Key events
34th min: Every time one team takes some momentum they give it away. Scotland give away a soft scrum after securing the restart on the 22 after White takes too long to kick at the back of a ruck.
Penalty! Scotland 9-12 South Africa (Russell, 33)
Russell makes no mistake and South Africa’s sixth penalty conceded is punished.
32nd min: This has been a chaotic game. Both teams are throwing absolutely everything at the breakdown and Scotland are winning that battle. They win a penalty shortly after the restart just beyond South Africa’s 10m line. Max Williamson comes onto the pitch after Cummings’ 20 minute red card ends.
TRY! Scotland 6-12 South Africa (Du Toit, 31)
From nothing! South Africa, for the third time this Test, make a mess of the line-out, but a lucky bobble has the ball fall for Thomas du Toit who runs in an easy score. Pollard converts and the Boks are back in front against the run of play.
30th min: South Africa find themselves within touching distance of the Scottish line thanks to a clever dink from le Roux and a lucky bounce of the ball that bobbles over Jordan and Moodie is almost in. Scotland secure the ball but the clearing box kick from White doesn’t go long and the Boks will have the line-out inside Scotland’s 22.
28th min: Scotland make yards with short carries around the fringe. That opens space for Russell in the pocket who drops at goal but Mostert charges it down. Scotland win the ball back and have a dart down the short side. But they can’t hold onto it and a break from Mapimpi has South Africa cantering up field.
26th min: Scotland win the line-out and are happy to play the kick challenge. Moodie runs it up but is met with resistance. South Africa kick, Scotland return it. When the Boks have the final say it’s a big territorial win for the home side who’ll have the line-out feed around the Boks’ 22.
24 min: South Africa finally win a line-out and get a rolling maul on. They go down the line after the rumble stalls before Etzebethe is SMOKED by Ashman. Moodie gets a poor pass floated over to him, knocks it on and then the Boks concede yet another breakdown penalty. You’d never guess it but it’s South Africa with the man advantage.
Penalty! Scotland 6-5 South Africa (Russell, 22)
Scotland take the lead! And you know what, they deserve it. South Africa, apart from the try, have not been at it yet.
21st min: South Africa’s scrum motors through the Scottish pack but White gets it in and out very quickly. There’s a kick down field and Moodie runs it back, but another penalty is blown against the Boks as the winger holds on. Russll within range here.
20th min: This time South Africa win the free-kick from the scrum but instantly cough up possession. Hendrikse taps and goes quickly but chucks a tough pass to Smith who shells it.
19 min: Am has the ball knocked loose from his grasp so Scotland have a scrum inside their own patch. South Africa just haven’t clicked across the backline yet. Another chance to scrum though.
RED CARD! Scotland (Cummings, 18)
Cummings’ yellow has been upgraded! Scotland now have to play with a man down for a total of 20 minutes.
Penalty! Scotland 3-5 South Africa (Russell, 18)
Scotland are up and running. And they deserve that. Great physicality from Scotland.
16th min: Poor from South Africa. They go too early in the scrum so give away a free-kick. Then, after Pollard is sat down by Tuipolotu with a mighty carry, Mostert obstructs the chasers from a high kick. Russell will now get a chance at an easy three.
15th min: Another clean line-out win from Scotland has them on the front foot. A high kick into South Africa’s 22 causes some problems for Mapimpi but a kind bounce has it back on the side of the Boks. Shortly after there’s a spill around half-way and Scotland will have the scrum feed. Can Scotland hold without a member of their tight five?
12th min: South Africa win their line-out and go down the line and then back. Scotland’s defence holds before le Roux kicks to touch around the 22. Esterhuizen is having a strong game providing some neat link-up play in midfield. Scotland win their line-out and then a penalty after the Boks collapse the maul. If they can keep South Africa scoreless for 10 minutes they’ll be well pleased.
Yellow card! (Cummings, 12)
The officials are taking a long look at the big screen. Cummings has crocodile-rolled Mostert away from a ruck and that’s a clear penalty. Definite yellow card despite the boos.
11th min: Scotland win a penalty within range after a tackler doesn’t roll away. Earlier in the move Jones unfurled a pass through his legs to keep the backline ranging right and then left. Better tempo from the Scots and this should be an easy three for Russell.
10th min: The crowd rises as Van der Merwe gets the ball in some space down the left wing, but he’s monstered into touch by several Boks. Mbonambi misses his jumper – that’s two in a row that the Boks haf fluffed.
9th min: A cute dink off the boot puts the ball inside South Africa’s 22 and Moodie has to mop up with a wriggle of his hips. A messy few minutes from both sides ends with a line-out for Scotland around half-way.
6th min: Scotland win a penalty inside their own half after a Hendirkse up and under puts it back after the restart. Russell kicks to touch but doesn’t get a lot of ground so Scotland will have to attack from a line-out 10m into South Africa’s territory. But it’s a mess. In a flash the Boks get the ball back with a line-out of their own. But then Scotland pinch the ball… what a scrappy passage.
TRY! Scotland 0-5 South Africa (Mapimpi, 5)
The Boks are on the board! It’s a great finish from Mapimpi in the left corner following a perfect cross-field kick-pass from Pollard. The base was set from a maul and Pollard had the licence to chance his luck with a penalty advantage. Brilliant from South Africa.
Pollard fails with the conversion.
5th min: Scotland are targeting the breakdown and a strong counter ruck almost wins the ball back around half-way. But a tackler doesn’t roll away so it’s a Boks penalty which Pollard hoofs into the corner around six metres from the line. Great kick.
3rd min: Pollard finds space in the backfield but Duhan scampers back and makes a good mark on the dive. His clearing kick gives South Africa a line-out 10m inside Scottish territory.
2nd min: South Africa kick-off. White box-kicks back and South Africa attack. Smith with a run before Pollard hoists high. The Boks secure the ball back and attack down the line before Mapimpi makes inroads into Scottish territory.
A Scottish supporter, who wants to remain anonymous, has this chilling message:
“By far the most likely way to get a Scotland win in this match is if a key Springbok player is sent off permanently at an early stage in the game.”
Not an optimistic outlook, but realistic perhaps.
My goodness, Flower of Scotland is an absolute tune!
Credit to the crowd, and the band, and the players, and whoever wrote the song. I loved that!
If the 23 representing Scotland can match that they’ll hammer the world champions.
Anthems now… two of the best in world rugby.
It’s Remembrance Sunday so we’ll start with some bagpipes and a moment of silence.
The players are lining up in the tunnel.
Kwagga Smith is leading the Boks out on his 50th appearance for his country.
Bryan Habana says that this is the best collection of Springboks in South Africa’s history.
He also said that it’s the best cluster of Scots of all time.
Should be a belter then.
Here’s Sarah Rendell’s report from Cardiff on a historic win for Fiji:
What are your thoughts on the 7-1 bench split? Does anyone out there feel that it’s against the spirit of rugby?
Rassie Erasmus, full of smiles, admits that his rotated side is a consequence of the short six-day turnaround before the England match.
A few weeks ago, he was doing his best to convince Gerard Meager that his brutal Boks are actually a bunch of lovable blokes. Anyone buying it?
The crowd is filling up around me and there are a load of Saffas in attendance.
The streets of Edinburgh were awash with green jerseys. They’re not the majority – I’d say it’s a 70-30 split – but they’ll fanatically cheer every South African point.
With Wales losing to Fiji, Scotland are the only European side to beat a southern hemisphere outfit in five Tests this Autumn.
Surprised? You shouldn’t be. Not if you read my preview of the four southern hemisphere giants (Fiji not included).
Missed it, did you? I’ve got you covered:
Some of you might have noticed my slip when I reported on the Scotland team.
It’s fixed now, thanks to Allan MacDonald, who wrote in to help me out.
Allan also had some thoughts on Jordan at full-back:
Quite surprised he went to full back when Rowe went off last week, but I suppose Scotland use their fullback as a second playmaker often and with Kinghorn also able to fill that role it might keep the South African rush defence guessing for that crucial split second.
(I can hope!!)
Fiji have just beaten Wales! 24-19 in Cardiff. It’s Wales’ 10th successive defeat, their joint-worst ever run.
Rassie Erasmus and his Boks have on the charm offensive this Autumn.
But is it working?
Michael Aylwin ain’t buying it. But, as our man says, it’s not necessary. The Boks have earned their reputation as the bad boys of the game. Why not embrace it?
South Africa team
It’s a seven-one split on the bench with only Grant Williams – a scrum-half-cum-winger – the lone back among the subs.
There are some heavy hitters who’ll be expected to add some heft later on, but don’t think of the starters as lightweight. That’s a very mobile back row who’ll look to stifle Scotland’s ball. And with Andre Esterhuizen rampaging down the inside centre lane, the Boks will still pack a punch from the opening whistle.
South Africa: Wille le Roux; Canan Moodie, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Makazole Mapimpi; Handre Pollard, Jaden Hendrikse; Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, Thomas du Toit, Eben Etzebeth (c), Franco Mostert, Marco van Staden, Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith.
Replacements: Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenkamp, Vincent Koch, RG Snyman, Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jasper Wiese, Grant Williams.
Scotland team
A few big names, including Fin Russell, Ben White and Blair Kinghorn return to the side.
New Zealand-born Tom Jordan makes his first start for his adopted country at full-back. He’s usually a midfielder, and his deployment in the backfield, with Kinghorn out wide, could be a sign of Scotland’s intention to hoist the ball high. Then again, it could just be that Darcy Graham is out injured.
Scotland: Tom Jordan; Blair Kinghorn, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu (c), Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell, Ben White; Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey.
Replacements: Dylan Richardson, Rory Sutherland, Elliot Millar Mills, Max Williamson, Josh Bayliss, Jamie Ritchie, Jamie Dobie, Stafford McDowall.
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
So far it’s been a clean sweep for the Rugby Championship sides over their Six Nations rivals.
The New Zealand All Blacks edged England and then kept Ireland at arm’s length. Australia won a thriller at Twickenham before Argentina routed Italy.
Now the double world champion Springboks take aim at Scotland with Gregor Townsend’s team the last hope for those who hold onto the belief that Europe’s best have the measure of the southern hemisphere giants.
Scotland have not beaten South Africa since 2010 in a run that stretches across 10 Tests. They were outmuscled in their last meeting at last year’s World Cup and though they have the razzle-dazzle to cut any defensive line to shreds, it’s where cauliflowered ears meet bloodied foreheads where this game will likely be decided.
Can Scotland front up to the Bomb Squad, as South Africa’s meaty replacements have been dubbed since their 2019 World Cup triumph? Perhaps they can. But what about a Nuclear Squad? Rassie Erasmus has named seven forwards on the bench including regular captain Siya Kolisi and the former World Player of the Year, Pieter-Steph du Toit.
If Scotland can get enough front-foot ball for Finn Russell, and if they can handle the heft of the Boks pack, and if they can establish a large enough lead to nullify the impact of the South African bench, then maybe, possibly, they have a serious chance of a mighty upset.
That’s a lot of ifs, but if there’s one thing we’ve learned from the Autumn Nations Series so far it’s that we should expect the unexpected.
How good’s international rugby at the minute!? Another cracker awaits!
I’m at Murrayfield and I can’t wait to get going. Drop me a mail if you’ve got any thoughts you’d like to share.
Kick-off at 4:10pm GMT.
Teams and further updates to come.
