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 15-21 South Africa
65 mins: South Africa keep up the pressure as they draw a penalty from the scrum - but Pollard can’t take advantage as he horribly shanks the kick at goal.
Scotland 15-21 South Africa
63 mins: And in a further blow to Scotland, South Africa win another line out to steal the ball at halfway, before Koch gains some yards with a driving run.
Substitute Pollard brings South Africa back into the Scotland half with a good kick into the corner - and it sets up a Springboks scrum. The world champions have wrestled control back from the hosts.
Scotland 15-21 South Africa
61 mins: They can’t repeat the trick from the line out, however, and South Africa are able to regain possession following a loose throw. That was a missed opportunity.
Scotland 15-21 South Africa
60 mins: The momentum has shifted now! Hogg sends a brilliant clearing kick deep inside the South Africa half, and a brilliant kick chase from the Scots earns them the penalty five metres from the line!
TRY! Scotland 15-21 South Africa (HOGG 58’)
Scotland are back in it - they needed that! After Lukhanyo Am is penalised for a high tackle on Price, Russell finds touch and sets up the line out from the five-metre line.
They work it wonderfully from there, with Russell finding Van der Merwe, who popped the ball on to Hogg. The Scotland captain drove to the line and powered past Reinach in the corner.
Russell can’t add the conversion from the touchline.
Scotland 10-21 South Africa (Jantjies pen 56’)
South Africa work the ball through the phases again as Ritchie concedes another penalty at the breakdown. The Springboks also had a chance to work the ball to the outside, but Le Roux is forced out of play so it comes back.
Jantjies adds another three points to consolidate South Africa’s terrific start to this half - they’ve turned it on, just as they so often do.
Scotland 10-18 South Africa
53 mins: Scotland get into trouble again under the high ball as Harris gives away a penalty for a block as Van der Merwe competed for the catch.
South Africa return to the Scotland half and retain possession from the line out.
Scotland 10-18 South Africa
52 mins: South Africa have been ruthless at the start of this second half - coming away with points on both of their trips into the Scotland half.
Townsend recognises that the momentum has shifted and calls on Hamish Watson and Blair Kinghorn from the bench.
Scotland 10-18 South Africa (Jantjies pen 51')
50 mins: South Africa retain possession from the line out after good hands from Marx, before working through the phases under the penalty advantage.
It comes back for a high tackle penalty on Ritchie, as he tried to haul Jantjies down following a break. The fly-half picks himself up before adding the three points from in front of the posts.
Scotland 10-15 South Africa
46 mins: Russell takes a huge hit from the giant Etzebeth as Scotland look to respond. He’s able to recover and clear the ball into the corner, and that sets up Scotland possession inside the South Africa half.
The Springboks win it back after Kolisi strips the ball from Price with an excellent tackle, before Hogg is penalised for an infringement in the ruck.
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