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:
PENALTY! SCOTLAND 9-12 South Africa (Finn Russell, 33 minutes)
A third clean strike of Finn Russell’s boot as Scotland stick in it.
Scotland 6-12 South Africa, 32 minutes
The 20-minute period has elapsed, so on comes Max Williamson to replace the dismissed Scott Cummings. His first action will be to watch Finn Russell line up a third shot at the sticks, South Africa softly conceding a penalty soon after the restart.
TRY! Scotland 6-12 SOUTH AFRICA (Thomas du Toit, 30 minutes)
Thomas the Tank Engine chugs home! A moment of fortune but the prop capitalises superbly!
We’ve seen this sort of try-scoring knack ever since Thomas du Toit arrived at Bath at the start of last season, the tighthead so often in the right place at the right time. A messy lineout is fumbled by the jumper right in to the breadbasket of Du Toit, who gets on his bike and accelerates away. Scottish arms spread wide claiming a knock-on but the officials are more than happy - a first try in a South Africa shirt for the front row and the scrappy Springboks are back in front.
Scotland 6-5 South Africa, 28 minutes
Finally, though, South Africa have it, a punchy counter-ruck winning the ball back. Willie le Roux briefly considers a canter but those ageing legs won’t carry him far, the full-back using his smarts to thump a skudding kick in behind.
Scotland clear, but not far, and Handre Pollard charges back. Over to the right, another devilish dab behind, with Scotland just about managing to corral the bobbling ball. Ben White scrambles a kick to touch but the Springboks can launch from inside the 22.
Scotland 6-5 South Africa, 27 minutes
It’s been a bruising battle on teh fringes so far. Kwagga Smith detonates the ribs of a Scottish carrier to slow the attack down. Back into the pocket goes Finn Russell for a drop goal...charged down, but Scotland still have it, reacting quickly to keep the ball alive.
Scotland 6-5 South Africa, 25 minutes
A Scotland penalty is kicked out near halfway. Sione Tuipulotu provides the lone carry before Ben White goes to the air, but Canan Moodie is equal to the test, taking and evading a couple of tacklers quite beautifully.
South Africa aren’t keen to play in the middle third, though, even against 14 men. A kick is dropped backwards by Tom Jordan, but Blair Kinghorn regathers and threads a lovely kick down the touchline. A hurried clearance means it will be a home throw 30 metres out from the Springboks’ line.
Scotland 6-5 South Africa, 24 minutes
Man, have Scotland lifted the physicality since that soft opening five minutes. Ewan Ashman melts Eben Etzebeth with perfect technique, hitting and keep his legs churning to biff the lock backwards. Canan Moodie then fumbles forwards under limited pressure with the Springboks just lacking in accuracy.
PENALTY! SCOTLAND 6-5 South Africa (Finn Russell, 22 minutes)
Two from two for the Scottish fly half. The hosts lead at Murrayfield.
Scotland 3-5 South Africa, 21 minutes
And that’s really good from Scotland, down to 14 men for another ten minutes yet. Matt Fagerson contests at a ruck and the two-man South African clearout crew go off their feet.
Finn Russell will line up another shot at goal.
Scotland 3-5 South Africa, 20 minutes
Ben White decides not to insert the ball with his undermanned scrum beginning to creak under South Africa’s initial hit, prompting a free kick from referee Ridley. He gets another go as South Africa knock on soon after a quick tap, and the front row hold on for just long enough for White to put in and extract.
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