South Africa prove too strong for enterprising Scotland in Nations Championship

A breathless match, all the more so given the thin air of Pretoria, but South Africa march on with another full house of points. Scotland were brilliant in scoring their four tries, their pace and skill regularly making mugs of their hosts, but power remains the thing the Springboks do better than anyone. At this altitude, it is very hard to stop.

The hosts were unanswerable in the middle of each half, scoring five of their six tries around then, but Scotland scored two apiece in the second and fourth quarters. They were within sight of a losing bonus point with 10 minutes to go, but Jesse Kriel’s late score meant they had to settle for one.

South Africa broke the game open after a quarter of an hour. Two tries in as many minutes showcased all the power we are well used to and the speed and imagination that give this vintage of Springboks that extra dimension.

Scotland seemed to have weathered an early storm. They may or may not have devised an ingenious way of dealing with South Africa’s scrum. An early shove at a scrum in the shadow of their posts meant a free-kick, which these days cannot be used to reset the scrum. So the Springboks came at them the old-fashioned way, only to be held up over the line, which these days is also not followed by a scrum. But Finn Russell, looking a million dollars back in the saddle, kicked the goalline drop-out short, inviting South Africa to set up a couple of rucks, from the second of which Embrose Papier broke with lightning speed to beat two forwards and round Kyle Rowe for a brilliant solo score.

South Africa came again from the restart. Boan Venter showed extraordinary strength to hoist the mighty Cobus Wiese in the air and hold him there for a good few seconds, before literally hurling him forward. Wiese was off, swatting aside defenders on a 30-yard charge to the halfway line. The support play that followed was high-class and had Scotland reeling. Wiese took another charge at them, and Evan Roos drove over from close range – 14-0.

Lesser teams might have folded at that point. Scotland regrouped and struck twice themselves on the approach to half-time. The other way to deal with South Africa’s scrum is to win a penalty there yourself. Pierre Schoeman squeezed one out of Wilco Louw, Scotland tapped and went with pace, and Matt Fagerson took a turn at driving over from close range.

That was great, but the try Scotland scored on the stroke of half-time was better still. South Africa were starting to concede penalties generally. Scotland set up an attack from a lineout, which broke down, but the maestro Russell was on to the loose ball, fed his captain Sione Tuipulotu on the switch, and his carry and off-load put Rowe over – 14-14 all of a sudden.

Scotland kept the pressure on after the break too, all the more so when Ben-Jason Dixon was shown yellow for a clumsy clash of heads with Scott Cummings at a ruck. But the visitors were not quite able to make his absence tell. When Dixon returned, South Africa did make it tell, breaking the game open all over again with three tries either side of the hour mark. Elrigh Louw became the latest to drive over from close range for the first, Damian Willemse showed great feet and power to combine with Grant Williams for the next, two minutes later, before Zac Porthren, well, drove over from close range. That seemed the game, 35-14 with 15 minutes left.

Scotland had other ideas. They have power too, but, boy, do they have pace. Right throughout the team. Scott Cummings of all people, lock forward no less, went clean through a hole in midfield and linked with Josh Bayliss, whose pace is no secret. The flanker ran home to the posts.

Scotland were away again from the restart, this time Gregor Hiddleston the next forward to show his pace. His break from his own half precipitated dazzling hands and feet down the left. When the ball came right, Ben White broke from a ruck and reached for the line. Bonus point secured.

Alas, the Scots could not hold on to the second bonus point. There were still 10 minutes to play, but it was Kriel who rounded off the scoring with a couple of minutes remaining. He looked somewhat in front of Handré Pollard when he chased the latter’s chip ahead, but he was allowed to gather and run the ball home.