Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Liveupdated

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

Harry Latham-Coyle
Sunday 10 November 2024 18:36 GMT
Comments
(Getty Images)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

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:

Scotland 12-19 South Africa, 50 minutes

A lovely RG Snyman pull-back helps South Africa get to the edge, though Andre Esterhuizen’s offload evades two waiting teammates. Pieter-Steph du Toit’s go-go-gadget arms ensure all is not lost, and to the left they then sweep, a wide pass tipped over the crossbar by Scotland full-back Tom Jordan and landing in Makazole Mapimpi’s hands.

The wing can’t stay in play but South Africa have a scrum to come back to, which this lost will enjoy.

South Africa introduced six of their replacement forwards at once
South Africa introduced six of their replacement forwards at once (Getty Images)
Harry Latham-Coyle10 November 2024 17:21

Scotland 12-19 South Africa, 49 minutes

If Scotland can survive this next ten minutes, they will be in good stead - South Africa have rather played their trump card early, hoping to kill the game off with the injection of power.

Ah, that’ll frustrate the Scotland coaches - a free kick at the scrum. Off the Springboks go from a quick tap.

Harry Latham-Coyle10 November 2024 17:20

Scotland 12-19 South Africa, 47 minutes

The Scottish lineout is pilfered and off the heavy mob go, RG Snyman, Pieter-Steph du Toit and co. thumping it up. But Scotland re-steel rather impressively, and eventually draw an error, a well-timed counter ruck forcing the ball free from the hands of scrum half Jordan Hendrikse.

Harry Latham-Coyle10 November 2024 17:18

Scotland 12-19 South Africa, 46 minutes

Knocked on! All that mass doesn’t count for much if you don’t get your accuracy spot on, a spill at the tail after the maul is stalled.

And Eben Etzebeth, the lone remaining starter in the Springboks pack, compounds the error, hauling Zander Fagerson to the floor to escalate a minor scuffle. He is penalised and Scotland can clear in comfort.

Harry Latham-Coyle10 November 2024 17:17

Scotland 12-19 South Africa, 45 minutes

And that is not what you want to see coming on at this juncture. The rest of the bench South African forwards are thrown on in unison, Malcolm Marx, Siya Kolisi and Pieter-Steph du Toit amongst them. Scottish shudders all around Murrayfield.

Harry Latham-Coyle10 November 2024 17:16

Scotland 12-19 South Africa, 44 minutes

Scotland execute their restart receipt drill rather better than South Africa, clearing to their own ten-metre line. Bosh! A thumping one-two punch from the Springboks, first Andre Esterhuizen hulking up and then RG Snyman meatily meeting a would-be tackler and getting an offload away.

Esterhuizen shows off some of his softer skills, prodding a grubber into the corner. Scotland escape, but not far - South Africa will have a lineout inside the 22.

Harry Latham-Coyle10 November 2024 17:14

PENALTY! SCOTLAND 12-19 South Africa (Finn Russell, 43 minutes)

A fourth penalty of the afternoon for Finn Russell.

(Jane Barlow/PA Wire)
Harry Latham-Coyle10 November 2024 17:13

Scotland 9-19 South Africa, 42 minutes

Scotland switch the direction of travel and Finn Russell searches for Tom Jordan with a raking wide pass, which he is perhaps fortunate is deflected forwards by South African hands before better-placed Springboks can rush up to intercept it.

Scotland win a scrum penalty, and this should be three points.

Harry Latham-Coyle10 November 2024 17:12

Scotland 9-19 South Africa, 41 minutes

Snyman makes a hash of his first involvement, the second half restart going straight through his hands and into the face of Kwagga Smith behind him. Scotland scrum, and an early opportunity for some points.

Harry Latham-Coyle10 November 2024 17:11

Second half...

Right, the two sets of 15 are back out there, Scotland with Max Williamson in the ranks after the lock replaced the sent off Scott Cummings. That 20-minute red card trial does take some getting used to.

South Africa have a new second row of their own - the gargantuan RG Snyman has been tearing up trees since a summer switch from Munster to Leinster, and is on for Franco Mostert, it appears.

Back underway.

Harry Latham-Coyle10 November 2024 17:09

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in