your support makes all the difference.South Africa overcame a battling showing from Scotland at Murrayfield to emerge as 32-15 victors in their Autumn Nations Series opener.
The Springboks were short of their best in Edinburgh and made to earn every point by the hosts, who were right in the fight for much of the contest despite losing Scott Cummings to a red card 20 minutes in. A handful of missed opportunities came to cost Gregor Townsend’s side, though, and a late surge from the world champions widened the final margin.
Makazole Mapimpi’s first-half double had put South Africa in control, though Scotland refused to go away, with Tom Jordan impressing from full-back and their forwards fronting up strongly. But while they survived the initial impetus of the Springboks’ seven bench forwards, that injection of power eventually told, with Jasper Wiese scoring in the final moments from an emphatic pushover scrum.
Re-live all of the action from Murrayfield in our live blog below:
Scotland 15-25 South Africa, 76 minutes
More time ticks away as South Africa manage to retain consecutive kicks to close in on the hosts’ 22. Duhan van der Merwe rushes up to shut down Pieter-Steph du Toit and prevent him getting a pass away to Canan Moodie.
There’s a hint of an overlap on the other side as the Springboks play to the left, but Siya Kolisi’s quick transfer is behind Makazole Mapimpi. Scotland survive and will have a lineout in their own half.
PENALTY! Scotland 15-25 SOUTH AFRICA (Handre Pollard, 74 minutes)
Handre Pollard pops it over. Scotland will have to score twice in six minutes.
Scotland 15-22 South Africa, 73 minutes
And that felt inevitable - penalty to South Africa at the scrum.
Scotland 15-22 South Africa, 71 minutes
Into the final ten minutes and forward lumber the South African eight, launching into a maul after Malcolm Marx finds RG Snyman in the heart of the lineout. They begin to get a rumble on before Scotland manage to force it to ground legally.
Grant Williams retrieves the ball and that’s a lovely variation, pushing a grubber in behind for Willie le Roux to chase. Tom Jordan continues his breakthrough performance by dealing with superbly, but in a messy ruck, he knocks on. Or does he? That looks harsh on the replay, perhaps off a foot rather than the full-back’s hands.
That’s Jordan’s last act; Stafford McDowall comes on, which may mean a reshuffle with Huw Jones going into the backfield.
Scotland 15-22 South Africa, 69 minutes
Makazole Mapimpi is back amongst things, and joined on the pitch by Grant Williams, the lone South African back replacement stepping in for Jaden Hendrikse. Scotland also swap scrum halves: young Jamie Dobie has a huge 11 minutes ahead.
He watches on as the Scottish scrum goes backwards and then down to the deck. Penalty for the Springboks.
Scotland 15-22 South Africa, 68 minutes
A loose ruck sends the ball tumbling free, and Andre Esterhuizen snaffles it! South Africa are just managing to keep Scotland from cutting them completely.
A slightly curious kick from Willie le Roux means that Scotland get another go, but Sione Tuipulotu spills a tough low catch like a slip fielder as Finn Russell ambitious tries to find him via the boot.
Scotland 15-22 South Africa, 67 minutes
Still a couple of minutes to run on Makazole Mapimpi’s yellow card, and Scotland stress test South Africa’s edge defence in the absence of the wing. Canan Moodie makes a great read to deny them once but the impressive Tom Jordan then pivots free moments later, moving the hosts into the 22.
PENALTY! Scotland 15-22 SOUTH AFRICA (Handre Pollard, 65 minutes)
Those three are South Africa’s first points of the second half.
Scotland 15-19 South Africa, 64 minutes
A Scottish hand tugs at catching South African arms at the lineout. Another penalty to the Springboks, and Handre Pollard will kick for the posts.
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