Scotland vs South Africa LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as 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:
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.
Scotland 15-25 South Africa, 76 minutes
More time ticks away as South Africa manage to retain consecutive kicks to close in on the hosts’ 22. Duhan van der Merwe rushes up to shut down Pieter-Steph du Toit and prevent him getting a pass away to Canan Moodie.
There’s a hint of an overlap on the other side as the Springboks play to the left, but Siya Kolisi’s quick transfer is behind Makazole Mapimpi. Scotland survive and will have a lineout in their own half.
PENALTY! Scotland 15-25 SOUTH AFRICA (Handre Pollard, 74 minutes)
Handre Pollard pops it over. Scotland will have to score twice in six minutes.
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