Bryan Redpath's Scotland side re-wrote the history books with a well-deserved and shock 21-6 win over a battling Springbok side at Murrayfield.
Not only was this was Scotland's first win over South Africa since 1969, but it was also their biggest win over the Springboks, smashing their previous record of six points, achieved way back in 1906 in Glasgow.
The Boks have now lost two matches in succession on tour, after last Saturday's 30-10 defeat against France in Marseille, but one could argue that this performance was even worse than last week.
For starters, the Edinburgh game began exactly the same as last week's contest, with South Africa conceding a penalty right from the kick-off. Scotland banged the ball into the Boks' territory -- a familiar tactic for them on the day -- and soon afterwards their Kilted Kiwi Brendan Laney opened their account with a penalty for not releasing in the tackle.
For good measure, like last week, the Boks also lost their first-choice outside centre. This time, however, Marius Joubert withdrew shortly before kick-off with an injured shoulder, with Adrian Jacobs moving from the replacements' bench to the starting XV and lock Bakkies Botha providing cover from the bench.
Laney was on target just five minutes later when the visitors collapsed an advancing Scotland maul on their line and at 6-0 the home team began growing in confidence.
The Boks somehow managed to keep the rampaging Scots at bay and when they eventually worked their way into enemy territory Breyton Paulse (of all people) was penalised for excessive use of the boot. While replays suggested that Paulse may have been penalised unfairly, it did not matter as Scotland cleared their line and could breathe a sigh of relief for the time being.
Bok flyhalf Butch James, who for some reason opted to kick every ball straight to a Scottish defender on the day, opened his team's account in the 33rd minute with a 41-metre penalty after an indiscretion by the home team.
At 6-3 down the Boks would have been happy to still be in the match, while a second James penalty tied the scores at 6-6, leaving it that way at the break after Laney missed a relatively simple attempt on the stroke of half-time.
The Boks began the second stanza better than the first, but it was Scotland -- via Laney once again -- who got the first points after the break to take a 9-6 lead.
At that stage the South Africans had put a ton of pressure on the home team, with a five-metre scrum being their only reward, but the Scots rode the pressure and that penalty seemed to give them the necessary boost as they came flying back from the re-start.
A drive into the Boks' territory gave them a chance for the first five-pointer of the day and when a pile of Scottish bodies collapsed over their opponents' goalline, referee Nigel Williams went to the TMO, who ruled that Scottish flanker Budge Pountney had touched the ball down.
It was a crucial score and Laney's conversion saw daylight between the two sides at 16-6.
The Boks, who besides lacking any decent ball to trouble the Scots, were devoid of any organisation amongst their back division and coach Rudolf Straeuli brought André Pretorius on for Jacobs shortly before the final quarter to add something to his side.
Pretorius took over at No.10, with Butch James moving to inside centre and Robbie Fleck shifting to outside centre. Shortly after Pretorius's arrival, Johannes Conradie made a neat break, only for debutant flanker Pierre Uys to knock on a difficult pass from the little No.9. That summed up the Boks' performance, silly errors at crucial moments, while the Scots seemed untroubled.
However, just when the Boks thought things could get worse, replacement flyhalf Gregor Townsend hoisted a high ball on Werner Greeff, who seemed to have it under control, but instead knocked the ball right on his own goalline. Laney picked the ball up and threw it to winger Nikki Walker, who, with the line at his mercy, also knocked on. Scrum to South Africa.
Conradie fed the scrum for SA, it wheeled slightly and his floated pass put Pretorius under pressure. He tried to beat some defenders with clever footwork, in the end it was just plain stupid as he lost the ball and Walker simply got the touch for the try.
Laney, who missed three penalty attempts, missed the conversion, but at 21-6 it was game, set and match. A famous win for the Scottish bravehearts, and more woes for South Africa, who cannot seriously expect to be a force at next year's World Cup after a performance like this.
"It's always hard to beat South Africa," said delighted Scotland coach Ian McGeechan. "They're a proud country."
So too, it seems, are Scotland. They are bound to enjoy their night in Edinburgh after this win. And why not?
Man of the match: Virtually the entire Scotland side deserves a look-in here, while not one Springbok player even comes close. The Scots' best players were front rowers Tom Smith and Gordon Bulloch, No.8 Simon Taylor and scrumhalf and skipper Bryan Redpath. Our pick? Well, we went for Simon Taylor for his wonderful defence, superb play at the back of the line-out, power and pace on attack and general work-rate.
Moment of the match: The final whistle. This win meant a lot to the brave Scottish side, while for the Springboks it meant relief after they were out-played (for the second week in a row) in every single facet of play from the very first minute to the last. Where to now for Springbok coach Rudolf Straeuli?
Villain of the match: Churlish perhaps, but, like last week the entire Springbok side walks away with our award. No gameplan, no organisation and sadly, and perhaps more worrying, no heart from a nation that was once renowned for its fighting spirit and commitment.
The Teams:
South Africa: 1 Deon Carstens, 2 Lukas Van Biljon, 3 Wessel Roux, 4 Jannes Labuschagne, 5 Marco Wentzel, 6 Pierre Uys, 7 Corne Krige (c), 8 Joe Van Niekerk, 9 Bolla Conradie, 10 Butch James, 11 Friedrich Lombard, 12 Adi Jacobs, 13 Robbie Fleck, 14 Breyton Paulse, 15 Werner Greeff
Reserves: A.J. Venter, Andre Pretorius, C.J. Van Der Linde
Unused: Bakkies Botha, James Dalton, Brent Russell, Pedrie Wannenburg
Scotland: 1 Bruce Douglas, 2 Gordon Bulloch, 3 Tom Smith, 4 Stuart Grimes, 5 Scott Murray, 6 Budge Pountney, 7 Martin Leslie, 8 Simon Taylor, 9 Bryan Redpath (c), 10 Gordon Ross, 11 Chris Paterson, 12 Brendan Laney, 13 Andrew Craig, 14 Nikki Walker, 15 Stuart Moffatt
Reserves: Nathan Hines, Dave Hilton, Ben Hinshelwood, Gregor Townsend, Jason White
Unused: Graeme Beveridge, Stephen Scott
Attendance: 58225
Referee: Williams n.
Points Scorers:
South Africa
Pen K.: James A.D. 2
Scotland
Tries: Walker N. 1, Pountney A.C. 1
Conv: Laney B.J. 1
Pen K.: Laney B.J. 3
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