The Springboks battled to a nervy, yet exciting 42-28 win over Scotland on Saturday at Loftus Versfeld in their Nations Championship clash.
Locked at 14-14 at half-time, the Boks had to graft hard and overcome the experimental nature of their matchday 23 to subdue a dangerous, keen Scotland.
Early tries from Embrose Papier and Evan Roos within the first 20 minutes ensured the Boks took an early 14-0 lead, but the highly motivated visitors would strike back through Matt Fagerson and Kyle Rowe. Handré Pollard and Finn Russell slotted over the respective conversions.
Ben-Jason Dixon was carded in the 41st minute due to dangerous play, but the Boks escaped the sanction without any damage to the scoreboard. The Boks’ Elrigh Louw opened the scoring in the second stanza in the 58th minute, Pollard converting. It was quickly followed by Damian Willemse scoring the Boks’ fourth, once again converted by the Boks’ starting No 10.
The Boks would then go on to score through prop Zachary Porthen, his first Test try. Josh Bayliss and Ben White pulled it back, the Scots setting up a nervy last 10 minutes for Loftus by trailing 35-28.
The Boks finally put the game to bed as Jesse Kriel scored in the 78th minute, replacement utility back Quan Horn converting.
SOUTH AFRICA v SCOTLAND TEAMS
South Africa starting XV: 15 Aphelele Fassi; 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Ethan Hooker; 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier; 8 Evan Roos, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit 6, Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Cobus Wiese , 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Boan Venter; Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Zach Porthen, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 Elrigh Louw, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Quan Horn
Scotland starting XV: 15 Kyle Rowe; 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Rory Hutchinson, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Jamie Dobie; 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White; 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson; 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Gregor Brown; 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman; Replacements:16 Gregor Hiddleston, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Alex Samuel, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 Magnus Bradbury, 22 Tom Jordan, 23 Stafford McDowall
* UPDATE TO FOLLOW
