Six of the best clashes with Springboks
SCOTLAND have lost their last six games against South Africa, and have in fact won only five times out of 27 since the fixture was first played at Hampden back in 1906. But at least they have won twice since the turn of the century, and some of their recent defeats have been close ones – certainly when compared to a couple of humiliations inflicted on them by the Springboks over the years.
Here are six of the most significant meetings between the teams.
SCOTLAND 0 SOUTH AFRICA 44 24 November 1951 (Murrayfield)
THIS record defeat – in the days when a try was worth only three points – remains one of the darkest days in Scottish rugby history. It had a traumatic effect on the national team, who would not win another match until February 1955. In retrospect, the fact that the Springboks had become supremely fit during a long tour to Europe had a lot to do with the margin of victory, but such considerations were no consolation to a stunned home support.
SCOTLAND 6 SOUTH AFRICA 3 6 December 1969 (Murrayfield)
MEMORABLE more for the pitch invasions and protests against South Africa’s apartheid regime than for the rugby, this would be the last time the teams met for quarter of a century as the Springboks were steadily frozen out of the sport. Scotland were behind 3-0 at half-time, but a strong pack which included Ian McLauchlan, Jim Telfer and the late Sandy Carmichael gave as good as it got. Ian Smith equalised with a penalty then scored the late winner with a try.
SCOTLAND 10 SOUTH AFRICA 68 6 December 1997 (Murrayfield)
THE early years of professionalism exposed how badly Scotland had fallen behind the game’s leading nations, and this record defeat brought back memories of 1951. The Scots were only some 16 months away from becoming the last Five Nations champions, but they were hopelessly outclassed by opponents who had a big point to prove on their European tour after losing a home series to the British & Irish Lions earlier the same year. Derek Stark scored the home team’s only try, the other points coming from Rowan Shepherd’s boot. Gregor Townsend played at stand-off.
SCOTLAND SOUTH AFRICA
20 November 2010 (Murrayfield) THE most recent win to date against the Springboks saw Scotland bounce back from a heavy defeat by the All Blacks just a week earlier. Dan Parks scored all Scotland’s points with six penalties and a drop goal, with substitute forward Willem Smith getting the only try of the match for the visitors.
SOUTH AFRICA SCOTLAND 21 17
34 16 3 October 2015 (St James’ Park, Newcastle)
HAVING been shocked by Japan earlier in the pool stage, the Springboks could not afford another slip-up. Solid from the start, they never looked in danger of losing this one, outscoring the Scots by three tries to one. Handre Pollard scored 16 points with the boot, while Scotland’s solitary try came from Tommy Seymour. Scotland would go on to beat Samoa at the same venue in their final pool game, setting up a quarterfinal at Twickenham against Australia.
SCOTLAND SOUTH AFRICA
20 26 17 November 2018 (Murrayfield) HANDRE POLLARD scored 18 points this time as the visitors did just enough to stretch their winning run in the fixture to six. Jesse Kriel scored an early try and Elton Jantjies - back in the No 10 jersey for tomorrow’s match - stretched his team’s advantage with a late penalty. Pete Horne and Hamish Watson got Scotland’s tries, with Greig Laidlaw converting both and adding a couple of penalties.