The final match of a jam-packed weekend in the Autumn Nations Series will see South Africa arrive at Murrayfield to take on Scotland on Sunday evening.
This match marks the teams’ first clash since their intense encounter in last year’s Rugby World Cup, which is famously remembered for Manie Libbok‘s remarkable no-look cross kick.
Match preview
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A lot has transpired for both teams since that matchup in France, which for Scotland, began with another mixed Six Nations campaign where they finished fourth and won the Calcutta Cup but were stunned by Italy.
We also saw the Glasgow Warriors ascend to the title in the United Rugby Championship last season, beating South African franchise the Bulls, and it is that winning side, led by the excellent Sione Tuipulotu, that forms the spine of this Scotland team.
Following their Six Nations campaign, Gregor Townsend‘s men bounced back with a strong mid-year tour despite facing weaker opposition in the USA, Chile and Uruguay, and those victories also gave the Scotland head coach an opportunity to usher in some new blood.
Last week, the Scots kicked off their year-end campaign with a commanding 57-17 victory over the Flying Fijians, but it is worth noting that the Pacific Islanders had fielded a largely second-string side due to player unavailability.
Still, with no disrespect to Fiji, facing the back-to-back world champs is a different and much tougher proposition, and this week, Finn Russell will be crucial to their chance of winning this match, though he will likely be hoping the pack ahead of him can withstand the pressure from the Springboks, while providing him with opportunities to orchestrate their play effectively.
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Meanwhile, in 2024, South Africa have arguably improved even more than in recent years, winning all but two Tests and showcasing a dynamic, evolving style of play under the guidance of their new attack coach, Tony Brown.
The Boks’ only defeats since their triumph in France last year were a one-point loss to Ireland in July and another single-point defeat to Argentina in September, but by then, they had all but had the Rugby Championship title sewn up.
Additionally, it is evident that Rassie Erasmus is already building toward an unprecedented World Cup three-peat and has boldly rotated his trusted veterans, utilising a total of 49 players across 10 Tests this year.
Indeed, the Springboks have become a side with a target on their backs, but so far, they have dealt with the intensifying pressure that comes with being the world champions and the team that every other nation wants to knock over exceptionally well.
For the foreseeable future, South Africa’s aim is no longer merely to secure victories, but to achieve them with flair and provide an entertaining spectacle in the process, which will certainly not be a straightforward task in front of the passionate Scotland supporters at Murrayfield.
Scotland form (all competitions):
South Africa form (all competitions):
Team News
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As mentioned, Scotland will be bolstered by the return of Finn Russell, but they will also be able to welcome back Blair Kinghorn and Ben White, with the latter being unavailable last week due to the match falling outside of the international window.
After an impressive debut off the bench against Fiji last weekend, Warriors’ Tom Jordan has been named at full-back, while Huw Jones and captain Sione Tuipulotu will take up the roles as the midfield duo, bringing experience and leadership to the team’s core.
Erasmus, meanwhile, is no stranger to springing a few selection surprises, and he has lived up to his reputation once again for the match, naming a 7-1 bench split for the first time since unleashing the ‘Bomb Squad’ at the Rugby World Cup final.
Aside from the bench, the Boks’ backfield could be seen as almost second-string, with notable players such as Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Damian de Allende, and Jesse Kriel all left out.
Thus, Makazole Mapimpi and Canan Moodie will start on the wings, Andre Esterhuizen and Lukhanyo Am form the centre combination, while the experienced Willie le Roux will come back to occupy the number 15 jersey.
Scotland starting lineup: 15 Tom Jordan, 14 Blair Kinghorn, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (c), 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
South Africa starting lineup: 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 (c), 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
We say: Scotland 21-32 South Africa
South Africa have won the last eight matches between these sides spanning over a decade, and while there is an argument to be made that they are sending out a second-string side here, the Springboks should still have too much firepower for the host nation in this one.
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