Stuart Hogg: Followed a monster clearing kick with an electrifying break from the deep to warm the sell-out crowd up and led to Hamish Watson’s try. Exeter are getting a bargain entertainer 7
Tommy Seymour: A hat-trick last week but did more chasing back on South African kicks than anything else. How things can change in just a week 6
Huw Jones: Treated us to flashes of his illusive running, but nothing compared to his two incredible behind-the-back passes leading to Peter Horne’s try 8
Peter Horne: Running in support of Jones brought its reward as he touched down for only his fifth international score, but found South African back line largely impenetrable 7
Sean Maitland: Like Seymour, not too much chance to run at the Springboks as the ball rarely went wide. Turned full-back when Hogg was replaced 6
Finn Russell: Under a lot of pressure from the off against a quickly closing defence. Tactical kicking was off the mark, as was one outrageous drop attempt 7
Greig Laidlaw: The one thing the Clermont Auvergne scrum-half does deliver on is being the nominated place kicker. Four from four yesterday as he kept Scotland in the game 7
Gordon Reid: Found it hard going and was perhaps not as effective as Allan Dell had been against Fiji in the tight or loose 6
Stuart McInally: For a man who is good at finding weaknesses in the opposition fringe defence he found the Springboks a hard nut to crack 7
WP Nel: Was never going to be a comfortable afternoon holding up the corner of a Scottish scrum 30kg lighter than the green machine. Didn’t creak too much 7
Ben Toolis: Some great takes off the top of the line-out on Scotland’s throw, without upsetting the South Africans in reply. Hard day tackling those green waves 7
Jonny Gray: Usual effectiveness as a first-up tackler in what was a brutally physical first half. What might be described as a typical day for a modern second-row 7
Sam Skinner: Having made his debut a week ago, the Exeter Chief was added to the back row to upset the Boks rolling maul. That plan mostly worked 7
Hamish Watson: Was the willing runner as the Scots made a sensational line-out play to catch the Boks sleeping and bring Scotland on to level terms in the first period 7
Ryan Wilson: Replaced before the hour after what could be described as an uncharacteristically quiet afternoon 7
Replacements:
Fraser Brown: Replaced McInally in triple substitution. Allan Dell: First replacement used after 50 minutes for Reid. Simon Berghan: Replaced Nel in triple substitution. Josh Strauss: Replaced Wilson in triple substitution. Jamie Ritchie: Came on for Skinner late on. Ali Price: Switched with Laidlaw after an hour. Adam Hastings: Given his chance to shine coming on for Horne. Chris Harris: Given a run in place of Hogg
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here