Just over 45 000 attendees saw the Springboks edge out Scotland in a thrilling encounter at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. At the break, the Springboks and Scotland were level after the visitors came back from a 14-point deficit. Tries by Embrose Papier and Evan Roos were cancelled out as the Boks had to work to regain control of the match again.

A shaky second half

The second half started poorly for the hosts when Ben-Jason Dixon was shown a yellow card in the 40th minute, seemingly for leading with the head. Dixon had come on in the 32nd minute of the first half to replace Cobus Wiese. Good news for Bok supporters, however, was that the decision remained a yellow card after a bunker review, and the South Africans did not concede any points during his sin-bin period.

Five more members of the Bomb Squad were introduced by Rassie Erasmus. Both sides’ defence held strong as they exchanged crunching tackles. After 57 minutes of play, Elrigh Louw (one of eight Bulls players in the team) broke down the Scottish defence. Handré Pollard, who was initially replaced by Quan Horn but returned after a head-injury assessment to Ethan Hooker, slotted his third conversion to give the Boks a seven-point lead.

Damian Willemse, who earned his 50th cap last week, added another try. Pollard remained flawless off the kicking tee, slotting his fourth kick at poles from as many attempts. The Boks looked in full control as replacement prop Zach Porthen scored his first-ever try for the Springboks. Pollard added two more points as the hosts led 35-14 after 67 minutes of play.

Late Scottish surge

However, the Scots found gaps in the Bok defence as replacement Josh Bayliss and starting scrumhalf Ben White scored five-pointers. Flyhalf Finn Russell converted both tries and, with less than 10 minutes to play, the Boks’ lead was only seven.

Jesse Kriel sealed a Bok victory as he dotted down with less than three minutes left to play. His try was converted by Horn. The Boks were 42-28 victors when replacement scrumhalf Grant Williams booted the ball into the Loftus stand after a scrum penalty when the hooter blew.

The second half as it happened:

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18:34

After a Scottish version of Doen dit lyfie and Vulindlela performed by the dancers, proceedings got underway in Pretoria. The skies turned a purple hue – coincidentally the same colour Scotland are donning as they take on the men in green and gold.

It took us seven minutes to get the first scrum of the match, on the 5m line of the Boks. Scrumhalf Embrose Papier booted the baall downfield to relieve sustained pressure by the Scots. The opening minutes saw the visitors often sending the ball into the sky, to test the South Africans under the high ball. They survived the test.

South Africa were awarded a penalty right in front of the posts on the 5m line. The Scottinsh bench and some players on the field were left furious after it seemed the kicking tee arrived on the field to indicate that Handré Pollard would line up for a kick to poles. However, the Boks opted for a scrum that resulted in another penalty, and ultimately another scrum. The South Africans could not let the pressure count and were held up over the tryline.

Papier makes his mark

Then, almost as it was scripted, Papier did what he has been doing all United Rugby Championship long for the Blue Bulls, on this very field. He made a darting run after picking up the ball behind the back of the ruck, cut through the Scottish defence and opened the scoring.

The resulting restart kick was gathered by Bok lock Cobus Wiese who made a promising run towards the Scottish half. After a few phases, the Boks scored another try, this time through No 8 Evan Roos. Pollard took the score to 14-0.

Scots fight back

Then the Scots opened their account, and a few minutes later, on the stroke of half-time, scored another try – this time by fullback Kyle Rowe. Both tries were converted by flyhalf Finn Russell and when the half-time hooter went, scores were level.

The first half as it happened:

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17:17

Kick-off is fast approaching at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria where the reigning world champions, the Springboks, are set to tackle Scotland in the Nations Championship.

The Boks would like to make it two wins from two matches in the new competition, after a 45–21 triumph over England at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

Hooker steps up

Team news is in and it has been confirmed that Canan Moodie will not play. He is replaced by Ethan Hooker in the starting XV.

It was confirmed at the coin toss that the Boks will kick off the match when play gets underway at 17:40.

Starting XVs

Replacements:

South Africa: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu 18 Zach Porthen 19 Vincent Tshituka 20 Ben-Jason Dixon 21 Elrigh Louw 22 Grant Williams 23 Quan Horn

Scotland: 16 Gregor Hiddleston 17 Rory Sutherland 18 Will Hurd 19 Max Williamson 20 Josh Bayliss 21 Magnus Bradbury 22 Tom Jordan 23 Stafford McDowall