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Scotland player ratings vs South Africa | 2024 Autumn Nations Series
By Bryn Palmer at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Scotland player ratings: Scotland slipped to a ninth successive defeat against South Africa, and a fourth under Gregor Townsend, as the world champions proved too strong at Murrayfield.
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The Scots were left aggrieved at an early 20-minute red card for lock Scott Cummings, with the offence looking no more than a penalty at worst.
The hosts’ mood wasn’t improved by a Ben White try being ruled out for an earlier Huw Jones knock-on.
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Despite Finn Russell’s five penalties keeping them in touch at 15-19 on the hour, two more Handre Pollard penalties and a late Jasper Wiese try saw the Springboks prevail 32-15.
Here is how the Scotland players fared:
15. Tom Jordan – 7.5
Starting his first professional game at full-back after impressing as a replacement on debut against Fiji, the Glasgow fly-half had a couple of nervy moments, spilling a Pollard high bomb and seeing a grubber bounce over his head. But showed what he could in attack by coming into the line and creating the non-try for White, plus several more coruscating carries. Grew into the game superbly before being replaced by McDowall for the last eight minutes.
14. Blair Kinghorn – 5.5
Mapimpi was twice left in acres of space in his corner with Scotland’s defence too narrow, although it was difficult to say if that was a system error or he was wrongly positioned. Few chances to stretch his long legs with ball in hand. On one of the rare occasions he saw the ball in space, he kicked ahead but then conceded a dumb penalty for falling on Moodie.
13. Huw Jones – 6.5
The Glasgow centre again looked sharp in attack and combined sweetly with Tuipulotu. Unfortunate that his knock-on several phases earlier in the move led to White’s try being ruled out. Initial replays looked inconclusive. Missed a chance to set Van der Merwe free with a pass over his head into touch but a scything break straight after showed his class.
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12. Sione Tuipulotu – 7
The Scotland captain was his side’s leading carrier, running hard in midfield to provide a focal point for the attack. Put his centre partner Jones through a gap with sweet hands and dove-tailed well with Russell, but couldn’t quite escape the clutches of the Boks’ defence.
11. Duhan van der Merwe – 5.5
A little unsteady under his first high ball but claimed the next and looked to get himself involved, but was too easily bundled into touch on halfway, surrendering possession to the Boks. One burst onto a Zander Fagerson offload briefly got his gander up, but not on ball enough from a Scotland point of view.
10. Finn Russell – 6.5
Continued to probe for gaps in the Boks’ defence and one kick-pass to Kinghorn showed his invention, but ultimately Scotland’s attack failed to breach the Boks again, despite several promising moments. Landed five from five shots at goal to keep Scots in touch, and tracked back well to deal with Le Roux’s dangerous kick ahead. Drop-goal attempt charged down.
9. Ben White – 7.5
His box-kicks were on the money, hoisted into areas which allowed his chasers time to compete and cause confusion in the Boks’ defence. Snappy service from the base and denied a superb try after a wonderful flowing Scottish attack by an earlier knock-on. A fine return before making way for Dobie with 11 minutes left.
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1. Pierre Schoeman – 6
The Edinburgh loosehead stood up well at scrum-time and made nine tackles in a decent defensive shift. But there were not too many of the familiar cries of ‘Schooo’ from the Murrayfield crowd, a sign he wasn’t so evident with ball in hand as usual.
2. Ewan Ashman – 7
Showed he was up for the fight by smashing Etzebeth back in the tackle and played his part in a strong set-piece showing from the Scots, but a couple of lineout wobbles on the hour stymied their momentum just as it appeared the tide might be turning their way.
3. Zander Fagerson – 8
Carried hard into the guts of the Boks’ defensive line and more than held his own at scrum-time, earning one penalty and conceding another in his battle with Nche. Didn’t cover himself in glory when Du Toit raced through a gap in the lineout for the Boks’ second try, but showed he wasn’t going to take a backward step as he grappled with Etzebeth in the second half. Also showed his soft skills with a lovely offload to set Van der Merwe away.
4. Grant Gilchrist – 6
Competed hard in the tight exchanges against bigger opponents, and a safe source of lineout ball. Tackled his heart out in defence, topping Scotland’s count with 15, but couldn’t resist the inevitable late power surge from the Boks’ ‘Bomb Squad’.
5. Scott Cummings – 4
The Glasgow lock stole an early Springboks lineout to make a nuisance of himself but received a harsh yellow card in the 11th minute for what was deemed a croc-roll, just as Scotland had built up a head of steam, leading to a penalty being overturned. Cummings looked suitably bemused as he headed to the touchline, even moreso when his offence was upgraded to a 20-minute red card, to widespread disbelief.
6. Matt Fagerson – 5.5
Took a few lineouts at the front and made his presence felt with a punishing defensive shift, racking up 14 tackles, but rarely seen with ball in hand until his costly knock-on in the Boks’ 22 ended a promising attack.
7. Rory Darge – 6
The vice-captain was involved in the double tackle that saw Cummings earn a yellow-then-red card and put in a fair shift defensively, making 12 tackles in the first hour. Harried Boks scrum-half Hendrikse into errors but struggled to make any serious impact in attack and made way for Ritchie for the final quarter.
8. Jack Dempsey – 7.5
Looked like he hurt his arm tackling Pollard in the first half and was eventually forced off after 63 minutes, but carried the fight to the Boks with his hard running, and was also prominent in defence. Increasingly influential figure.
Replacements:
16. Dylan Richardson – 5
On for Ashman on the hour, the Sharks hooker could do little to stem the tide once the momentum went irreversibly towards the Boks.
17. Rory Sutherland – 4
Another given the final quarter to try to make an impact. The scrum started to falter in the final stages, and little in evidence elsewhere.
18. Elliott Millar-Mills – 4
Came on for Zander Fagerson for the final 15 minutes, the Northampton tighthead was in reverse for the final scrum which led to Wiese’s try.
19. Max Williamson – 5
The young Glasgow lock was on earlier than he might have anticipated, replacing Cummings in the 32rd minute after his team-mate’s 20-minute red card. Unable to claim one lineout, but competed hard in a tough initiation to the realities of elite Test rugby.
20. Josh Bayliss – 4
The Bath back-rower replaced Dempsey for the final quarter of an hour, but another who made little impact in comparison to the Boks’ bench.
21. Jamie Ritchie – 4
Back in the 23 after missing out against Fiji, the Edinburgh flanker came on at openside for the final quarter, but could do little to stem the Boks’ momentum.
22. Jamie Dobie – N/A
On for the final 10 minutes for White, few chances to show his undoubted talent.
23. Stafford McDowall – N/A
Came on for Jordan for the final eight minutes. Too little time to make an impression.
Watch the highly acclaimed five-part documentary Chasing the Sun 2, chronicling the journey of the Springboks as they strive to successfully defend the Rugby World Cup, free on RugbyPass TV (*unavailable in Africa)
