By Tom Jeffreys
Regardless of South Africa boasting a cushty 17-point successful margin of their 32-15 victory at Murrayfield yesterday, the moods in camp have been considerably juxtapositional because the expectation for an additional all-conquering South African victory was tempered by a bodily resolute Scotland outing.
Such is the latest dominance of the double world champions and Rugby Championship winners, and such is the retention in personnel on this time interval, requirements anticipated of them are maybe greater, each inside and out of doors camp, than a facet has ever skilled earlier than.
Subsequently, a four-try victory, by which they flexed their means to assault out large alongside their infamously indomitable scrum, was greeted underwhelmingly by head coach Rassie Erasmus and captain Eben Etzebeth.
Rassie Erasmus
“The scoreboard doesn’t tell the whole story”, Erasmus stated post-match.
“We might be very happy with taking part in towards Finn Russell in two video games and never giving a strive away, that’s actually arduous to do.
“But certainly it’s not a performance we’re very proud of.”
“It was a bit of a grind”, concurred Etzebeth, the one ahead to play the total 80 for the guests.
“They undoubtedly stood as much as us generally play, their physicality, they introduced it to us and it was an excellent battle, good take a look at match.
“Compliments to them. We weren’t at our best.”
It’s a harsh evaluate from the South Africans at first look given they outscored a infamous Scottish assault by 4 tries to nill, but it surely was a second half of frustration and stress after a primary by which they’d scored clinically by means of two well-executed kicks to Makazole Mapimpi and a plucky Thomas du Toit run in.
EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND – NOVEMBER 10: Makazole Mapimpi of South Africa runs in to attain his workforce’s third strive throughout the Autumn Nations Sequence 2024 match between Scotland and South Africa on the Scottish Fuel Murrayfield on November 10, 2024 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photograph by David Rogers/Getty Photos)
All seven of the bomb squad have been on the pitch by the forty fifth minute, however the next 20 minutes noticed relentless Scottish stress on the South African strive line, simply six factors the reward as South African cynicism and set-piece dominance dug them out.
“I didn’t think they [dealt with the bomb squad] in the scrum and maul”, stated Erasmus.
“However actually generally play, they have been very efficient and their defence coach ought to get a faucet on the again.
Eben Etzebeth
“When we prepare for Scotland we prepare like we’re going to play a New Zealand or Ireland”, stated Etzebeth.
“They’re one of the top teams in the world, maybe the scoreboard does flatter us a little bit, but we still put a good performance in.”
It’s that type of reward from a workforce that has seen off so many challenges over the past 5 years that explains Scotland head coach Greogor Townsend and captain Sione Tuipulotu’s frustration, however pleasure of their efficiency.
“I’m proud of the performance”, stated Tuipulotu, talking after his first recreation as Scotland captain.
“Particularly within the ahead pack, I assumed they actually fronted up bodily so I’m proud, simply upset to not win.
“The final little bit of execution actually allow us to down as we speak, particularly within the end zone, near the road. We didn’t stroll away with the tries we should always’ve.
“The game was there to be won and we didn’t execute.”
There have been, after all, important mitigating circumstances in Scotland’s loss, with second-row Scott Cummings proven a 20-minute pink card for a croc roll in simply the eleventh minute.
South Africa solely scored as soon as throughout the prolonged 14-man interval, Thomas du Toit gratefully strolling in from a lineout Scotland had truly disrupted, however the knock-on results when the bomb squad arrived and Cummings’ alternative Max Williamson, who was unwell throughout the week, injured each shoulders, took their toll.
Gregor Townsend
“There was massive mitigating circumstances”, stated Townsend of the pink card. “Scott was there to clear and the scrum half popped up as he was clearing, which took him off his ft.
“It’s such a dynamic recreation, you’re hitting these contacts at big velocity, so I assumed it was a really harsh pink.
“There’s a huge amount of pride”, he continued.
“There was some talent execution we have now to enhance, however I additionally assume there was some unhealthy luck.
“I thought it was one of the best performances of the last few seasons. I thought the way we defended throughout the game was the highest level we’ve produced, we had moments when they emptied their bench in our 22 and we were getting turnovers and there were great elements of defence. There’s real growth.”
READ MORE: Autumn Nations Sequence Workforce of the Week: Joseph Sua’ali’i bursts onto the scene
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Author : rugby365
Publish date : 2024-11-11 13:51:31
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