Now the north can drink to southern discomfort

Well thought out, well fought out. Scotland thoroughly deserved to chase the ghost of 33 years of Springbok domination out of Murrayfield.

Well thought out, well fought out. Scotland thoroughly deserved to chase the ghost of 33 years of Springbok domination out of Murrayfield.

I never thought I'd live to see the day when a Scottish pack could drive the South Africans back on their heels. Scrumaging is not a traditional Scottish strength but they took a mighty grip on the up-front conflict yesterday and it was great to watch.

South Africa are entitled to complain about the credibility of the two tries they conceded but they could have had no arguments about the result.

When referee Nigel Williams called for the video referee to adjudicate on whether a try had been scored in a mass of bodies on the South African line he should have asked for an X-ray as well. There was no way anyone could have seen through the big heap of flesh and bone to judge if it had been touched down.

The Scots claimed it had been, but they would have anyway. A try should never have been given. Neither was I convinced that Nikki Walker touched down the ball that outside-half Andre Pretorius dropped behind his line. One camera angle suggested he got a fingertip to it but another that he missed altogether.

The referee was well placed but there was more than enough doubt to justify calling for the video. But when you consider the other chances that Scotland had to score tries, and the penalty kicks missed by Brendan Laney, you can't quarrel with the margin of victory.

We have to acknowledge that this was not a full-strength Springboks team. After their mauling in France last weekend they fielded a team containing three debutants. But you expect the southern hemisphere side to have enough strength in depth to cope.

What they can't expect any more is to come up here looking for easy pickings. Just as the Irish shook the Australians last weekend, so Scotland proved that progress is being made. And the area in which the gap has been closed is the telling physical side of the game.

It has been a while coming but now we can match them for strength and physique. That brings it down to tactical awareness and flexibility, and that's where both Ireland and Scotland proved a point.

South Africa were tactically naïve yesterday and their lack of purpose and direction was the big difference. Scotland dominated in possession, territory and discipline.

The fact that the turnovers were 6-1 in Scotland's favour tells its own story. They did not create much but they scrambled and scrambled.

What's more they were much fitter than their opponents. The Springboks were blowing hard in the final 15 minutes and you cannot rescue games when you are in that state.

Sadly, I did not see anyone in the South African line-up who impressed. I have heard a lot about Butch James but he was a big disappointment. He seemed to be playing for himself and his kicking left a lot to be desired. Both he and Robbie Fleck were very hot-headed. You are not going to win anything with that level of indiscipline.

Scotland, on the other hand, had many impressive players. Gordon Bulloch won the Man of the Match award, but it could have gone to Budge Pountney or Bryan Redpath.

I was also impressed by Gordon Ross and surprised when he was replaced in the second half. They could have brought Gregor Townsend on at centre.

What pleases me is the boost this gives to the Six Nations. It may not prove to be the second division tournament certain people are calling it. Certainly, Scotland and Ireland will be tackling it with a new-found belief and self-confidence.