Scrappy Springboks surge to victory over battling Scotland

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.

“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.”

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.

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.

“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.”

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.

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!

Penalty to the Springboks, and that will do it. A desperate Scotland can’t resist clattering into scrum half Grant Williams.

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.