The Springboks extended their winning run to ten consecutive Tests with a 42-28 Nations Championship victory over Scotland at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, twice repelling Scottish comebacks in a match that was far from straightforward.
A crowd of 45,053 saw the Boks start shakily — losing their own lineout and conceding early penalties — before settling into their rhythm around the quarter-hour mark. Embrose Papier opened the scoring with a sharp individual try, using pace and footwork to beat several defenders, and Evan Roos added a second shortly after when Cobus Wiese's carry and Paul de Villiers' carry set up the position. Lionel Pollard converted both to make it 14-0.
Scotland responded with purpose. Matt Fagerson scored from a tapped penalty and Kyle Rowe finished a well-worked move off Rory Hutchinson's pass on the stroke of halftime, with Finn Russell converting both to level at 14-14 at the break.
The second half opened with more difficulty for the hosts when Ben-Jason Dixon — already on for the injured Wiese — was yellow-carded for head contact at a ruck. Scotland pushed for the lead with the man advantage but the Bok defence held, and Dixon returned without the scoreboard being disturbed.
From there the Boks' bench impact proved decisive. Elrigh Louw broke the deadlock with a well-timed run off a series of hit-ups, Pollard converting for 21-14. Damian Willemse then scored what will be a strong try-of-the-year contender — initiating the move, staying in support throughout and finishing it himself — to push the lead to 28-14. Zach Porthen, on as a replacement, crossed from close range off an attacking lineout for his first Test try to make it 35-14 and put the match beyond doubt.
Scotland added further scores late but the Boks' power up front and clinical finishing had long settled the contest by then, the final margin of 42-28 reflecting the Boks' control in the second half despite the visitors' early resilience.