South Africa’s aggression and power in attack brought Scotland a tough reality check at St James’ Park as the Springboks took back control of Pool B in the Rugby World Cup.
The Scots, who had led the pool with a maximum ten points from their first two games, rallied in the second half after being clearly second best in a first 40 minutes where the twice world champions recovered much of their traditional strengths and exploited them to the full.
With young second rows Eden Etzebeth and Ludo de Jager doing some thunderous ball carrying and a fine kicking display by stand-off Handre Pollard, Scotland were under huge pressure throughout and fortunate just to be 20-3 down.
Tommy Seymour’s thrilling try after a Duncan Weir interception and a far better all-round second half display gave Scotland some hope in the second half.
But skipper Grieg Laidlaw was yellow carded at a key moment and late on Bryan Habana added to the first half tries from Schalk Burger and JP Pietersen to clinch a ultimately comfortable victory for the pool favourites, now right back on track after their shock loss to Japan.
Scotland barely registered possession inside the danger zone in a first half when the precision and power of the South Africans allowed them to build a solid foundation on the scoreboard.
The Scots opted not to take an early penalty chance and kick down the line, but failed to make much impression and when a penalty for holding on allowed the Springboks set up an attacking lineout after 12 minutes, the die was cast.
The South Africans didn’t get their maul going but power running smashed the Scots back with Pietersen somehow failing to score when he wriggled free of Tim Visser at the touchline.
The try was barely delayed as successive charges to the line saw Schalk Burger credited with the score after a long look by the TMO, Pollard converting.
The next South African maul was hugely effective, going from halfway to the 22 before it was pulled down and Pollard kicked them 10-0 ahead.
South Africa’s varied kicking game was also causing problems for the Scots and after a long Bismarck du Plessis nearly got away, the Scots infringing in front of the posts and Pollard stretching his team’s lead to 13-0
After half an hour Scottish spirits rose a little with a long Laidlaw penalty for a lineout infringement, and then when Jannie du Plessis was yellow carded for a high takeout at a ruck.
But shortly before the half Laidlaw was stripped of possession at a ruck by his opposite number Fourie du Preez to set up another attacking lineout. Despite being a man down the big South African maul again made ground and Pietersen atoned for his earlier error by going over from a sharp pass by his captain, Pollard converting.
Scotland pegged the South Africans back with an early second half penalty but the match came alive as a contest when the Scots struck just as they seemed to be wilting.
Duncan Weir’s interception as the Springboks were threatening saw the stand-off wriggle clear of tackles on a 60 metre scamper, and although Pietersen snared him he got the ball away for Visser to feed Seymour, Laidlaw converting.
But a drop goal from Pollard and then Laidlaw’s ill-advised tackle on Habana as he broke away chasing his own kick left the Scots short-handed just when they were getting back into the game.
Duncan Weir kicked a penalty in the absence of the captain but two more Pollard penalties stretched South Africa away as their power reasserted itself.
Finally Pollard turned down a drop goal with seven minutes left to make a telling run into the Scottish defence which ended with Habana going over for an unconverted try.
Att 50,900
Scotland: S Hogg (Glasgow, S Lamont (Glasgow) 63); T Seymour (Glasgow), R Vernon (Glasgow, P Horne (Glasgow) 65), M Scott (Edinburgh), T Visser (Harlequins); D Weir (Glasgow), G Laidlaw (Gloucester, capt, S Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh) 70); G Reid (Glasgow, A Dickinson (Edinburgh) 50), F Brown (Glasgow, R Ford (Edinburgh) 61), WP Nel (Edinburgh, J Welsh (Newcastle) 64); R Gray (Castres), J Gray (Glasgow, T Swinson (Glasgow) 68); J Strauss (Glasgow, R Wilson (Glasgow) 55), B Cowan (London Irish), D Denton (Edinburgh)
South Africa: W Le Roux; J P Pietersen (P Lambie 70), J Kriel, D De Allende (J Serfontein 74), B Habana; H Pollard, F du Preez (capt, R Pienaar 77)); T Mtawarira (T Nyakane 61), B du Plessis (A Strauss 56), J du Plessis (F Malherbe 50); E Eztebeth, L de Jager (P-S du Toit 74); F Louw, S Burger (W Alberts 70), D Vermeulen.