‘WIN OVER SOUTH AFRICA WOULD BE CAREER BEST’

two or three teams in the world with the way they play against the best teams. ‘For instance, they went to New Zealand and beat the All Blacks and almost beat them a second time. ‘They showed what they were capable of last week against France as they came from behind to get a great win. ‘That shows they are going to be a tough team to beat but we believe we can win.’ Townsend has made six changes to his starting XV that scored eight tries in Scotland’s 54-17 win over Fiji at BT Murrayfield last weekend. Glasgow Warriors centre Huw Jones, who was dropped against the Fijians after a poor performance in the defeat to Wales, gets a chance to make amends and starts alongside Peter Horne in the midfield. In the pack, prop Gordon Reid, hooker Stuart McInally, second rows Jonny Gray and Ben Toolis, plus open-side Hamish Watson, all return to the starting line-up. Sam Skinner, who won man of the match on his debut in the second row against Fiji, starts in the back row against the Boks. ‘We are looking at what will be a real physical battle against one of the top sides in the world,’ said Townsend. ‘We expect them to be confrontational and powerful in their ball-carrying, their defence and also at the set-piece. ‘Any coach will tell you that the biggest physical challenge anywhere is South Africa. It always has been.’ Townsend, meanwhile, spoke for the first time since Stuart Hogg confirmed his move to Exeter Chiefs next season. ‘As much as we would have liked him to stay in Scotland, the best outcome is that he has at least made a decision now,’ he said. ‘It’s important that I now build a good relationship with Rob Baxter, their head coach, and the other coaches down there. ‘We have Stuart’s goals in mind of playing as well as he can for Exeter, but also for the national team.’