Four second-half tries and the boot of Handré Pollard secured a hard-fought win for the Springboks in the Nations Championship against Scotland at Loftus on Saturday.
Flyhalf Pollard converted five of the Boks’ six tries as the hosts held off a spirited Scottish outfit to win 42-28 in Pretoria, having been locked at 14-14 at the break.
Saturday’s clash also marked a record 55th Test in charge for Bok head coach Rassie Erasmus, who had to make a late change before kick-off with Canan Moodie ruled out through injury and Ethan Hooker drafted in on the left wing.
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The visitors set the early tone, dominating possession and holding their own in the aerial exchanges. Bok scrumhalf Embrose Papier then marked his first Test since 2018 with a try, pouncing from the back of a ruck to open the scoring.
𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐄! 𝐔𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐄! 🫨
Embrose Papier is back in the Springbok green with a 𝐁𝐀𝐍𝐆
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No 8 Evan Roos barged over soon after for his first try in the green and gold, the hosts racing to a 14-0 lead.
Scotland hit back through flank Matt Fagerson and fullback Kyle Rowe, likely leaving Erasmus frustrated at the interval by a defensive effort that had leaked 22 missed tackles, and almost double that tally by the final whistle.
Replacement Ben-Jason Dixon was sin-binned soon after the restart for illegal head contact on lock Scott Cummings at the breakdown.
The Boks pushed on regardless, loose forward Elrigh Louw and centre Damian Willemse crossing the whitewash, before a Zach Porthen touchdown extended the lead further.
Scotland struck through Josh Bayliss and Ben White to secure a four-try bonus point of their own, but Jesse Kriel’s late try sealed the contest for the South Africans.
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The win followed the Boks’ victory over England at Ellis Park in their Nations Championship opener last week, while the Scots began their campaign with a win over Los Pumas in Argentina.
Erasmus’ men now turn to Kings Park, where they host Wales next Saturday, while Scotland return home to face Fiji at Murrayfield.
SPRINGBOKS – Tries: Embrose Papier, Evan Roos, Elrigh Louw, Damian Willemse, Zach Porthen, Jesse Kriel. Conversions: Handré Pollard (5), Quan Horn.
SCOTLAND – Tries: Matt Fagerson, Kyle Rowe, Josh Bayliss, Ben White. Conversions: Finn Russell (4).
Photo: Floris van Schouwenburg/Gallo Images
The post Sloppy Boks overpower brave Scots appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Four second-half tries and the boot of Handré Pollard secured a hard-fought win for the Springboks in the Nations Championship against Scotland at Loftus on Saturday.
The post Sloppy Boks overpower brave Scots appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
