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:
Full time: Scotland 15-30 South Africa
South Africa go two from two in their European tour, and will look to complete a clean sweep in November when they face England at Twickenham next weekend.
The Springboks will take some stopping.
Siya Kolisi: “Scotland were good today, it was a tight game as usual. I’m proud of my team for sticking together. I thought they had the edge in the first half but physicality was always the aim - and we did that in the second half.”
FULL TIME: Scotland 15-30 South Africa
Player of the match Eben Etzebeth: “First half we were down but we stayed patient and kept to the structure. It was an awesome performance in the second half.
“England will be a massive challenge. We’ll celebrate tonight and then focus on England tomorrow.”
FULL TIME: Scotland 15-30 South Africa
That was quite incredible from South Africa, even if we knew it was coming. As soon as Scotland had a sniff of an upset, the dialled up their physicality to dominate the set-piece and and wrestle back control of the contest, eventually taking it away from the hosts with a flurry of late penalties.
Scotland showed some encouraging glimpses but they will be frustrated that they couldn’t make the most of their opportunities, while their line out fell apart in the second half.
Scotland 15-30 South Africa
79 mins: The player of the match is awarded to Eben Etzebeth, who was key in disrupting Scotland’s line outs in the crucial phase of play in the second play.
Scotland 15-30 South Africa (Pollard pen 78’)
And to make matters worse, South Africa force the knock-on. From the scrum South Africa win another penalty and Pollard brings up 30 points for the Springboks with a simple kick from under the posts.
Scotland 15-27 South Africa
75 mins: That’s a good result for South Africa, though, they’ve been dominant in the set-piece in this second half and they retain possession from their line out.
Steyn clears and forces Scotland back - before incredible South Africa pressure pushes Scotland deep inside their half as they tried to work the ball out from the back.
Scotland 15-27 South Africa
74 mins: South Africa hold Scotland on their halfway line - which forces Russell to kick for the corner. It’s a good kick and sets up a South Africa line out inside their 10-metre line.
Scotland 15-27 South Africa (Steyn pen 71’)
South Africa have taken this match away from Scotland at the breakdown. This time it’s Marx who steals in to win the turnover and draw another penalty at halfway.
Steyn produces another stunning kick from range to extend South Africa’s lead to 12 points.
Scotland 15-24 South Africa (Pollard pen 69’)
And when you make a mistake against the Springboks, they usually force another soon after. Kitshoff draws a penalty from the breakdown and this time Pollard makes no mistake, sending it through the posts to make it a two-score game ahead of the final 10 minutes.
Scotland 15-21 South Africa
66 mins: Hogg and Steyn exchange kicks from deep, before Koch concedes a penalty for an offside. Russell sends it into touch as Scotland return to the South Africa half.
But, again, South Africa strip the ball from a Scotland line out! Koch is involved again as South Africa disrupt another Scotland set-piece, and that releases the pressure just as Scotland looked to be in a good position.
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