Scotland were given the tough physical test they expected against South Africa, but they passed it with flying colours to kick off their WXV2 campaign with a bonus-point victory.
The game at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch was a stop-start affair, and Scots captain Rachel Malcolm was quick afterwards to insist that her team had been well below their best. But the fact that they still found a way to win despite some deficiencies is testament to the growing maturity of a team who have now won their last four outings.
The most glaring problem was in the scrum, where the Springboks’ dynamic muscularity had the visiting pack on the back foot for much of the match. But that particular difficulty was more than counterbalanced at the lineout maul, which produced four of Scotland’s five tries as South Africa simply lacked the technique to do anything about it.
“It was far from our best,” was Malcolm’s verdict. “But that’s the sign of a good team, finding a way to win in those really tough games.
“That was incredibly tough. South Africa came out fighting. We knew that the first half in particular was probably going to be a real battle, and I think it absolutely was. They brought a huge amount of physicality and put us under massive pressure at different points of the game.
“Situations like that previously would probably have been a bit of a banana skin for us. But we’ve taken a massive step forward in terms of our decision-making.”
After the home side had gone ahead with a penalty from Libbie Janse van Rensburg, Evie Gallagher got the try production line rolling after 25 minutes, finishing off with relative ease at the back of the pack.
The try was unconverted, so when Aseza Hele broke through for her team’s first try and Janse van Rensburg added the extras, the Springboks were back in front at 10-5. In the closing minutes of the half, however, Lana Skeldon struck twice from mauls. Helen Nelson converted the first, giving her team a 17-10 lead at the break.
That became 24-10 quarter of an hour into the second period when Leah Bartlett claimed the bonus-point try - from a maul, of course - and substitute Meryl Smith converted.
South Africa stayed in touch thanks to a Roseline Botes try, converted by stand-off Janse van Rensburg, with 15 minutes to go. And, after a Francesca McGhie score was chalked off for a forward pass, momentum appeared to be with the Springboks.
But then the strength of character to which Malcolm referred took over. The Scottish defence kept its discipline under heavy pressure, and with five minutes left Lisa Thomson got her team’s fifth try after bursting through from midfield. Smith’s conversion completed the scoring.
That run of four victories would hardly have seemed feasible earlier this year, when a Six Nations defeat by the French was Scotland’s 12th consecutive loss in all competitions. Malcolm is convinced that her team can keep making substantial progress, but insisted they would keep their feet on the ground as they prepare for next Friday’s meeting with the USA.
“I think this group can go on and achieve some incredible things,” she added. “But I think we just have to focus on the next game. The last time we played the USA they came out on top.”
Scorers -
Scotland: Tries: Gallagher, Skeldon 2, Bartlett, Thomson. Cons: Nelson, Smith 2.
South Africa: Tries: Hele, Botes. Cons: Janse van Rensburg 2. Pen: Janse van Rensburg.
Scotland: C Rollie; R Lloyd, E Orr, L Thomson, F McGhie (E Musgrove 72); H Nelson (M Smith 51), M McDonald (C Mattinson 51); L Bartlett (A Young 65), L Skeldon (E Martin 12-24, 78), C Belisle (L Cockburn 65), E Wassell, L McMillan (E Donaldson 78), R Malcolm (captain), R McLachlan (J Konkel 51, R McLachlan 65-75), E Gallagher.
South Africa: C Qawe; M Samboya (M Zulu 46), V Grain, P Nyanda, S Hess; L Janse van Rensburg, T Kinsey (R Potgieter 57); S Charlie (Y Ngxingolo 59), L Gwala (R Botes 59), B Latsha (captain, A Schonert 59), V Ubisi (M Booi 59), D Lochner, L Dumke, S Mcatshulwa (C Jacobs 59), A Hele (M Gunter 51).
Referee: N Ganley (New Zealand).
