Scotland made the back-to-back world champions work hard for their 25-15 win on Sunday evening. The Springboks scored four tries while all the points for Scotland came from the boot of Finn Russel.
It took the Springboks just four minutes to score the first try of the match. The Springboks had a penalty advantage and Handre Pollard made a kick-pass to Makazole Mapimpi who scored in the corner.
Following a converted penalty by Finn Russell, Scott Cummings is sent off for foul ply. His yellow card was upgraded to red minutes later, however, Scotland will be able to replace him after twenty minutes of play.
With eighteen minutes to play, Finn Russel gave Scotland a 06-05 lead for the first time of the match.
Ten minutes later Franco Mosterspills the lineout catch towards the rear of the line-out into the hands of Thomas du Toit who ran untouched for the Springboks' second try and extended the Springboks lead to 12-06.
Finn Russel converted a third penalty following being penalised for not rolling away for the "fiftieth" time.
Following a bulldozing run by Andre Esterhuizen, Willy le Roux's crosskick is mastered by Makazole Mapimpi who had an easy run-in for his second try of the match to extend the Springboks' lead to 19-09, which was the halftime score.
After eleven minutes of play, Finn Russel converted his fourth penalty following a penalty against the Springboks in the scrum.
With twenty-four minutes to play in the second half, Eben Etzebeth was the only remaining forward who started this match after Rassie Erasmus deployed their seven forwards off the bench pretty early.
Following a yellow card to the Springbok winger Makazole Mapimpi, Finn Russel converted his fifth penalty to reduce the Springboks' lead to four points, and twenty minutes still to play in the second half.
With twenty minutes to play there was a definite shift in momentum as Scotland put the Springboks under pressure on the back of the number of penalties the Springboks conceded over the last ten minutes.
Handre Pollard converted two penalties during the final fifteen minutes of the second half, to extend the Springboks' lead to 25-15.
With time up on the clock Cobus Wiese scored the Springboks' fourth try from the back of a brilliant scrum to secure a 32-15 win.
With this win, South Africa moved to the top of the world rankings. New Zealand are in second and Ireland drops to third. Scotland are in sixth.
Scorers:
Scotland: Penalties: Finn Russel (5)
Springboks: Tries: Makazole Mapimpi (2), Thomas du Toit, Cobus Wiese. Conversion: Handre Pollard (3). Penalty: Handre Pollard (2)
Teams:
Scotland: 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.
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 (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.
