adminEDINBURGH. — South Africa showed their pedigree as the world’s number two side, despatching Scotland 28-0 with clinical efficiency in a one-sided contest at a rain-swept Murrayfield yesterday. The Springboks scored their first try from a line-out drive in the fifth minute, courtesy of open-side flanker Willem Alberts and added two more before half-time, full back Willie le Roux crossing the home whitewash on the half hour and then setting up JP Pietersen.
It was a fine way for Pietersen to mark his 50th cap and afterwards the 27-year-old wing, a member of the Springboks’ 2007 World Cup-winning team, told the BBC: “It is an amazing achievement and to play it at Murrayfield is something I will treasure for the rest of my life.
“We wanted to step up this weekend and we did that. We executed the game plan well. The conditions didn’t suit us but we took the opportunities we had.”
South Africa had the match won at half-time, the visitors leading 21-0, with replacement prop Coenie Oosthuizen adding a fourth try as Heyneke Meyer’s team made it two wins out of two on their November tour of Europe, following last weekend’s 24-15 victory against Wales.
They did suffer one setback, Bath flanker Francois Louw departing in a neck brace with four minutes remaining, but they move on to finish their tour against France in Paris next Saturday still to concede a try on this trip.
Scotland made six changes to the team that overcame Japan 42-17 eight days previously. ernational try. — AFP
Online Reporter