After making a winning start to their Nations Championship tournament last week outright tournament favourites South Africa now turn their attention to Saturday’s clash with Scotland at Loftus
South Africa vs Scotland, Saturday 11th July, Pretoria, KO 17:40 (South African time)
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
Assistant Referees: James Doleman (NZR), Andrew Brace (IRFU)
TMO: Richard Kelly (NZR)
Weather Forecast - Pretoria
South Africa:
The Boks saw off England 45-21 at Ellis Park in Round 1, securing a bonus point to lead the Southern Hemisphere half of the log ahead of New Zealand on points difference. South Africa came flying out of the blocks and were 17-0 up in 12 minutes through tries from Thomas du Toit, Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse but England fought back and the Boks only led 17-14 at half time. In the second d half South Africa pulled away again with further tries from Williams, Kriel, Marx, and Dixon. Kolbe converted 5 of the 7 tries.
The Springboks had tuned up for this tournament with a hit out against the Barbarians in Nelson Mandela Bay on the 20th June, they scored 12 tries and conceded 5 in a 80-31 victory.
Siya Kolisi was a late withdrawal last week and Ox Nche picked up an early injury. Further team news involves Eben Etzebeth who will not be available for Rounds 2 and 3. Coach Rassie Erasmus named his side on Monday and has made 10 changes to last week’s starting line up
In the Nations Championship outright betting markets South Africa are 12/10 favourites to win the title with Hollywoodbets
Nations Championship Results and Fixtures: : R1 England (h) won 45-21, R2 Scotland (h), R3 Wales (h), R4 Italy (a), R5 France (a), R6 Ireland (a)
Scotland:
Scotland are one of three nations Northern Hemisphere Nations to pick up the full 5 log points in Round 1. They beat Argentina 47-38 in Cordoba, leading 19-10 at half time and going on o sore 7 tries whilst conceding 5. Tuipulotu, Schoeman, Hutchinson, Brown, Cummings, Hiddleston and Rowe were the try scorers with Burke and Jordan landing 3 conversions a piece.
Scotland’s finished in third place in the 6 Nations earlier this year. They started with a defeat in Italy (18-15) before reeling off 3 straight wins at home to England (31-20), in Wales (26-23) and at home to France ( 50-40) but they finished with a defeat in Ireland (43-21).
In the North vs South November internationals at the end of 2025 Scotland thrashed USA (85-0) but then lost to the All Blacks (25-17). They also went down at home to Argentina (33-24) and they finished with a 56-0 win over Tonga.
In the Nations Championship outright betting markets Scotland can be backed at 19/1 to win the title with Hollywoodbets
Nations Championship Results and Fixtures: R1 Argentina (a) won 38-47, R2 South Africa (a), R3 Fiji (at Edinburgh), R4 New Zealand (h), R5Australia (h), R6 Japan (h)
Recent Head to Head
Nov 2024 INT Edinburgh Scotland 15–32 South Africa
Sep 2023 RWC Marseille South Africa 18-3 Scotland
Nov 2021 INT Edinburgh Scotland 15–32 South Africa
Team News
South Africa: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Edwill van der Merwe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian Willemse, 11 Canan Moodie, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (captain), 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Cobus Wiese, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Boan Venter.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Zach Porthen, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 Elrigh Louw, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Quan Horn
Scotland: tbc
The Betting
Average early show, subject to change
South Africa -22.5 points at 9/10
Scotland +22.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
To follow
Bets: to follow
More Rugby Bets
This week we have previews and Brent Graham’s bets for New Zealand vs Italy, Australia vs France and South Africa vs Scotland. More Nations Series and World U20 Championship bets from Brent and other members of our community will be posted weekly rugby thread on our brand new discussion forum. If you haven't done so already, register a forum account here.
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.