The Fort Worth Press - Mapimpi at the double as South Africa again prove too strong for Scotland

USD -
AED 3.67303
AFN 67.838392
ALL 92.377753
AMD 386.688871
ANG 1.800698
AOA 913.502416
ARS 997.768799
AUD 1.531206
AWG 1.8015
AZN 1.696166
BAM 1.840129
BBD 2.017388
BDT 119.39484
BGN 1.84192
BHD 0.376919
BIF 2950.605261
BMD 1
BND 1.337248
BOB 6.928346
BRL 5.750197
BSD 0.999144
BTN 84.369678
BWP 13.59321
BYN 3.269728
BYR 19600
BZD 2.013907
CAD 1.39558
CDF 2868.999932
CHF 0.883035
CLF 0.03573
CLP 985.910202
CNY 7.217203
COP 4436.5
CRC 511.286119
CUC 1
CUP 26.5
CVE 103.742697
CZK 23.922016
DJF 177.924558
DKK 7.03025
DOP 60.208316
DZD 133.442029
EGP 49.2101
ETB 123.478326
EUR 0.94245
FJD 2.262987
GBP 0.78492
GEL 2.74026
GHS 16.285152
GMD 71.502227
GNF 8611.175145
GTQ 7.720606
GYD 209.01701
HKD 7.77921
HNL 25.215231
HTG 131.419485
HUF 387.44023
IDR 15775.3
ILS 3.760604
INR 84.398451
IQD 1308.851756
IRR 42105.000351
ISK 139.019898
JMD 158.767795
JOD 0.709102
JPY 155.062016
KES 129.249581
KGS 86.201889
KHR 4048.796323
KMF 460.374947
KRW 1407.180006
KWD 0.307503
KYD 0.832581
KZT 495.813105
LAK 21907.960971
LBP 89472.248097
LKR 292.168873
LRD 188.329711
LSL 18.052427
LTL 2.95274
LVL 0.60489
LYD 4.840941
MAD 9.911843
MDL 17.884664
MGA 4670.637273
MKD 57.970401
MMK 3247.960992
MOP 8.005344
MRU 39.705121
MUR 47.189429
MVR 15.459973
MWK 1732.200487
MXN 20.60015
MYR 4.45702
MZN 63.924983
NAD 18.051918
NGN 1676.550213
NIO 36.770621
NOK 11.092875
NPR 134.99873
NZD 1.687575
OMR 0.385029
PAB 0.999078
PEN 3.775893
PGK 4.01385
PHP 58.719841
PKR 277.683782
PLN 4.100974
PYG 7806.663468
QAR 3.64259
RON 4.690204
RSD 110.268975
RUB 97.750531
RWF 1371.17641
SAR 3.757184
SBD 8.351256
SCR 14.059865
SDG 601.498728
SEK 10.916545
SGD 1.338865
SLE 22.799618
SOS 571.033393
SRD 35.234985
STD 20697.981008
SVC 8.742614
SZL 18.043677
THB 34.738062
TJS 10.620208
TMT 3.5
TND 3.141024
TOP 2.342098
TRY 34.383803
TTD 6.789548
TWD 32.495501
TZS 2663.729768
UAH 41.382279
UGX 3671.15761
UYU 42.122199
UZS 12792.683443
VES 44.872833
VND 25350
XAF 617.19122
XCD 2.70255
XDR 0.752722
XOF 617.19122
XPF 112.21355
YER 249.775034
ZAR 18.091397
ZMK 9001.201624
ZMW 27.201475
ZWL 321.999592
  • BCC

    -2.0100

    141.13

    -1.42%

  • NGG

    -1.2400

    62.9

    -1.97%

  • SCS

    0.0200

    13.67

    +0.15%

  • CMSC

    -0.1800

    24.54

    -0.73%

  • BTI

    0.0900

    35.24

    +0.26%

  • AZN

    0.4000

    65.19

    +0.61%

  • GSK

    -0.8300

    35.52

    -2.34%

  • BP

    -0.7600

    28.16

    -2.7%

  • CMSD

    -0.2100

    24.75

    -0.85%

  • RIO

    -1.4000

    61.2

    -2.29%

  • JRI

    -0.3000

    13.22

    -2.27%

  • RBGPF

    59.3400

    59.34

    +100%

  • RYCEF

    -0.0500

    7.11

    -0.7%

  • RELX

    -1.2100

    46.59

    -2.6%

  • VOD

    -0.8500

    8.47

    -10.04%

  • BCE

    -0.1600

    27.69

    -0.58%

Mapimpi at the double as South Africa again prove too strong for Scotland
Mapimpi at the double as South Africa again prove too strong for Scotland / Photo: © AFP

Mapimpi at the double as South Africa again prove too strong for Scotland

Makazole Mapimpi scored two tries as world champions South Africa returned to the top of the world rankings with a 32-15 win over Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday.

Text size:

The Springboks, however, had to withstand a fierce second-half onslaught from a Scotland side that lost lock Scott Cummings to a new 20-minute red card early on.

But although Scotland stayed in touch through the boot of Finn Russell, with the fly-half's fifth penalty reducing the Springboks' lead to just four points at 19-15 heading into the last quarter, they were unable to manage a try for the second straight game against South Africa.

Mapimpi struck twice in the first half as South Africa, fresh from adding this year's southern hemisphere Rugby Championship title to their back-to-back World Cup triumps, led 19-9 at the break in their November tour opener.

Scotland pressed hard before Handre Pollard scored South Africa's first points of the second period with a clutch 65th-minute penalty.

The fly-half's shot from in front of the posts seven minutes from time then left the Springboks' two scores ahead before, in the closing moments, replacement forward Jasper Wiese powered over for a try from a scrum as South Africa completed a ninth win in a row over Scotland.

Erasmus made 11 changes to the starting 15 that thrashed Argentina 48-7 in his side's Rugby Championship finale in September, with scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse the only back to keep his place -- a sign of South Africa's impressive strength in depth.

Veteran lock Eben Etzebeth captained South Africa in a Springbok record-extending 129 Tests, with regular skipper Siya Kolisi one of seven forwards on the bench.

Scotland came in to this match fresh from thrashing Fiji 57-17 at Murrayfield last weekend but having lost 18-3 to South Africa when they last played the Springboks at the 2023 World Cup in France.

It took South Africa just four minutes to open the scoring on Saturday when Pollard's superb kick-pass found the unmarked Mapimpi.

Scotland were reduced to 14 men when Cummings was sin-binned for an illegal neck roll, with the second row later permanently excluded following a video review.

But under the new 20-minute red card trial, Scotland were back to full-strength 20 minutes later when Max Wiliamson replaced Cummings.

Despite the disruption, two Russell penalties edged Scotland 6-5 ahead.

But the Springboks hit back when prop Thomas du Toit scored his maiden Test try after powering over from a scrappy line-out on the half-hour mark.

Pollard, who missed his first conversion, added the extras as South Africa went 12-6 up.

Russell again cut the Springboks' lead but they pulled clear again before half-time.

Andre Esterhuizen carried forcefully off a huge South Africa scrum before the ball worked wide to Willie le Roux.

The full-back, winning his 98th cap, then struck a delightful chip into the arms of Mapimpi for a try converted by Pollard.

Scotland thought they had a try of their own when Ben White rounded off a fine move but the scrum-half's score was disallowed for centre Huw Jones's knock-on in the build-up.

Russell's fourth penalty early in the second half left Scotland in sight of the Springboks at 12-19 behind.

Erasmus then deployed the latest version of his celebrated 'Bomb Squad' as a raft of replacements, including Kolisi, came off the bench, with Etzebeth the only starting Springbok forward left on the field.

Yet it was Scotland who then threatened a try only for Matt Fagerson to knock on in front of the posts after South Africa-born wing Duhan van der Merwe -- the Scots' all-time record try-scorer -- was hammered in the tackle by Etzebeth.

Mapimpi was sin-binned as Scotland kept pressing but the Springboks' line held firm.

South Africa play an England team still smarting from a dramatic 42-37 loss to Australia at Twickenham next weekend, while Scotland face emerging rugby nation Portugal.

S.Rocha--TFWP