By Steve Scott, rugby correspondent

SOUTH AFRICA are a better team now than they were when they lifted rugby union’s William Webb Ellis Trophy as world champions in Paris a year ago, but Scotland can still upset the odds at Murrayfield this weekend, skipper Mike Blair believes.

The detailed analysis of the 32-6 loss to New Zealand completed, Blair believes if the Scots maintain the level of the good things they did against New Zealand, while cutting out errors and taking chances, a win to claim the vital eighth spot in the world rankings ahead of the draw for the next Rugby World Cup can be secured.

However he is under no illusions that the task at Murrayfield on Saturday afternoon is probably tougher than that faced last week.

“The quality of this South African team is exceptional,” he said.

”I think they’re stronger than the team which won the World Cup last year, a really impressive team.

“I think we sort of forget about the previous performances and look what they are capable of at their peak, the first 10 to 15 minutes on Saturday they were just outstanding and Wales did well to get back into the game.

“We know those Welsh players well and if they can put them under pressure and run them close, so can we. If we play to the maximum of our potential it’ll be a good fight.

“Progression is what we’re really looking for, though. Against New Zealand it was good in some areas but it’s about moving on, putting that game to bed and showing we can improve.

“Part of our problem in recent times has been inconsistency, you don’t really know what kind of performance you’re going to get from Scotland and which areas will be working well. We want to get the sort of consistency where things that went well last week are maintained at a high level and the things that went less well show improvement.”

The question of the win needed for the eighth ranking—and thereby a more favourable RWC 2011 pool draw—doesn’t really have a bearing on the way the team will play,” added Blair.

“I don’t think there’s a scenario where something like this makes you try harder, whether it be rankings, or a grand slam match, Calcutta Cup or even a World Cup final,” he said.

“When you take the field you’re having to put absolutely everything you have in whatever the scenario. People are aware of this situation with the ranking, but it won’t be a factor to make us play any better.”

Coach Frank Hadden has consulted Scotland A coach Andy Robinson over the selection made for tomorrow night’s clash of the second string against a touring Georgia team at Firhill, which has meant first appearances for Mark Robertson ahead of Simon Webster, and a first representative cap for former Dundee High pupil Richie Vernon.

Vernon, still only 22, will play as Alan MacDonald suffered a dead leg last week and has been ruled out, and will join Glasgow club-mates Johnnie Beattie and Kelly Brown as the loose forward trio.

The team will be capta ined by Warriors skipper Al Kellock with Toulon hooker Phil Fitzgerald, formerly with Stirling County, winning his first representative honours.

“He’s had a great career at Toulon and we want to take a good look at him,” said Robinson. “I’m not worried that he’s just turned 30, Jeff Probyn and Paul Ackford played with me for England, winning their first caps at 31 and had pretty good careers.”

Robinson is intrigued by a back-line, coached by Gregor Townsend, which will see a centre partnership of Rob Dewey and Max Evans, with power runners Nikki Walker and Mark Robertson, in super form for Edinburgh this season, on the wings.

Georgia are not thought to have sent a completely full-strength team on tour, but will have many of the players who won the European title (for non-Six Nations countries) and who pushed Ireland close in the Rugby World Cup a year ago.

Team—R Jackson (Glasgow Warriors); N Walker (Ospreys), M Evans (Glasgow Warriors), R Dewey (Ulster), M Robertson (Edinburgh); G Ross (Saracens), M McMillan; E Kalman (both Glasgow Warriors), P Fitzgerald (Toulon), G Cross; C Hamilton (both Edinburgh), A Kellock (capt); R Vernon, K Brown, J Beattie (all Glasgow Warriors).

Replacements—A Kelly, G Kerr (both Edinburgh), D Turner (Glasgow Warriors), S Newlands (Edinburgh), C Gregor, A Henderson (both Glasgow Warriors), S Webster (Edinburgh).