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

EUR -
AED 3.882631
AFN 71.814779
ALL 98.369638
AMD 418.223615
ANG 1.903328
AOA 962.967789
ARS 1067.062445
AUD 1.623532
AWG 1.902718
AZN 1.795649
BAM 1.957792
BBD 2.13226
BDT 126.198422
BGN 1.955912
BHD 0.398427
BIF 3120.048815
BMD 1.057066
BND 1.419478
BOB 7.297391
BRL 6.360261
BSD 1.05607
BTN 89.175325
BWP 14.426613
BYN 3.4555
BYR 20718.48755
BZD 2.128656
CAD 1.478904
CDF 3033.778814
CHF 0.93174
CLF 0.037464
CLP 1033.747124
CNY 7.649137
CNH 7.652796
COP 4670.327638
CRC 539.356514
CUC 1.057066
CUP 28.012241
CVE 110.3768
CZK 25.274337
DJF 188.060485
DKK 7.457953
DOP 63.765794
DZD 141.074871
EGP 52.416609
ERN 15.855985
ETB 130.832795
FJD 2.394886
FKP 0.83436
GBP 0.831694
GEL 2.891096
GGP 0.83436
GHS 16.316527
GIP 0.83436
GMD 75.051632
GNF 9101.4771
GTQ 8.148253
GYD 220.873721
HKD 8.227562
HNL 26.71957
HRK 7.540323
HTG 138.454168
HUF 413.080103
IDR 16752.218517
ILS 3.859453
IMP 0.83436
INR 89.320146
IQD 1383.401233
IRR 44476.038712
ISK 144.90215
JEP 0.83436
JMD 166.390109
JOD 0.749779
JPY 158.805105
KES 137.017127
KGS 91.753096
KHR 4256.432097
KMF 493.116445
KPW 951.358721
KRW 1477.111695
KWD 0.325058
KYD 0.880091
KZT 540.827799
LAK 23177.476236
LBP 94569.888902
LKR 306.990948
LRD 189.564698
LSL 19.190538
LTL 3.12124
LVL 0.639409
LYD 5.152219
MAD 10.568305
MDL 19.336586
MGA 4930.994555
MKD 61.510493
MMK 3433.308132
MNT 3591.909162
MOP 8.465374
MRU 42.128066
MUR 49.182878
MVR 16.331548
MWK 1831.25486
MXN 21.607269
MYR 4.696016
MZN 67.540418
NAD 19.190538
NGN 1781.621011
NIO 38.861016
NOK 11.649873
NPR 142.683222
NZD 1.791567
OMR 0.406973
PAB 1.056075
PEN 3.962708
PGK 4.258434
PHP 61.961489
PKR 293.583868
PLN 4.305484
PYG 8236.34251
QAR 3.849399
RON 4.977301
RSD 116.968541
RUB 114.160475
RWF 1470.023739
SAR 3.970963
SBD 8.869405
SCR 14.397827
SDG 635.822952
SEK 11.527899
SGD 1.416721
SHP 0.83436
SLE 24.0024
SLL 22166.144021
SOS 603.511291
SRD 37.425441
STD 21879.125604
SVC 9.240359
SYP 2655.909112
SZL 19.198446
THB 36.267727
TJS 11.511223
TMT 3.710301
TND 3.336079
TOP 2.475754
TRY 36.657878
TTD 7.176269
TWD 34.396389
TZS 2796.5846
UAH 43.919686
UGX 3896.947179
USD 1.057066
UYU 45.235819
UZS 13585.053324
VES 49.95156
VND 26820.927787
VUV 125.496963
WST 2.950895
XAF 656.622086
XAG 0.034518
XAU 0.000398
XCD 2.856773
XDR 0.807818
XOF 656.622086
XPF 119.331742
YER 264.187158
ZAR 19.10439
ZMK 9514.847686
ZMW 28.486854
ZWL 340.374721
  • CMSC

    -0.0500

    24.52

    -0.2%

  • RIO

    0.2900

    62.32

    +0.47%

  • SCS

    -0.0700

    13.47

    -0.52%

  • NGG

    0.5000

    63.33

    +0.79%

  • CMSD

    -0.0700

    24.36

    -0.29%

  • GSK

    0.3100

    34.33

    +0.9%

  • AZN

    0.8400

    67.2

    +1.25%

  • BCC

    -2.0100

    146.4

    -1.37%

  • RBGPF

    1.0000

    62

    +1.61%

  • RELX

    0.2400

    47.05

    +0.51%

  • RYCEF

    0.1100

    6.91

    +1.59%

  • BCE

    0.3900

    27.02

    +1.44%

  • BTI

    0.2300

    37.94

    +0.61%

  • VOD

    0.1100

    8.97

    +1.23%

  • BP

    0.1700

    29.13

    +0.58%

  • JRI

    0.1700

    13.41

    +1.27%

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: Paul ELLIS - 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.

O.Hofer--NZN