SCOTLAND 16 SOUTH AFRICA 34

SOUTH AFRICA closed in on a place in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals as their formidable forward power enabled them to claim a 34-16 win over Scotland at St James’ Park.

The Springboks ran in three tries, with Schalk Burger, JP Pietersen and Bryan Habana all crossing to ensure one of the pre-tournament favourites have successfully got their campaign back on track after their shock defeat to Japan.

South Africa’s forwards dominated their opponents all evening, and Scotland were forced to concede a succession of penalties just to remain in the game.

Handre Pollard converted four of them, and also added a drop goal and two conversions as South Africa reclaimed control of Pool B.

The Scots scored a try at the start of the second half, with Tommy Seymour rounding off an interception move that took Vern Cotter’s side from one end of the field to the other, but while they closed to within seven points of their opponents in the second period, they were unable to reel them in.

Scotland should still qualify for the quarter-finals, but their final group game at St James’ Park in a week’s time has now become a must-win game.

South Africa’s opening-game defeat to Japan means they have effectively been playing knock-out rugby since the first week of the competition, but the pressure appears to have galvanised Heyneke Meyer’s side.

Having brushed aside Samoa with contemptuous ease, the Springboks began in the same vein against a Scotland side that was selected with at least half an eye on next weekend’s final group game against the Samoans.

With the Springbok forwards dominating from the off, Scotland’s defence was under almost constant pressure, and the opening try came 13 minutes in.

Some sustained pressure on the Scottish line resulted in a series of close-range forays from the South Africans, and while Burger was initially held up over the line, the back rower grounded with some assistance from Bismarck du Plessis.

The try was awarded after a consultation with the TMO, and Pollard added the extras to leave the Springboks 7-0 ahead.

Pollard added two quick penalties, the first of which came after the Scotland defence was ripped apart by a 30-metre driving maul.

The second was awarded for an infringement at the breakdown, and while the Scots got onto the scoresheet when Greig Laidlaw landed a long-range penalty of his own on the half-hour mark, South Africa’s superior power continued to tell.

Even when the Springboks were reduced to 14 men after Jannie du Plessis was shown a yellow card for a high tackle, the disparity between the physical abilities of the two sides remained apparent.

Another superb rolling maul drove the South Africans towards the Scottish try line two minutes before the interval, and some quick thinking from scrum-half Fourie du Preez enabled Pietersen to cross from close range.

Pollard’s conversion made it 20-3 at the break, but Scotland gave themselves the chance of a comeback when they claimed the first points of the second half.

Laidlaw slotted over a penalty from inside the 22 after the South Africans were penalised for coming in at the side, and the Scots closed the gap to seven points when they claimed a converted try moments later.

The score was a thriller, with Duncan Weir intercepting Pollard’s pass on the Scottish 22 and running 80 metres before being hauled down by Pietersen. He skilfully kept the ball alive though, and Tim Visser played in Seymour to score.

South Africa stretched their lead back out to ten points when Pollard landed a 51st-minute drop goal, and Scotland’s momentum was checked further when their skipper, Laidlaw, was sin binned for a cynical foul on the rampaging Habana two minutes later.

However, when Burger was penalised for offside, Weir’s successful penalty made it 23-16 on the hour mark.

The infringements were racking up for both sides, and when Pollard was given the chance to restore the Springboks’ ten-point advantage, he obliged with a penalty from close to the halfway line.

The Scots were having to concede penalties to prevent being ripped apart by South Africa’s forwards, and Pollard claimed another three-pointer to make it 29-16.

With Scotland tiring, gaps began to open up as full-time approached, and the Springboks claimed their third try with seven minutes remaining.

Punching drives from Man of the Match Lodewyk de Jager and Adriaan Strauss established a position in the 22, and when the South Africans moved the ball left, Habana swooped to score in the corner.

Scotland: Hogg (Lamont 63), Seymour, Vernon (Horne 65), Scott, Visser, Weir, Laidlaw (Hidalgo-Clyne 70); Reid (Dickinson 51), Brown (Ford 61), Nel (Welsh 64), R Gray, J Gray (Swinson 68), Strauss (Wilson 55), Cowan, Denton.

South Africa: Le Roux, Pietersen (Lambie 70), Kriel, de Allende (Serfontein 75), Habana, Pollard, du Preez (Pienaar 78); Mtawarira (Nyakane 61), B du Plessis (Strauss 56), J du Plessis (Malherbe 50), Etzebeth, de Jager, Louw, Burger (Alberts 70), Vermeulen.