Scotland vs South Africa LIVE: Rugby result, final score and reaction from 2021 Autumn international fixture
Follow live coverage as Scotland take on the Springboks aiming to build on their impressive win over Australia last time out
Scotland are taking on South Africa at Murrayfield hoping to take another huge scalp a week on from their impressive win over Australia. This time though they will need to go up another gear as they face the reigning world champions, and a Springboks side who have not lost to the Scots since 2010, winning their past six encounters.
Gregor Townsend has made four changes to the team which started the win over Australia, with Rufus McLean installed on the wing and Matt Scott given his first start at centre since 2017, while Stuart McInally and Nick Haining come into the pack. Springboks coach Jacques Nienaber has made three changes to the side which edged Wales, including full-back Willie le Roux replacing the injured Damian Willemse.
Townsend knows it will be a tough encounter, but believes home advantage could again be key. “We know what to expect from the Springboks in how they play and the physicality they will bring across the team. We have therefore selected a side that we believe can both meet that challenge and give us the platform to impose our game on the opposition. It should be a full-blooded contest and will require an intensity and focus across our 23-man squad for the full 80 minutes.”
Follow all the action below, live, followed by Ireland against New Zealand:
Scotland 0-0 South Africa
2 mins: South Africa win the penalty after the scrum collapses - it was Fagerson who lost his position. South Africa kick for touch and the Springboks quickly pick up another penalty, this time in the Scotland half. Elton Jantjies kicks for the corner and South Africa are inside the 22.
KICK-OFF! Scotland 0-0 South Africa
1 min: Hogg goes deep from kick-off, forcing Le Roux to clear in what is his return to the Springboks side. Scotland keep possession form the line out but Russell knocks the ball on in side the South Africa half, and that brings up the first scrum of the afternoon.
Scotland vs South Africa
An emotional moment before kick-off as the match ball is delivered by Scotland great Tom Smith, who is to be inducted into the Scotland hall of fame. Smith is undergoing treatment for cancer and is joined by his families as he hands the ball over to Stuart Hogg.
Scotland vs South Africa
The atmosphere inside Murrayfield is crackling nicely after those two huge anthems. Siya Kolisa leading the South Africa anthem is always a brilliant sight.
Scotland vs South Africa
It’s a perfect, crisp Autumn afternoon in Edinburgh as we approach kick-off in the opening fixture of the international weekend.
The conditions are a stark contrast to what South Africa faced in Cardiff last weekend, as they prevailed against the Welsh in wet and misty conditions at the Principality.
Siya Kolisi leads his side out onto the Murrayfield pitch as we draw closer to the national anthems.
Scotland vs South Africa: ‘We have to rise to the challenge'
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend, speaking to Amazon Prime Video before kick-off:
“A lot [of work] goes into the selection. One is the bigger picture, we’ve got four Tests in November and we want to give players opportunities. Another is where we see players are physically given the six-day turnaround. And another part is tactical, where we believe we can impose our game over the 80 minutes. Last week our bench showed they can make an impact and win us a game and we will be looking for the same from our substitutes this week.
“You’ve got to match what your opponents are doing and turn that into an opportunity for you. South Africa have played a similar brand of rugby for a few years now. It’s going to powerful, it’s going to be direct, there are going to be a lot of kicks, there’s going to be a big focus on the set-piece. So we have to rise up to that challenge.
“But when you get an opportunity to play your game, the game we’ve been working on over the last few years, you’ve got to put that in play. We’re excited. You don’t often get the opportunity to play the world champions and to do it here, in front of a full house, is going to be a great challenge for us.”
Scotland vs South Africa: Four changes for the hosts
It’s set to be a huge afternoon for both Rufus McLean and Matt Scott, who are two of four Scotland changes for the visit of South Africa. McLean makes just his second international start on the wing while Scott lines up for Scotland for the first time since 2017.
The Leicester centre has battled through a loss of form and injury set-backs to earn his recall, and his performances in the Premiership have caught the eye of Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend.
“There were areas of his game we needed to see him improving and we feel he’s done that,” he said. “He’s gone and shown what he can do for Leicester and has come back into top form in the last six to 12 months.
“He has started the season really well. Where he is in relation to the last time he played for us, there’s much more competition at centre.
“Even though he’s playing his best rugby, he’s now competing against some other very good centres. His big strengths are his carrying, his work-rate and defensively he’s really improved over the last 12 months. Those three elements are going to be massive this weekend.”
Nick Haining and Stuart McInally also come into the pack, with the former replacing Hamish Watson in the back row.
Scotland vs South Africa: Last time out
It’s been over a decade since Scotland last tasted victory against the Springboks, who extended their winning run over the Scots to six matches when they ground out a 26-20 win on their last trip to Murrayfield three years ago.
After a breathless first half, South Africa displayed the brutal physicality and defensive might that would see them win the World Cup 12 months later as they shut down Scotland after the break.
Handre Pollard scored 18 points and was man of the match, but he has dropped to the bench this afternoon with Elton Jantjies coming in at flyhalf.
Scotland vs South Africa
Hogg: “They have a game plan that’s unique to themselves and it’s a game plan they have had forever. It’s a game plan that works incredibly well for them.
“As a back three we are going to find ourselves under the high ball. It’s something we have worked hard on all week and something I am looking forward to.
“They are very, very physical. They have jackal threats all over their team.
“So in terms of our attacking breakdown, we need to be squeaky clean and make sure we can blast past the contact and keep that ball safe.
“If we continue to do that for multi-phases, then that’s the times that we will most challenge South Africa.”
Scotland vs South Africa
Stuart Hogg says he is ready to face the physical challenge of the Springboks once again and believes Scotland can pull off another memorable upset following last weekend’s win over Australia.
The Scotland captain started two Tests of the British & Irish Lions tour of South Africa this summer and is familiar with the strengths of the world champions.
“They are an unbelievable team, they have got some brilliant individual players and they are world champions for a reason,” he said.
“But like everything there are weaknesses within it and hopefully we can exploit that.
“We need to be patient in what we are trying to do and also stand up to their physicality. If we can stand up to that and outmuscle them we give ourselves a good opportunity of winning.”
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