Springboks to travel to Edinburgh in November 2021

It was confirmed on December 1 that the Springboks will travel to Edinburgh to face Scotland on November 13, 2021 as one of their end-of-year tests in Europe next year.

Scotland is set to host the reigning Rugby World Cup champions at BT Murrayfield, where the hosts will try and break an 11-year win drought against the South Africans.

The last time the Springboks lost to Scotland was by 21-17 at BT Murrayfield on October 20, 2010, with Dan Parks kicking all their points.

Since then, South Africa has won six on the trot against the Scots, including a RWC pool match with England in 2015, and three Tests in Edinburgh.

In their last meeting in 2018, the Boks edged the match 26-20 mainly due to superior goal-kicking after both sides scored two tries apiece.

Handré Pollard, one of the try scorers with Jesse Kriel the other, added two conversions and three penalty goals, while Elton Jantjies slotted the remaining penalty goal.

The Boks are set to play against the Scots as one of three internationals in Europe, with the other matches scheduled for November 6 and 20, 2021. The identity of the other two opponents on the traditional November tour will be confirmed in due course.

The Scottish Rugby Union launched its tickets for next year’s big international meeting with the world champions and the encounter is expected to attract a sell-out crowd.

Tickets for the match go on sale on scottishrugby.org this week.

Rassie Erasmus, director of Rugby, said the Springboks can expect another tough match on their return to BT Murrayfield next year.

“Scotland has established itself as a very tough and difficult side to beat,” said Erasmus.

“Our last meeting two years ago went down to the wire and they will definitely be another huge threat, especially playing at home in front of a passionate Scottish crowd.”

Erasmus added that the Springboks will have to be at their very best to combat their hosts in the Northern Hemisphere in 2021. “Next year’s Tests will be the first time in three years the Springboks return to Europe, where the intense rivalry against tough opponents in different weather conditions will make for some very interesting Test match battles.”

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend said, “Fans, players and coaches will be looking forward to next year when Scotland faces southern hemisphere opposition in Australia and the current world champions, South Africa at BT Murrayfield.”

The Springboks didn’t tour in Europe last year due to the Rugby World Cup in Japan, while their annual northern hemisphere trip was cancelled this year because of the Covid-19 pandemic, which unfortunately resulted in no international action at all for the national team.

All the fixtures of the Springboks’ 2021 end-of-year tour will be confirmed in due course.