Scottish Rugby

Scotland hooker Ewan Ashman rues "big moments" that went unconverted in Sunday's 15-32 defeat by South Africa.

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Scotland will look to "right the wrongs" from their 32-15 defeat to South Africa in their remaining Autumn Nations Series matches against Portugal and Australia, according to Matt Fagerson.

The Scots battled valiantly against the world champions but were ultimately outscored 4-0 on the try count.

"We pride ourselves on our defence and our work rate and I think that showed today and that's something that we've been building over the last couple of years," Fagerson said.

"I thought today showed that we made great strides in that area.

"We've got two massive games against Portugal and Australia - they had a massive win against England - so we've got two massive games to front up."

Fagerson says Scotland were guilty of a lack of composure when they engineered promising attacking positions deep in South African territory.

"I just think we've got to be more patient when we get into the 22 to finish off these chances," said the Glasgow back-rower.

"Patience and being able to hold the ball against a team like South Africa is absolutely crucial and sometimes we maybe pulled the trigger a little bit too early.

"Against a team like South Africa, two time world champions, you don’t get those opportunities back."

Scotland fans, were you at Murrayfield to watch the loss against South Africa, or were you following along from home?

Either way, we want your thoughts on the game. Have your say., external

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Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend tells BBC Scotland: "A lot of pride in the performance. I thought it was a brilliant Test match - hugely physical.

"We matched South Africa for a lot of the game and we were down to 14 for 20 minutes. I thought the team looked mentally strong.

"A couple of skill errors cost us and we didn't get the rub of the green with decisions, clearly. South Africa then showed their power in the last 10 minutes.

"That effort in the second half was outstanding. To open up their defence at times and match their physicality. We will be frustrated because there were a couple of opportunities out there.

"We played one of our best games of the last few years today, and we pushed the world champions very close. There are areas we have to improve, but some of the defence today was world class. The effort that went in is all we want from a Scotland team.

"We know we could have executed better and had decisions go against us, but they deserved to win, South Africa."

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Scotland need to have a "10 out of 10" game if they are to defeat the Springboks, according to former scrum-half Rory Lawson.

It's been 14 years since the Scots beat South Africa at Murrayfield - a game in which Lawson captained - with the Boks going on to win the World Cup twice since.

"When you welcome a team that's not only done it once, but has done it a record number of times, you know it's a challenge," Lawson told BBC Radio Scotland.

"For anybody in any high performance environment, you want to challenge yourself against the best in the world and that's exactly what Gregor Townsend and his side are going to be doing this weekend."

Rassie Erasmus' side added a fifth Rugby Championship title to their trophy cabinet over the summer, but come into the autumn internationals as the number two side in the world rankings.

"Scotland's defence will have to be very good, under Steve Tandy, you know what's coming with South Africa albeit they have evolved their game to play a little bit more now.

"Scotland have to get their attacking game right. Assuming they all get the other bits right, you have got to be able to score points against South Africa because they score points.

"I believe that Gregor Townsend, on the whole, will believe that Scotland's game - if they nail a ten out of ten game - with the way that they plan it, will win the game. I would be surprised if he didn't have a couple of little tricks up his sleeve."

The Scottish attack looked to be at its best in a record 57-17 win over Fiji - and that was without first-choice half-backs Ben White and Finn Russell.

"We saw a couple of set piece plays last week against Fiji that just shows the creativity. He'll have unpicked all of the aspects of the Springboks' game that he believes there's even a slightest opportunity to have a go at them.

"They can have off days. They can have six out of ten days. There's part of that that you can create yourselves by asking questions of them that put them under pressure. That's exactly the way that Townsend will have looked to come into this week."

Apart from hoping South Africa have an off-day, Lawson believes Scotland will have to match South Africa in the biggest asset of their game - physicality.

"Every game, you know you have to be emotionally there. Emotion is such an important thing because it's directly linked to being physically ready for the challenge.

"Against South Africa it's different. You know that within their DNA, it is physicality. They love body on body contact. They typically seek physical dominance.

"That is the core of what matters to South African players. It's what matters to South African people. Physically and mentally and emotionally, you've got to be ready for the challenge and know what's coming."

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

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Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus is expecting a "grind" and a "massive arm wrestle" when his world champions play Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday.

South Africa have made 11 changes from their final game of their victorious Rugby Championship campaign and have packed their bench with some of the greatest forwards in the global game.

Captain Siya Kolisi, former world player of the year Pieter-Steph du Toit and the monstrous lock RG Snyman are among Erasmus’ bench options. Between forwards and backs he has gone with a 7-1 split on the bench for the first time since the World Cup final last year.

Erasmus paid respect to Scotland: "Our reality is that we have never experienced big scores against Scotland. We've always found it a grind, a massive arm wrestle. They're actually playing a really balanced game. They kicked a hell of a lot in the Six Nations and last week they ran a lot against Fiji.

"When we've got the ball, we know what we want to do. It's probably when they have the ball, it's how to stop those guys on the wings and the strong centres."

The coach described Duhan van der Merwe as "lethal" and said that Finn Russell played like he was "running an orchestra." He didn’t "see the full-back coming" in that he didn’t think Tom Jordan would start at 15. He expected Blair Kinghorn to be picked on the wing for his ability under the high ball.

He also had words for Gregor Townsend: "He will never have a boring game plan. It will always be some excitement. We would be stupid if we try and match them at what they are really good at.

"We're trying to develop a game where we don't just play one specific thing and rely just on scrums, rely just on mauls, rely on one-off runners. I think we're getting there. We're definitely not perfect.

"We can vary it a little bit, but it’s not to say that we're not gonna go the physical, direct route. I remember [when we played against Scotland at the last World Cup] everybody asked if this is the best Scottish team ever? Is this the best attacking Scottish team ever? That was more or less a narrative during the week.

"We actually think they attack now with more variation. They're definitely keeping us guessing because what they did in the Six Nations games and what they did against Fiji is total opposites."

Scotland and South Africa have announced their teams for Sunday's meeting at Murrayfield.

BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast hosts Andy Burke and Tom English consider the selections and we hear from both head coaches.

Listen in to the latest episode.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Gregor Townsend says Scotland's defeat to South Africa in last year's Rugby World Cup will have no bearing on Sunday's Autumn Nations Series showdown between the sides at Murrayfield.

The Springboks eased to a 18-3 victory in the World Cup pool opener in Marseille before going on to retain the trophy.

"Different contexts," Townsend said when asked what lessons his team took from that defeat in the Stade Velodrome.

"I think the first game of the World Cup, there's probably more emotion that goes through the players' minds about how important that game was, not only as a one-off game, but our chances in the World Cup.

"The fact that we have played them, I think the players have felt what it's like to go up against the Springboks, from whatever area of the game is relevant to them. It could be how they defend, line-out, the contact area.

"So they know now what, or they've got recent experience of how it is to go up against the Springboks team.

"And also there's a lot of changes since then. Changes in maybe how we play, but certainly how they've played since the World Cup. They're very innovative around what they want to do off set-piece. And they move the ball wide.

"They'll play at pace, they'll play much more of an open game, which wasn't so much the case in the World Cup.”

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has been speaking to the media after naming his team to face South Africa at Murrayfield on Sunday.

Here are the key lines from his press conference:

• The team are excited at the prospect of facing the world champions and know they will have to "play their best rugby to be in the game".

• Townsend believes this match has a "different context" to the last meeting in the opening pool match at last year's Rugby World Cup when the Springboks won 18-3. Both teams have made changes in style since then.

• He did not want to risk Kyle Rowe and potentially worsen his hamstring injury. The Scotland boss expects Rowe to be available for next week's match against Portugal, with Darcy Graham also likely to return after being ruled out of Sunday's match with concussion.

• All the forwards named, those starting and coming off the bench, know they will "have to work really hard for 80 minutes" to counteract the strength of the Springboks replacements.

• Townsend believes regular exposure to South African sides in the URC has boosted Scottish players' belief that they can live with the Springboks.

• He adds: "Our players having experienced more away victories in South Africa certainly gives them more confidence going into this fixture.”

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

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South Africa head coach Rassie Erasmus has been speaking to the media after naming his side to face Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday.

Here are the key points from his press conference:

• Erasmus believes "the passion of Murrayfield" will lift the Scotland players, adding: "We haven't experienced big scores against Scotland and we are preparing for a grind and a massive arm wrestle."

• He thinks Scotland "want it loose" and that Gregor Townsend "will never have a boring gameplan" so he won't try and match the hosts.

• It's the first time South Africa have named a 7-1 split on the bench for a while. Erasmus feels the experience and class he has to come on to the field later in the match is vital.

• He describes Scotland winger Duhan van der Merwe "lethal" and says Finn Russell plays like he is "running an orchestra", adding that Scotland are "keeping us guessing with the way they attack".

• He suspected Townsend would play Blair Kinghorn on the wing because he’s the best guy under the high ball. Erasmuss idn't see “the full-back coming" - indicating surprise at Tom Jordan's selection.

• Erasmus acknowledged that if South Africa are "a little bit off our game we are in for a long day" and said "they have a special way of stopping mauls".

We asked for your views on Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu committing his future to Glasgow Warriors with a new contract until 2028.

Here's what some of you said:

Brian: As a Scottish rugby fan this is a great signing and shows the intent of the SRU and the clubs to keep talent within Scotland. It’s clear he and his family want to be here and continue to build on the success with Glasgow, and hopefully, Scotland.

Jamie: Tuipulotu signing a new contract is another signal of where Glasgow are going. His centre partner Huw Jones looked to be off to France and signed an extension too. Franco Smith has signed to summer 2026. They need a bigger stadium to match their ambitions and would be stronger if they didn't need to send players to Edinburgh to make them competitive.

Stuart: Sione has pinned his colours to the flagpole. He sees a future in the home of his gran's birth. Glasgow Warriors would be a little poorer without him. So long as we can keep Smith as head coach others will blossom at Scotstoun too! Sione is a true inspiration to the younger Warriors and Scotland team-mates.

Ben: Massive statement of intent to keep Sione. I think he arguably would have been more of a loss to Glasgow than Finn Russell, Stuart Hogg or Richie Gray were in the years following the Pro 14 win. He is simply a world-class player, and importantly, he shows up in every Glasgow game he plays in. On his way to becoming a Warriors legend!

Paul: Shows some lessons have been learned from 2015. Let's hope that they manage to keep the bulk of this side together and build something. Also heartened that Sione wants to keep winning trophies and thinks Glasgow is the place to do it. Our big players in the past have wanted to move on to succeed.

Sean: That's probably the best signing in Warriors history, fantastic news for all Scottish rugby fans.

Andrew: I'm an Edinburgh fan and am delighted with this. Great for Warriors and Scotland. He leads well and gives 100% every match. An example some at Edinburgh would do well to follow.

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

When South Africa centre Andre Esterhuizen said the other day he’d "much rather have 18 caps for the Springboks than 70 caps for a different country that I'm not actually born in" there was a predictable response.

In appearing to have a bit of a go at Scotland's South African-born contingent - Duhan van der Merwe, Pierre Schoeman, Dylan Richardson, the injured Kyle Steyn, the recently retired WP Nel and plenty of others before them - this was 'shots fired' before Sunday's Test at Murrayfield.

This was Esterhuizen 'lighting the touchpaper' and 'pouring fuel on the fire'. Apart from the fact no Springbok has any need to engage in mind games with Scotland - they're world champions, have won the last eight meetings and 15 of the last 16 - he was only stating his own truth.

And we want players to be truthful, right? The PR stuff is what we could do without. It was a minor jibe from Esterhuizen but social media being social media, it's caused a reaction. How dare he!

There's no need to be so touchy. When it comes to discussions about countries utilising the granny rule or residency guidelines to deepen their pool of players, Scotland always seems to be in the crosshairs.

Nobody talks about Ireland winning their last Grand Slam with three Kiwis and an Australian in their starting line-up. When you're successful, these things don't tend to matter somehow.

That's the focus for Scotland on Sunday. If they beat the Boks it would go down as one of their greatest victories of modern times.

The Boks are the biggest scalp in the game and if it's a scrum penalty won by Schoeman that gives Finn Russell the chance to kick the winning points or a Van der Merwe special in the last minute, the fact they're both South African by birth won't matter a damn.

Esterhuizen would be singing a different tune if he was Van der Merwe or Schoeman or any of the other South Africans who were snubbed or missed by home selectors and went abroad to build a career. South Africa is a rugby player factory. They can't all be Boks.

From Cornell du Preez to Allan Dell, from Oli Kebble to Josh Strauss, we've never detected anything other than appreciation from these South Africans of the opportunity given to them to play for Scotland.

Because Scotland's underage system has been so bad for so long there's been a dependency on various World Rugby rules to grow the player pool. One of David Nucifora's tasks as de facto director of rugby will be to get young Scottish talent flowing a lot more freely.

The dream is for Scotland to wean itself off the dependency. They're focused on it now more than ever. That's commendable.

In the meantime, there's a Test to play and with it a certainty the South Africans in the Scottish team will play as hard as any man who sees a day out of Hawick as a day wasted.

Just because they adopted the jersey instead of being born into it doesn't mean they will be any less fired up for victory on Sunday.

The odds are stacked against them. Scotland have beaten South Africa only five times in 29 games.

It's hard to see it, but if a Van der Merwe proved the difference on the day the irony would be delicious and the noise levels deafening. The chat would be all about where he is now rather than the route that took him here.

The uncertainty surrounding Sione Tuipulotu's future is over, with the Scotland captain committing his future to Glasgow Warriors.

The sought-after centre had been linked with clubs in England and France, but is now staying put at Scotstoun until 2028.

Glasgow fans, is this a real statement of intent from the defending URC champions? Were you expecting Tuipulotu to stay or resigned to his exit?

Let us know your thoughts, external

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Jack Dempsey says the "ultimate test" of facing world champions South Africa is a chance for Scotland to show "how much we've grown" in the 14 months since their previous meeting.

Gregor Townsend's side were comfortably beaten 18-3 by the Springboks in Marseille in the pool stage of the World Cup in September last year.

While the Scots failed to advance to the knockout phase, South Africa became back-to-back world champions and Dempsey is excited for Sunday's Autumn Test at Murrayfield.

"I'm itching for it," said the Australia-born back-rower. "It's the ultimate test.

"They're the back-to-back defending champions, the best in the world. And they deserve to have that crown. They're the ultimate litmus test in terms of being a professional rugby player.

"We're at a point now where we want to see how much we've grown from the World Cup, from when we played them last time. They're the best country for eight years straight.

"We're not under any illusion about what's coming, but we're glad to have them here and glad to play against the best in the world."

Dempsey has won 20 caps and established himself as a fixture in Scotland's back row since switching allegiance from Australia to make his debut for Townsend's team two years ago.

"Yeah, I've loved it," he said. "Two years already, it feels a lot longer. There have been ups and downs like anything, but I've loved every second of it. I said at the time to get that second chance in the Test arena was a dream come true again.

"But to fast-forward two years and the bonds I've created, some of the friends I've made, the experiences while I've been over here have been unreal.

"It's just kind of been a match made in heaven with the style Gregor wants to play, with the history and the kind of identity that Scotland have always kind of had and played with."

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Former South Africa captain Bob Skinstad says Murrayfield is "a difficult place to go" and the Springboks must shut out the noise made by "the 16th man".

The Boks visit the Scottish capital on Sunday and Skinstad believes there will be a showing of their "sky high levels of respect" for the Scots, who will be keen to scare the world champions more than they did in their World Cup meeting last year.

"You take on Scotland at home, as they proved to Fiji and to everyone who has come and played them the last couple of years, it's a difficult place to go," Skinstad said on the BBC's Scotland Rugby Podcast.

"There is a big, strong contingent of home support who can shout them home like a 16th man at any time.

"The Springboks will recognise that but they will also trust in the fact they are now starting to integrate a few of their players into the URC environment so they will have played against some of these players before."

There are a raft of URC champions filtered throughout Gregor Townsend's side following Glasgow Warriors success last season. A success which hasn't gone unnoticed or underappreciated in South Africa.

"The Warriors have knocked over the all-conquering Bulls of last season at their home patch, I think the respect levels are sky high," he added.

"It's brilliant. The Warriors have done a great job off the field, as have Scottish rugby at melting the budgets of the national union as well as the budgets of the teams that are needed at creating a pool of players in Scotland, with a little bit of creative mix from players outwith Scotland, I think it's fantastic.

"It's a melting pot of talent, quality, experience and youth coming through and I think it will serve Scottish rugby very well for a long, long time."

You can listen and subscribe to the BBC's Scotland Rugby Podcast here.