Boks leave it late to survive Scotland scare

MATCH REPORT: The Springboks survived a spirited Scotland outfit to emerge victorious by 42-28 in Round Two of the Nations Championship in front of 45,053 strong at Loftus Versfeld.

Jesse Kriel scored a 78th-minute try to ensure victory for the Springboks following a stunning Scotland comeback to make it a seven-point game until that point.

Scotland will look at this match as the one that got away to write their names in the history books by beating the World Champions in their own backyard for the first time in their history.

South Africa’s defence was at sixes and sevens at times but did enough in crucial moments during the opening stanza to deny Gregor Townsend’s men, who showed their intent from the outset.

There might be more questions than answers for Rassie Erasmus heading into their next assignment against an ever-growing Wales outfit at Hollywoodbets Kings Park next weekend.

*To recap all the action, CLICK HERE!

Scotland had South Africa on the ropes in the opening five minutes, but the Boks managed to keep the visitors at bay.

South Africa won a sequence of penalties that kept Scotland under pressure inside their 22, but the Boks left empty-handed after Embrose Papier got held up over the line.

Moments later, Papier showed why he was one of the top try scorers in the United Rugby Championship after sniping and skinning past two Scotland defenders to dot down in the 16th minute. Handre Pollard slotted the conversion.

The Boks went back-to-back in quick succession from the restart after an outstanding run by Cobus Wiese, followed up by Paul de Villiers to set Evan Roos up for the score in the 19th minute. Pollard’s conversion made it 14-0 to the home side.

Scotland won a scrum penalty on a Springbok feed on South Africa’s five-metre line and opted for the tap penalty and got their reward when Matt Fagerson barged over the line. Finn Russell’s conversion brought it back to a seven-point game.

The visitors won another penalty to gain a 22-metre entry and dotted down once more when Sione Tuipulotu offloaded to club teammate Kyle Rowe, who dotted down next to the posts as the halftime siren sounded. Russell levelled matters as both teams headed into the sheds.

Continues below…

The second half started with drama when Ben-Jason Dixon got yellow-carded for a head-on-head clash whilst conducting a clean-out at the breakdown.

The match remained scoreless in the second stanza until Erlich Louw crossed the whitewash in the 57th minute following sustained pressure through the forwards, much to the relief of the Loftus crowd. Pollard ensured the full seven points following the conversion.

The Boks went back-to-back once more when Damian Willemse dotted down in the 59th minute for the bonus-point try, which Pollard converted after Scotland conceded a series of penalties, allowing the Boks free territory from the restart.

Scotland’s lack of discipline continued to be an issue as it gave the Boks ample territory and possession. The pressure eventually took its toll as Zachary Porthen barged over from close range from a pick-and-drive in the 66th minute.

Pollard made it a 21-point lead with his conversion, leaving Scotland with a mountain to climb.

Then the switch flipped.

Scotland didn’t lie down and responded by reclaiming the restart. Josh Bayliss found himself in space to cross the whitewash a minute later. Russell brought it back to a 14-point game following the conversion.

The visitors found space once more following the restart as South Africa started slipping tackles and worked themselves into the Boks’ 22 before Ben White reached out to dot down on the 70-minute mark. Russel made it a seven-point game once more.

Pollard, on a penalty advantage, stabbed a grubber kick through for Jesse Kriel, who regathered possession to score the match-winner in the 78th minute. Quan Horn slotted his first points in Test rugby with the conversion.

Scorers:

For South Africa:
Tries: Papier, Roos, Louw, Willemse, Porthen, Kriel
Cons: Pollard 5, Horn

For Scotland:
Tries: M. Fagerson, Rowe, Bayliss, White
Cons: Russell 4

Yellow card: Ben-Jason Dixon (South Africa, 41′ – Dangerous play: head contact in the cleanout)

South Africa: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (captain), 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: 15 Kyle Rowe, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Rory Hutchinson, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (captain), 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

Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)
Assistant referees: James Doleman (New Zealand), Andrew Brace (Ireland)
TMO: Richard Kelly (New Zealand)