Scotland vs South Africa as it happened: Result and reaction after late surge takes Springboks to victory
Scotland 15-32 South Africa: The world champions overcame a fighting performance from the hosts to open their November campaign with a win
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Your support makes all the difference.South Africa overcame a battling showing from Scotland at Murrayfield to emerge as 32-15 victors in their Autumn Nations Series opener.
The Springboks were short of their best in Edinburgh and made to earn every point by the hosts, who were right in the fight for much of the contest despite losing Scott Cummings to a red card 20 minutes in. A handful of missed opportunities came to cost Gregor Townsend’s side, though, and a late surge from the world champions widened the final margin.
Makazole Mapimpi’s first-half double had put South Africa in control, though Scotland refused to go away, with Tom Jordan impressing from full-back and their forwards fronting up strongly. But while they survived the initial impetus of the Springboks’ seven bench forwards, that injection of power eventually told, with Jasper Wiese scoring in the final moments from an emphatic pushover scrum.
Re-live all of the action from Murrayfield in our live blog below:
Spirited Scotland make South Africa work for victory but Springboks’ power eventually tells
Scotland produced a spirited display but lacked the guile to get over the line as they went down to a 32-15 defeat by world champions South Africa at Murrayfield.
Three first-half tries – two from Makazole Mapimpi either side of an opportunist score from Thomas du Toit – gave the Boks a 19-9 interval lead after the Scots had the double setback of a 20-minute red card for Scott Cummings and a Ben White try chalked off.
Gregor Townsend’s side rallied impressively after the break and got to within four points, but they were made to rue their inability to cross the whitewash while on top, with all of their points coming from the boot of Finn Russell.
South Africa eventually pulled away in the closings stages, with a try from Jasper Wiese in the last action of the match sealing their ninth consecutive victory over Scotland.
Spirited Scotland make sloppy Springboks work for victory
Scotland 15-32 South Africa: The hosts rallied impressively in the second half and at one stage got to within four points of the world champions
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend reflects on Scotland’s defeat
“There is not that much disappointment, to be honest. I’m proud. It was one of our best performances in the last two or three years, built on effort and physicality. We put ourselves in positions to score points. It was frustrating not to get that try before half time, but we put in huge effort. We needed to be ahead of the scoreboard in the final ten minutes, and that’s on us to make sure we are able to nail the skill and execute.
“I thought our defence was outstanding today in holding out South Africa a few times. We were getting penalties and pressure - I thought there could have potentially been another yellow card. But there are ways we have to be better, like executing that final pass under pressure.”
Next up...
Scotland will rest and recharge for a meeting with Portugal next Saturday. Jack Dempsey looks likely to miss that game - the back row looked in some discomfort at full time after suffering an injury.
The Springboks, meanwhile, head south to Twickenham to see if they can pile more pressure on Steve Borthwick and England.
South Africa open Autumn Nations Series with win over Scotland
That concludes a weekend that the Southern Hemisphere sides have dominated: five defeats from five for the Six Nations sides facing foes from below the equator, with France the sole representative to restore respectability with a win over fellow Northern Hemisphere nation Japan.
Springboks captain Eben Etzebeth speaks to TNT Sports
“Obviously it was a tough Test match, they are always a quality side to play against. The scoreline flatters us a bit. They were much closer than it says.
“I think we just needed to stick together. It was a great performance from the guys and a good tough one to start with. Credit to Jerry [Flannery, defence coach], we put a lot of energy and detail into our defence.”
FT: Scotland 15-32 South Africa
A 17-point final margin does not at all reflect how Scotland managed to scrap to stay in the game, but those final ten minutes were a show of South Africa’s strength. Having scrambled so well to prevent the hosts scoring, the Springboks saw it out with Jasper Wiese’s pushover try the exclamation point. The world champions have played much better, and will surely do so again this November, but a win is a win.
FULL TIME: Scotland 15-32 South Africa
TRY! Scotland 15-32 SOUTH AFRICA (Jasper Wiese, 80 minutes)
A frightening show of force to finish the job! The Scottish scrum is driven back across the Firth of Forth and Jasper Wiese is the try-scoring beneficiary!
Handre Pollard converts with the final kick and that’ll do it!
Scotland 15-25 South Africa, 78 minutes
Penalty to the Springboks, and that will do it. A desperate Scotland can’t resist clattering into scrum half Grant Williams.
Scotland 15-25 South Africa, 77 minutes
Ah, Scotland snatch at it! Huw Jones throws a lively pass which is out of reach for Duhan van der Merwe.
So much for shutting the game down! Canan Moodie and Lukhanyo Am go up-tempo at the lineout, the former sashaying in between defenders and into the Scotland 22.
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