How can Scotland beat the Springboks?

Scotland were beaten 18-3 by South Africa in Marseille at last year's World Cup

Just how do you beat South Africa? For a long time now, teams have tried to come up with the answer to that question, and for a long time now, teams have largely failed to do so.

Scotland couldn't find a winning formula in Marseille at the World Cup last year, swatted aside almost with ease by the Boks and their seemingly bottomless pool of world-class talent.

Indeed, no-one could once push came to shove last year. South Africa retained their World Cup title, and regardless of what the rankings say, they are probably the best team in the world.

It is all about fine margins for Scotland and head coach Gregor Townsend on Sunday at Murrayfield.

Play, but don't overplay, and make sure you do it in the right areas. Take risks, but don't be reckless. That is the balance you have to find against the best in the world, and South Africa are just that.

"It will be a real challenge of Scotland’s tactical awareness and their tactical discipline," former England winger Ugo Monye said on the Rugby Union Weekly podcast.

"The mistake Scotland made against South Africa in Marseille was they chased the game early, they became desperate. Can they be patient and build their way into the game?"

'You have to play smart tactically'

A key feature of South Africa's game is their blitz defence, their ability to swarm teams and suck any flair - and hope - from opponents' attacking units.

It is easier said than done, but Scotland cannot panic in the face of such an imposing sight.

They must earn the right to play expansive rugby, which comes first from earning territory.

"You have to play smart tactically," former England scrum-half Danny Care said.

"You have to win the aerial battle. The one place you think you can get at them is in the air.

"I think you'll see tactical kicking from Finn Russell, get Blair Kinghorn one-on-one with one of those boys. You'd be foolish to throw the ball around.

"You have to get behind them to get their forwards running backwards. You do that by tactical kicking. Then there are chances to play and go wide."

With South African-born Duhan van der Merwe and captain Sione Tuipulotu linking up with the likes of Russell and Kinghorn in Scotland's back-line, Townsend's side have the ability to trouble any defence in world rugby.

The difficulty against South Africa is they often don't allow teams the opportunities to do so, such is their dominance up front.

"There's not many teams can match the Boks up front, but I look at Scotland’s backline - there is world-class quality there," Monye added.

"Scotland have a backline to take on anyone in world rugby. Can they get enough ball? Can they open up the game to allow the best part of their team to do what they can do?"

In order to do so, Scotland must find a way to get parity in the forwards.

They cannot try to match the South African pack and play them at their own game. They are simply too big, too strong and too experienced.

Anyone that tries it is chewed up, spat out and stomped on.

It is an 80-minute ordeal, too. The 7-1 split favoured by Rassie Erasmus means an entirely new world-class pack enters the fray in the second half, with Siya Kolisi and Pieter-Steph du Toit ready to wreak havoc off the bench at Murrayfield.

Care believes Scotland will look to alternate methods to try to bypass the Springboks' pack.

"You can be smart," he said. "Quick scrums, get some quick throws in at the lineout. Maybe keep the ball on the pitch more."

One other hope for Scotland fans is perhaps that the South Africans will be slightly undercooked.

Whereas Scotland beat Fiji last week in their first Autumn test, South Africa's last outing in the international arena was a dominant 48-7 win over Argentina in the Rugby Championship on 28 September.

"They haven't had that 80 minutes," Care added. "They are the best team in the world, but sometimes you need to get that game into your legs."

You wouldn't bet on it though. Scotland will be braced for a fully fit and fully firing South African outfit at Murrayfield. Nothing but their best will be anywhere near good enough to win.