Match Report: Scotland 15-32 South Africa

Makazole Mapimpi was the early victor, his spoils a strive from Handré Pollard’s darting cross-field kick which was on the again of a bonus for Pierre Schoeman not leaving a line-out maul swiftly sufficient. Pollard missed the touchline conversion however the world champions had been in enterprise [0-5, 4 mins].

Scotland settled after that early Bok blitz, Duhan van der Merwe twice making forays into South African territory however simply when Finn Russell was about to tee up a penalty purpose on the again of Springboks not rolling away at a ruck, Scott Cummings was yellow carded for a neck roll within the act earlier than.

It was a blow the hosts didn’t want however after 1 / 4 of an hour, Russell did certainly land Scotland’s first factors from round 35m after South Africa had been adjudged by referee Christophe Ridley of blocking a chase [3-5, 17 mins]. Nonetheless, Cummings’ yellow was upgraded to a 20-minute crimson card earlier than the following restart, to the confusion of the Murrayfield plenty.

A tense affair was giving little quarter to both aspect however when Canan Moodie was penalised for not holding on, Russell landed a long-range cracker to nudge Scotland into the lead [6-5, 21 mins].

Scotland’s tails had been up, maybe on a perceived injustice and the group knew it. Each chase had intent and the 14 males had been banding collectively to counter a bulkier opposition. It led to a extra unfastened contest, with Russell’s drop purpose try after 27 minutes simply charged down.

The world champions are likely to know when to show the screw and did so from an unlikely supply when tighthead prop Thomas du Toit burst via a fragmented line-out, Pollard changing this time [6-12, 29 mins].

Kwagga Smith, on the event of his 50^th cap, infringed by not rolling away at one other ruck, permitting Russell the prospect to land one other monster penalty [9-12, 33 mins].

As soon as extra, South Africa sensed the scoreboard hazard and Mapimpi grabbed his second when he clutched a deft Willie Le Roux chip, with Pollard changing [9-19, 36 mins].

Scotland wanted to get one thing earlier than the interval and thought they’d delivered in fantastic fashion when Tom Jordan scythed via the Springbok defence to ship Ben White over however the TMO intervened as soon as extra – appropriately it might prove – for an earlier Huw Jones knock on.

The delirium was quick lived however because the groups left the sphere, there was nearly sufficient encouragement for the hosts to eat right into a 10-point deficit.

Half-time: Scotland 9-19 South Africa

Scotland wanted to open the factors ledger within the second half and when South Africa transgressed at a scrum, Russell landed a fourth penalty to redress arrears to seven [12-19, 43 mins].

The Springboks introduced on no fewer than six replacements to all-but empty their bench after 46 minutes and the sport grew to become as stop-start because the change in personnel.

Nonetheless, Scotland refused to again down from the battle and had been it not for a miraculous piece of Eben Etzebeth defence, whereby he someway grabbed Duhan van der Merwe’s jersey because the winger was about to stretch out and hare away, the house aspect may have been degree.

Mapimpi’s yellow card for a blatant offside could have reaped extra reward if the line-out had not been spoiled however the perception had returned and when Russell grabbed a fifth penalty purpose, there was lower than a strive in it [15-19, 60 mins].

But once more, South Africa stemmed the movement of factors with Pollard’s first penalty after Pieter-Steph du Toit was illegally hauled down at a line-out [15-22, 65 mins] and the prolific stand-off added one other because the Springboks regarded to handle the life out of the sport [15-25, 74 mins].

And there was time for South Africa to place appreciable gloss on the end result when Jasper Wiese went over within the ultimate minute, Pollard as soon as extra clipping over the conversion [15-32, 80 mins].

Full-time: Scotland 15-32 South Africa

Scotland: Tom Jordan (Glasgow Warriors), Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Huw Jones, Sione Tuipolutu (captain) (each Glasgow Warriors), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby); Finn Russell (Bathtub Rugby), Ben White (Toulon); Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman (each Edinburgh Rugby), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey (all Glasgow Warriors).

Replacements: Dylan Richardson (Sharks) (for Ashman, 61 minutes), Rory Sutherland (Glasgow Warriors) (for Schoeman, 61 minutes), Elliot Millar Mills (Northampton Saints) (for Z. Fagerson, 65 minutes), Max Williamson (Glasgow Warriors) (Crimson card substitute, 31 minutes), Josh Bayliss (Bathtub Rugby) (for Dempsey, 64 minutes), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby) (for Darge, 61 minutes), Jamie Dobie (for White, 68 minutes], Stafford McDowall (for Jordan, 72 minutes] (each Glasgow Warriors).

 South Africa: Willie Le Roux (Bulls), Canan Moodie (Bulls), Lukhanyo Am (Sharks), Andre Easterhuizen (Sharks), Makazole Mapimpi (Sharks), Handré Pollard (Leicester Tigers), Jaden Hendrikse (Sharks); Ox Nche (Sharks), Bongi Mbonambi (Sharks), Thomas du Toi (Bathtub Rugby), Eben Etzebeth (Sharks, captain), Franco Mostert (Honda Warmth), Marco van Staden (Bulls), Elright Louw (Bulls), Kwagga Smith Shizuoka Blue Revs).

Replacements: Malcolm Marx (Kubota Spears), Gerhard Steenekamp (Bulls), Vincent Koch (Sharks), RG Snyman (Leinster), Siya Kolisi (Sharks), Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz), Jasper Wiese (Uruyasu D-Rocks), Grant Williams (Sharks).

Referee: Christophe Ridley (ENG)

Assistant referees: Luke Pearce (ENG) and Craig Evans (WAL)

TMO: Iain Tempest (ENG)

FPRO: Tual Trainini (FRA)

Attendance: 67,144

Participant of the Match: Eben Etzebeth (South Africa)