PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — World champion South Africa survived an impressively stubborn Scotland 42-28 in a thrilling Nations Championship contest at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
The Springboks led 14-0 and 35-14 but had to withstand relentless Scotland attacks which frequently backed up the home side into its 22.
South Africa missed a remarkable 46 tackles but Scotland lacked a clinical touch and kept letting the host off the hook.
Scotland fought back to tie the match 14-14 by halftime and close to 35-28 with 10 minutes to go. It had a four-try bonus point and was within another converted try.
Then another Scot was suddenly running into space, Magnus Bradbury. Tom Jordan sent a kickpass toward the right touchline but wing Kyle Steyn spilled it under pressure.
Almost inevitably, Handre Pollard put a grubber in behind Scotland that was scooped up by center Jesse Kriel, who bumped off two Scots to secure the Boks victory with three minutes left.
The Boks are two for two in the championship with Wales coming next weekend, while Scotland go home to face Fiji consoled with its most points against South Africa since the 1999 Rugby World Cup.
There was no chance Scotland would be taken by surprise at kickoff, like England was last weekend at Ellis Park. Instead, Scotland stunned the Springboks by surging into the 22 twice. Both chances were blown by a double movement and crooked throw-in.
The Springboks made 10 changes after the 45-21 defeat of England and responded to Scotland through scrum penalties. No. 8 Evan Roos was held up but scrumhalf Embrose Papier scooted in for his first test try. The try of the match followed.
Prop Boan Venter held above his head 116-kilogram lock Cobus Wiese to catch the restart, then carried him forward to hit the ground running. Wiese bowled over three Scots and took down two more. Roos completed the try.
Scotland was unbowed. Three more chances in the South Africa 22 went begging until a tap penalty finished with Matt Fagerson crashing over in the 35th minute.
Right on halftime, captain Sione Tuipulotu took Finn Russell’s offload up the middle and sent wing Kyle Rowe free to the line for the tying try.
South Africa gave Scotland another opening to start the new half when Ben-Jason Dixon was sin-binned for head contact in a ruck.
But Scotland couldn’t take advantage, including getting over the tryline once.
The Boks weren’t so wasteful. Elrigh Louw, on for Roos, powered over after 12 phases; Damian Willemse stepped and reached out to score; and prop Zac Porthen capped a devastating nine minutes with a try from the back of a ruck. All were converted and South Africa looked out of sight at 35-14.
But another break by Scotland lock Scott Cummings sent Josh Bayliss haring to the posts, and two minutes later scrumhalf Ben White was stretched to the full to score. Scotland was back in it yet again and the Loftus crowd were silenced yet again.
But Scotland finished as it started and missed a chance at beating the Boks outside Scotland for the first time.
___
AP rugby:
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
