The Boks have had a brilliant game against Scotland at BT Murrayfield, the Boks taking the win 30 points to 15. Eben Etzebeth named man of the match after an excellent performance making 8 carries and gaining 48 meters for the Boks with a turnover and 8 tackles. Brilliant stuff from the Enforcer.
The Boks opened the game with a few strong runs getting close to the line. Penalties awarded were kicked into the corner showing a confident leader in Siya Kolisi. What a game he had, on defense and carrying the ball. I thought he would have been named man of the match but was happy to see Eeben's excellent stats rewarded.
Mapimpi crossed over for two tries against the Scottish. Making him one of the only players to score a try against every team he has played against. Absolute mammoth effort from the South African winger. We salute you sir!
The Scottish attack looked a bit timid to me. They would pass the ball close to a forward who was standing still, not expecting the ball. So he had Etzebeth, De Jager and Vermeulen running at them ready to smoke them. There is no way the forward standing still was going to make any sort of ground. Its just not happening. And they continued to do that as though they had planned it. The game also got scrappy at times, with balls being passed into space, allowing the ball to bounce around on the ground. At one stage the Scots had a lineout on half way and managed to pass the ball backwards until they were 10m from their own line, then the Boks got a turnover penalty and kicked 3 points. Completely no game plan from the Scots.
At another point in the game, they had an attacking lineout on the 10 and they turned that into a try via Skipper Stuart Hogg. He got two tries in the game and led very well.
Maybe I have been too critical over the Scottish style of play this weekend? I am just used to seeing them play good attacking rugby. I honestly think Pretoria Boys High could have given Scotland a good go! Watching this game compared to the game against the Aussies was a completely different story, like two different teams playing two different strategies, why were they so underwhelming this weekend? Was it the pressure of playing against the World Champions?
So what I am saying is that if the Scots ran hard, with momentum and worked a bit harder in the back line, they could have had a much better game. Maybe even scored a few more points?
The Springbok lineout was also very strong as always. Winning balls against the head, Lood De Jager had a brilliant game in the air. The scrum was also solid at times, when it wasn't collapsed. There were two scums where both teams scrummed hard before the ball came out, that's what we want to see, a good contestable scrum, even though the Scots were 29 Kilograms heavier than the Boks.
The World Champs are to face a strong England side next weekend. They have not met since the 2019 World Cup Final and I am 100% sure the English will be looking for revenge. Expecting Faz to be a chop in the midfield again, standard procedure. But I believe the Boks will take it by 7 or less.
Another thing I have noticed and I enjoy it so incredibly much. The competitiveness of this Autumn Series feels like a World Cup. Every single team has something to prove and they all want to win just as much as the other. Absolutely incredible rugby being experienced, we are truly blessed as a generation to be able to experience such incredible International Rugby! So if any players do end up reading this, keep it up! You are giving us the time of our lives!
Good luck for England, Go Bokke!
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