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Rory Darge on why the Boks aren't quite as scary as they once were
By PA
Rory Darge believes Glasgowās United Rugby Championship success last season can have a positive effect on Scotlandās mindset as they bid to topple world champions South Africa at Murrayfield on Sunday.
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The back-rower was one of several members of Gregor Townsendās squad who played for Warriors when they pulled off their historic URC final triumph over the Bulls in Pretoria in June.
Scotland full-back Blair Kinghorn also enjoyed notable success last term as part of the Toulouse squad that won a Top 14 and Champions Cup double.
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Darge believes that, in addition to having faced the Springboks at the World Cup 14 months ago, such lofty accomplishments at club level have given the Scotland players a renewed sense of confidence for facing formidable challenges like the one coming their way on Sunday.
āIt is a good thing that weāve had the experience of playing South Africa,ā said the 24-year-old.
āA lot of the group have had the experience of playing them now, so I have a bit of a better idea of whatās coming.
āThe other thing that helps is the sort of form that the players in this group have been in away from here. The results theyāve got and obviously the clubās successes and the form that weāve been in with Scotland as well means that weāll go into it with a bit of belief.
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āIt gives you a bit of belief that you can go out and win those big games (at club level). Itās not just Glasgow, obviously Blair coming out with experience of winning the double, and others. That definitely has an impact.ā
Darge is relishing the chance to face South Africa although he is mindful of the fact they restricted the Scots to their lowest-scoring outing of the past five years in an 18-3 triumph in Marseille in September 2023.
āYouāre always excited to play for Scotland and nerves come into it a little bit, but itās mainly excitement,ā said Darge, looking towards Sundayās match.
āItās an opportunity to play the two-time world champions. Everyone came in on Monday just excited to get into it.
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āIt was obviously a really tough game 14 months ago. The way they play against you puts you under a lot of pressure, and tests your skills.
āI think we learnt a lot from that game, weāll refer to it a little bit this week but both us and them have played a lot of rugby since then, so weāll not spend too much time on it.ā
Darge was co-captain of Scotland along with Finn Russell for this yearās Six Nations but the back-rower has now reverted to being a vice-captain after his Glasgow team-mate Sione Tuipulotu was promoted to the role of skipper last month.
āItās been grand,ā he said of the leadership change.
āMe and Sione are obviously good mates, played a lot of rugby together over the last few years and I think heāll do a really good job.
āHeās always been one of the main leaders in our team. Anything that I can do to support him, Iāll do.ā
Well RE should use this as motivation, as it's a thinly veiled dis.
Big difference between URC and the Springboks. Half of this lot play their rugby outside of SA and then come back to play for the Boks. Some SA players even play for Scotland and probably speak better Afrikaans than English.
Sounds more like trying to convince himself that Saturday won't be a slaughterhouse. Good luck to them. I hope they give the Boks a bit of a challenge or else the Boks will get complacent. I give it to the Boks with a winning margin of 15 - 20 points
Good Luck on Sunday, Roryš
Yeah the Boks are not that scary to play. If Glasgow can almost beat a Sharks team full of Boks. The Boks are a known quantity now.
The boks have been a known quantity to Scotland for 118 years. And have still only managed just 5 wins. 2 wins in 30 years, the professional era.
The boks certainly wont be complacent - but a victory for Scotland is very wishful thinking.
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