Scotland vs South Africa as it happened: Result and reaction after late surge takes Springboks to victory

Here are the men tasked with keeping things under control this afternoon.

Referee: Christophe Ridley (RFU)

Assistant Referee 1: Luke Pearce (RFU)

Assistant Referee 2: Craig Evans (WRU)

Television Match Official: Ian Tempest (RFU)

Foul Play Review Officer: Tual Trainini (Fra)

Gregor Townsend has full faith in Scotland’s makeshift back three to handle the challenge of facing world champions South Africa.

Injuries sustained by wing Darcy Graham and full-back Kyle Rowe in last weekend’s 57-17 win over Fiji have forced the head coach into a reshuffle.

Glasgow back Tom Jordan, predominantly a stand-off, has been selected to make his first international start at full-back a week after making his Test debut off the bench.

Blair Kinghorn, who has become Scotland’s first-choice full-back since the retirement of Stuart Hogg, will shift to the wing, where he has been used for Toulouse this term.

“Obviously with losing Darcy and now Kyle, that got us thinking about what is the right combination,” said Townsend. “We’d always looked at a 6-2 bench split for the Springboks, and Tom became someone that we’d want to include in a matchday 23.

“With his ability to play 10, 13, and also 15, we’d thought that he could operate there at Test level. We didn’t think he’d get that opportunity so quickly in his Test career. On his debut, I thought he was excellent. He was very brave.

“His position in the backfield has always been good when he’s played at 10 for Glasgow. We know he’s going to work really hard. With Blair having played a lot of rugby on the wing, not just over his career but this season, we feel that’s the best combination this weekend.”

The Springboks display their enviable depth by making 11 changes to the side that sealed the Rugby Championship. South Africa boss Rassie Erasmus has loaded up his bench with seven forwards, with Siya Kolisi and Pieter-Steph du Toit among those primed to make an impact. There’s still plenty of quality in the starting side as Eben Etzebeth is named captain, with fellow locks Franco Mostert and RG Snyman back to bolster the ranks after injury.

South Africa XV: 1 Ox Nche, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 3 Thomas du Toit; 4 Eben Etzebeth (capt.), 5 Franco Mostert; 6 Marco van Staden, 7 Elrigh Louw, 8 Kwagga Smith; 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 10 Handre Pollard; 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 14 Canan Moodie; 15 Willie le Roux.

Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 22 Jasper Wiese; 23 Grant Williams.

Gregor Townsend hands Tom Jordan his first Scotland start after the Glasgow playmaker’s debut off the bench last week, stationing the 26-year-old at full-back with fly half Finn Russell one of a number of returnees. Darcy Graham is unavailable due to a head injury but Blair Kinghorn should ensure little drop-off in quality on the wing, while a settled pack is unchanged. Six forwards are named on the bench in recognition of the visitors’ threat, including Dylan Richardson, a teammate of many of the South Africa squad at the Sharks.

Scotland XV: 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 Ewan Ashman, 3 Zander Fagerson; 4 Grant Gilchrist, 5 Scott Cummings; 6 Matt Fagerson, 7 Rory Darge, 8 Jack Dempsey; 9 Ben White, 10 Finn Russell; 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 13 Huw Jones, 14 Blair Kinghorn; 15 Tom Jordan.

Replacements: 16 Dylan Richardson, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 Jamie Ritchie; 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Stafford McDowall.

Not involved today but sure to play a prominent role this November is Cheslin Kolbe, the ultimate utility man for this Springboks side. Here’s a chat with the wing on finding his family in this South Africa squad, his personal ambitions and how he came to be just so skillful:

The Springboks have come to Europe on a charm offensive this November, inviting the media in to show some of the secrets behind their success and explain a little more about their process. Ahead of the Autumn Nations Series, I sat down with Rassie Erasmus at South Africa’s training camp on the island of Jersey to find out why there is method behind his madness:

Jack Dempsey is relishing the “ultimate test” as Scotland bid to prove they have grown since their last meeting with world champions South Africa 14 months ago.

Gregor Townsend‘s side struggled to lay a glove on the Boks as they lost 18-3 in a World Cup pool-stage match in Marseille in September 2023.

South Africa went on to win the tournament for the second successive time, but Dempsey is excited to see how his team fare against them in Sunday’s Autumn Test at Murrayfield.

“I’m itching for it,” said the Australia-born back-rower. “It’s the ultimate test.

“They’re the back-to-back defending champions, the best in the world. And they deserve to have that crown. They’re the ultimate litmus test in terms of being a professional rugby player.

“We’re at a point now where we want to see how much we’ve grown from the World Cup, from when we played them last time. They’re the best country for eight years straight.

“We’re not under any illusion about what’s coming, but we’re glad to have them here and glad to play against the best in the world.”

Rory Darge believes Glasgow’s United Rugby Championship success last season can have a positive effect on Scotland‘s mindset as they bid to topple world champions South Africa at Murrayfield on Sunday.

The back-rower was one of several members of Gregor Townsend’s squad who played for Warriors when they pulled off their historic URC final triumph over the Bulls in Pretoria in June.

Scotland full-back Blair Kinghorn also enjoyed notable success last term as part of the Toulouse squad that won a Top 14 and Champions Cup double.

Darge believes that, in addition to having faced the Springboks at the World Cup 14 months ago, such lofty accomplishments at club level have given the Scotland players a renewed sense of confidence for facing formidable challenges like the one coming their way on Sunday.

“It is a good thing that we’ve had the experience of playing South Africa,” said the 24-year-old.

“A lot of the group have had the experience of playing them now, so I have a bit of a better idea of what’s coming.

“The other thing that helps is the sort of form that the players in this group have been in away from here. The results they’ve got and obviously the club’s successes and the form that we’ve been in with Scotland as well means that we’ll go into it with a bit of belief.

“It gives you a bit of belief that you can go out and win those big games (at club level). It’s not just Glasgow, obviously Blair coming out with experience of winning the double, and others. That definitely has an impact.”

Andre Esterhuizen is adamant there is no chance of South Africa taking their current sense of buoyancy for granted after they arrived in the UK for their three-Test Autumn Series.

The Springboks have won the last two World Cups and further underlined their credentials by winning five of their six matches against New Zealand, Australia and Argentina in this summer’s Rugby Championship.

Rassie Erasmus’ formidable side will be expected to add further victories against Scotland, England and Wales over the next three weekends.

“For rugby players, it’s one day you can be at the top of the world, the next day you can lose to anyone,” said Sharks centre Esterhuizen, speaking from the team’s Edinburgh hotel.

“So, yes, it’s good to have confidence and a bit of an aura, but also you know that any team at the top 10 could probably beat you on any given day.

“And that’s rugby. We just focus every week on being the best we can that week and obviously, strive to be better. You can’t always be at the top and think you can’t get better.”

Graham’s absence affords Duhan van der Merwe the opportunity to build a lead as the pair scrap over Scotland’s try-scoring record.