| South Africa: (6) 18 |
| Tries: Du Toit, Arendse; Pens: Libbok 2; Con: De Klerk |
| Scotland: (3) 3 |
| Pen: Russell |
Scotland slipped to defeat of their World Cup opener as defending champions South Africa put in a usually ruthless and highly effective show in Marseille.
After a fraught and bodily first half by which Scotland’s ahead pack put in an abrasive efficiency, two fast Springbok tries took the sport away from Gregor Townsend’s aspect.
Pieter-Steph Du Toit crashed over for the primary earlier than a beautiful no-look cross-field kick from Manie Libbok put in Kurt-Lee Arendse for an additional rating 4 minutes later.
From there, the world champions turned the screw on the set-piece and wore down an more and more ragged Scotland.
The Scots could level to a possible pink card for Jesse Kriel for a harmful sort out within the opening two minutes that was missed by officers, however they had been additionally undone by errors in key moments, significantly six lineouts going astray whereas in promising positions.
Townsend’s aspect now face an uphill activity to get out of the fiendishly tough Pool B that additionally contains the world’s quantity one-ranked aspect Eire, whereas South Africa obtained their title defence off to a strong begin and face Romania subsequent Sunday.
Scotland have a two-week wait to proper their wrongs after they tackle Tonga in Good.
Scotland suffocate beneath stress
A lot was mentioned about Scotland needing to play this recreation at a ferocious tempo; to take the ball away from a humungous Springbok pack.
That by no means materialised at any level, however within the first half the way in which the forwards went about taking the sport to their counterparts was admirable.
A scrum penalty proper on half-time felt important as Finn Russell made no mistake along with his kick to depart the rating 6-3 on the break, Libbok having put over two of his three efforts earlier than that.
However it proved the excessive level for Scotland as South Africa brutally re-asserted management. Du Toit was finally the person to batter previous the darkish blue defensive position on 47 minutes, and so they swiftly did additional injury.
Defensive stress pressured Scotland again and finally a turnover yielded ball for Libbok who, having been considerably wayward off the tee, produced the second of the match as his no-look kick-pass discovered Arendse on the wing and he scampered in.
There appeared no means again for Scotland at that time. Penalties mounted, lineouts failed to search out targets, and their assault struggled to fireplace a shot in opposition to South Africa’s blitz defence.
That mentioned, had Darcy Graham used a two-man overlap within the first half as he ought to have, issues might need been completely different. Because it was Scotland ended with out a attempt, or perhaps a second-half level, to point out for his or her efforts.
Apart from Libbok’s second of brilliance, there was no champagne rugby from South Africa. After a scrappy first 40 they merely doubled down on what makes them so arduous to play in opposition to.
Their blitz defence to close down Scotland’s assault pressured errors, and that was mixed with a powerful set-piece and bodily dominance.
It was not maybe a efficiency that can make different sides sit up and take discover – just like the demolition of New Zealand of their remaining warm-up – however they turned up the warmth simply sufficient to burn Scotland.
They’ll take into account themselves lucky that Kriel’s sort out on Jack Dempsey, which resulted in a head conflict much like Tom Curry’s on Saturday night, escaped with out punishment.
The Springboks may also anticipate to enhance as they eye a large assembly with Eire on 23 September at Stade de France.
What they mentioned
Scotland captain Jamie Ritchie: “Credit score to South Africa for placing us beneath stress. Sure, we created alternatives, however we pleasure ourselves on taking these alternatives, so we now have to be higher.
“I am actually proud how we fronted up bodily. I assumed our defence was glorious, we actually took it to them bodily.
“Loads of time to mud ourselves off, all of the arduous work we now have put in has not gone away, it’s one set-back however we now have hundreds to play for.”
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend: “We felt we would kick on within the second half and we did not. A variety of that’s all the way down to our inaccuracy. We all know we now have to raised. We did not get into the circulation of our recreation.”
South Africa head coach Jacques Nienaber: “I believe it may have been a slippery one. Scotland are aspect – they don’t seem to be quantity 5 on this planet for nothing.
“They pushed issues a good distance within the recreation, I assumed we had a bit of little bit of dominance within the first half however we needed to grind the win out.”
Line-ups
South Africa: Willemse, Arense, Kriel, De Allende, Kolbe, Libbok, De Klerk; Kitshoff, Marx, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Mostert, Kolisi, Du Toit, Wiese.
Replacements: Mbonambi, Nche, Nyakane, Snyman, Van Staden, Vermeulen, Williams, Le Roux.
Scotland: Kinghorn, Graham, Jones, Tuipulotu, Van der Merwe, Russell, White; Schoeman, Turner, Z Fagerson, R Grey, Gilchrist, Ritchie, Darge, Dempsey.
Replacements: Cherry, Bhatti, Nel, Cummings, M Fagerson, Value, Redpath, Smith.
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
