South Africa defeated Scotland 42-28 in their Nations Championship clash, with Cobus Papier prominent in the Boks' kicking game. Scotland's Finn Russell was forced into a crucial early intervention, diving to smother a bouncing Papier kick behind his own line with covering support close on the chase. Bok discipline was a concern in the opening exchanges, with Jasper Wiese penalised twice — including for entering a maul from the side — though Scotland were unable to capitalise after Ewan Ashman threw a lineout crooked from the resulting five-metre platform.
South Africa beat Scotland 42-28 in Nations Championship
South Africa defeated Scotland 42-28 in their Nations Championship match, with Cobus Papier influential and Jasper Wiese twice penalised in the opening stages.
- SuperSport Rugbyhttps://supersport.com/rugby/news/6cc858ab-9208-40f2-aee8-a7e5adfbacab/loftus-win-bok-youth-brigade-survives-stern-scotland-scare
- The Guardian Rugbyhttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/live/2026/jul/11/south-africa-v-scotland-nations-championship-rugby-live
- Planet Rugbyhttps://www.planetrugby.com/news/springboks-player-ratings-handre-pollard-delivers-statement-performance-while-mammoth-pieter-steph-du-toit-shift-sees-off-scotland
Boks remain top but All Blacks close gap to 2.90 points after Nations Championship opener
South Africa stay top of the World Rugby Men's Rankings at 93.94 points but New Zealand have cut the gap to 2.90 after beating France, while Scotland climb to equal their all-time high of fifth following a record 47-38 win over Argentina in Córdoba.
Erasmus: 'We don't see the Nations Championship as a competition'
Erasmus says the Boks won't adjust their approach to chase Nations Championship log points — each Test is treated as a standalone match, with squad rotation across the window as the priority over competition standings.
Rassie Erasmus and Embrose Papier | Springbok team announcement | 6 July 2026
The Springbok team to face Scotland in the second round of the Nations Championship was announced on Monday morning in Johannesburg. Hear from Bok coach Rassie Erasmus and Embrose Papier, who is back in the squad for the first time since 20
Nché injury concern headlining Bok casualty list ahead of Scotland clash at Loftus
Rassie Erasmus is sweating over the fitness of Ox Nché, Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth and André Esterhuizen ahead of Saturday's Nations Championship match against Scotland at Loftus, after all four picked up injuries during or before the 45-21 win over England at Ellis Park.
Destiny, depth and the aerial 'set phase': Erasmus unpacks the England win
Erasmus reframes the Etzebeth and Kolisi injury disruptions as forced but valuable depth-testing ahead of 2027, while flagging the aerial contest as an emerging third set piece — and Willemse as the Boks' current master of it.