FULL-TIME, SCOTLAND 15-32 SOUTH AFRICA. Another magnificent game of rugby. Scotland ran South Africa pretty close right up until the end, but they lacked the finishing touch of the man muscle to beat the Boks who were deserved winners, albeit having no doubt had more than a few anxious moments. Great play from both sides and a wonderful evening of rugby!
CONVERSION, SOUTH AFRICA, POLLARD! 15-32; Pollard starts his kick wide but it curls in at the last moment, a good effort from 10m inside the right touchline. And with that the ref blows the final whistle!
TRY, SOUTH AFRICA, WIESE! 15-30; Great scrumming from the Boks, pressing over the line, Wiese controlling the ball at the back before plucking it up just short of the line and falling over the line for the score!
And the Boks get a penalty on the Scots 5m… they should run this out… surely the Boks have it from here?
Scotland run the ball down the line, there's a fumble on the wing and the Boks jump on the ball an counter-attack, driving to the left wing, then back through the middle… they're on the 5m line…
The Boks hold the Scots up, then run the line, but Scotland win a lineout 5m short of their 10m.
PENALTY, SOUTH AFRICA, POLLARD! 15-25; Pollard leave three seconds on the shot clock as he hammers the ball through the poles… that's a 10-point lead, with six minutes left… will be hard for the Scots to score twice, but if you watch last night's match between the Aussies and England…
PENALTY! Scotland blown for a penalty and the Boks will kick 10 from the trling and right in front of poles… with Pollard running down the shot clock…
Boks win the ball, run the line… grubber into the 22 which the chase onto, Scotland gather it, but there's a knock-on and the Boks will have the scrum deep into the 22 and in front poles. The perfect attacking position…
Boks win the lineout, run the ball fast and hard… they look to push into the Scots 22 but the kick goes into touch, so the ref calls play back and Pollard kicks the penalty 7m short of the Scotland 22…
Scotland with a deep kick across field, but it's fumbled on the wing… scrum for the Boks, a whole raft of changes from both sides… and Mapimpi is back. Kolisi however took a blow to the eye and that is being seen to before the restart.
Scotland press into the Bok half, push into the 22 and towards the 5m, some brisk passing and kicking… Boks holding them up… Scotland still attacking… but the Boks have pressed them back to the 10m…
PENALTY, SOUTH AFRICA, POLLARD! 15-22; Not a difficult kick but Pollard nails it to give the Boks what could be a vital 7-point lead.
Boks win their lineout and run the ball… Scots blown for a high tackle… very kickable from 15m in from touch on the right side of the field, midway between the 22 and 10. They will kick for poles to boost the lead and lose some time before they get Mapimpi back.
Scotland run from the lineout but are caught out and concede a penalty. A brief respite for the Boks who have been under all sorts of pressure from the rampant Scots.
Scotland keep powering and pressing, win a penalty. and kick to just short of the Boks 22…
PENALTY, SCOTLAND, RUSSELL! 15-19; No trouble from that position.
YELLOW CARD, SOUTH AFRICA, MAPIMPI. Big blow for the Boks as he's had a great game.
YELLOW CARD, SOUTH AFRICA, MAPIMPI. Big blow for the Boks as he's had a great game.
AND NOW IT'S ALL SCOTLAND, powering forward at the Boks down the right and then the left… lovely handling… the Boks just holding them back… but they win a penalty on the Boks 5m line and take the lineout…
The Boks scrum overpowers the Scots and they are blown up… the Boks kicking play downfield, only for Scotland to attack down the line… looking dangerous, but Jones' pass to his wing is too high and goes out for a lineout.
Scotland win their lineout, run the ball an VAN DER MERWE drives through his former countrymen but is pulled to earth by the Springboks, but Scotland keep running and push play down to deep inside the Bok half, the Boks winning a scrum almost on their 5m and in front of poles…
Boks rucking and running at the Scots over and over… but the hosts manage to sneak the ball away, clear it upfield…and the Boks look to push upfield again.
Springboks scrum on the Scotland 22… they run the ball but Scotland turn the ball over, run the line and kick…but Kinghorn dives onto Le Roux and the Boks can clear from the penalty. Bright play from Scotland… they are filled with danger, but they are struggling to match the Bok muscle.
Scotland now penalised in the scrum, and the Boks have a free-kick… the run the ball down the line to the right wing…then switch to the left wing… Mapimpi tries a grubber down the line but it's runs out of touch… but Scotland are blown for an earlier infringement.
Boks turn possession over and look to press forward but are blown for another knock-on.
OH MY GOODNESS… after the lineout there is a big exchange of handbags, with Etzebeth catching the blame. Scotland kick to their 10m line for the throw-in…
BOMB SQUAD! Here come the men in green! Rassie rotates most of his pack and all of Scotland is aquiver…
Boks press forward and push up to Scotland's 5m in the left corner but Scotland get the ball out the ruck… and kick short of their 22.
PENALTY, SCOTLAND, RUSSELL! 12-19; Russell makes is four from four with his penalty 7m to the right of the posts. Match is on…
Scotland drive forward to the Bok 22, drive through but lose the ball, only for the Boks to knock-on… but Du Toit is penalised in the scrum and Scotland will kick from poles from the 22 and almost in front.
KICK-OFF! We're back underway…
This is very late… but the TMO has called the ref's attention to a knock-on by Scotland in the lead-up to the try… and amid MASSIVE BOOOOOOS from the Murrayfield majority, the try is cancelled out! That's a huge blow for Scotland on the brink of half-time. Big let-off for the Boks!
This is very late… but the TMO has called the ref's attention to a knock-on by Scotland in the lead-up to the try… and amid MASSIVE BOOOOOOS from the Murrayfield majority, the try is cancelled out! That's a huge blow for Scotland on the brink of half-time. Big let-off for the Boks!
Scotland power forward, there's a great pass for Jordan to run onto, breaking the Bok line, the drawing Le Roux by passing inside to Ben White who powers himself through and over for the score… which Russell converts to take the score to 16-19… BUT WAIT…
CONVERSION, SOUTH AFRICA, POLLARD! 9-19; Sweetly struck from 5m in from the left touchline, a lovely kick.
TRY, SOUTH AFRICA, MAPIMPI! 9-17; BRILLIANT FROM THE BOKS!!! Willie le Roux gets the ball after the Boks win their scrum… he takes a few paces then drops the ball onto his foot, stabbing it over the line of Scotland defenders… and THERE IS MAPIMPI running onto the ball… he stretches slightly forward and grabs the ball, then runs through unopposed to score his second of the night. Well played the Bokke!
PENALTY, SCOTLAND, RUSSELL! 9-12; Another sweetly struck penalty. Not tricky aside from being from the 10m, but so well taken.
Springboks again blown for a penalty in a similar position as the previous penalty. With one man still short it makes sense to go for poles.
CONVERSION, SOUTH AFRICA, POLLARD! 6-12; Easy as you like.
TRY, SOUTH AFRICA, DU TOIT! 6-10; Scotland clear the ball for a lineout but not far from the 5m… the lineout ball bobbles and is caught by Du Toit, who sees a gap open up in front of him and he powers the 12m over the tryline for a great score.
Springboks win possession back and attack the Scotland line through the middle, then down the left… a kick upfield, returned… the Boks press down the right and into the Scotland half… now to the 5m line…
Nice passage of play, the sides both having an attacking opportunity, but it ends with Scotland pressuring Pollard into kicking into touch inside his 22. Scotland with the attacking lineout well inside the Bok half.
Boks press forward but are penalised on Scotland's 22… and the kick is pounded upfield for Scotland to move onto the attack. They're looking good for 14 men!
PENALTY, SCOTLAND, RUSSELL! 6-5; Russell strikes it just beautifully and it sails through the posts. Scotland have the lead!
PENALTY! Scotland will kick from 5m to the left of posts and a few paces short of the Bok 10m. Almost the perfect spot to kick from.
Scotland press forward with purpose.
RED CARD, SCOTLAND, CUMMINGS! Big, big moment. That's 20 minutes with one man short…and then a replacement can come on. His croc roll was deemed to have a high degree of danger. Boks have to make use of the extra man now.
PENALTY, SCOTLAND, RUSSELL! 3-5; No problem to knock it over from there.
Scotland drive forward and win a penalty for obstruction in a very kickable position.
Scotland press forward to the Boks' 10m but the visitors turn possession over, drive upfield Scotland are awarded a scrum for Kwagga Smith's knock-on… hard to blame him, it was knee high and bouncing forward, and the big beast was roaring forward at full pace.
Pollard kicks play upfield from the penalty… the Boks press forward, only to be penalised themselves. They kick play upfield and will throw into the line on the Boks 10m.
BOOOOOOOOOS ring out around Murrayfield in a disastrous turnaround. No penalty and they are losing Cummings for a yellow card for landing on an arm.
Scotland look to run blindside from the lineout but are bundled into touch… the shortlineout is lost and Scotland run their line, pushing forward fast and dangersously… and the ref blows for a penalty just short of the Bok 22 and a handful of metres right of the poles. Scotland look to kick… but hang on, TMO is reviewing something…
Scotland win the ball and press forward into the Bok half, push to the 22, but the Boks win the ball in the loose and kick upfield, giving Scotland a lineout on the halfway line.
Pollard pulls his conversion attempt from the left touchline… never looked on course for the two points, but not an easy kick.
TRY, SOUTH AFRICA, MAPIMPI! 0-5; Boks win the lineout, run the line… Pollard chips to the touchline and finds the arms of Makazole Mapimpi, who gathers and drives down the line before diving over for the first score… great run from Mapimpi and spectacular kick from Pollard. Boks in the lead!
Scotland claim a mark and find touch, but the Boks press back hard and win a penalty on the 10m, which is kicked for a 5m lineout. HUGE PRESSURE ON THE HOSTS…
KICK-OFF! We're underway at Murrayfield, with the Springboks driving forward, flinging the ball down the line to Mapimpi who has a charge but is held up.
Referee: Christophe Ridley (England). Assistant referees: Luke Pearce (England), Craig Evans (Wales). TMO: Ian Tempest (England).
Springboks: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Handre Pollard, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Kwagga Smith, 7 Elrigh Louw, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth (captain), 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche. Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 22 Jasper Wiese, 23 Grant Williams.
Scotland: 15 Tom Jordan, 14 Blair Kinghorn, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (captain), 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Grant Gilchrist, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman. Replacements: 16 Dylan Richardson, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 Jamie Ritchie, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Stafford McDowall.
Next up was a double-header against Argentina, the Boks losing the first match 29-28 with a largely reserve squad… and a last-gasp Manie Libbok penalty miss left the nation briefly devastated as they lost their first match in ages. The Boks clinched the Rugby Championship in the final match of the series, smashing Argentina 48-7 at home.
South Africa enjoyed a phenomenal last five games, despite losing one match. They beat Australia 30-12 at home, followed by narrow, back-to-back wins over New Zealand (31-27 and 18-12).
Scotland's wins have come against Canada (73-12), the USA (42-7), Chile (52-11), Uruguay (31-19) and Fiji (57-17). So… hardly a stellar lineup, but to their credit they have kept their focus to pull off win after win. As they say, you can only play against the teams you play against!
On a positive note, Scotland have won their last five games, while the Springboks have won four and lost one.
In the last three Tests between the two sides, the Springboks have enjoyed a 25-13 average score in picking up those wins.
Scotland are down in seventh place, ahead of Italy and Australia, but trailing England and Argentina.
Following New Zealand's win over Ireland on Friday, Ireland have slipped behind South Africa into second place, with the Boks reclaiming top spot without playing a match. If the Boks beat Scotland their lead will be secure at the top of the ranking, but a defeat could change the picture.
South Africa have also won 16 of the last 16 Tests against Scotland, as well as the last eight on the trot.
South Africa have also won 16 of the last 16 Tests against Scotland, as well as the last eight on the trot.
Scotland is a brutal and rugged side, with excellent attacking backs and good kickers… but they have historically struggled to overpower the Boks. South Africa have won 24 of the 29 Tests between the two sides, with Scotland winning five… although only one of those wins have come since their 21-6 win at Murrayfield in 2002.
Good evening and welcome to Murrayfield for the 30th Test between Scotland and South Africa, and the 18th at Murrayfield.