Rugby
Scotland target improved discipline and defence─── MORGAN PIEK 08:10 Tue, 05 Nov 2024
Scotland will be targeting improved discipline and defence when they face the Springboks in Edinburgh on Sunday.
The Scots will go into the Test against the back-to-back World Champions with confidence following a convincing 57-17 win at Murrayfield on Saturday night.
This will be the two teams first clash since last year’s Rugby World Cup in France when the Boks won 18-3.
Jasper Wiese. Photo: RWC
For South Africa, it’s their first Test since clinching the Rugby Championship for the first time in five years and they will be looking to start their tour on a high.
The Scotland coach, Gregor Townsend, said their discipline needs to be on point. “I think there was always going to be some errors,” said Townsend.
“It was the first game, there is an eagerness, so we have got to take them out next week, because penalties against the top team in the world, which obviously South Africa are either mean points again, or it means you are going to have to defend your, a maul in of your own 22, which most teams get something from that. That is a pressure position to deal with.
“So yeah, it was a tough period. I thought there were a couple of really good examples I saw, I thought, Tom Jordan getting that, corner flag tackle, dead defensive set.
“I was watching the TV in our coaching box and we’ve gone up to 17, 18 phases, and Fiji had possession, then we got a turnover, so there’s a lot from our defence we can be pleased about, but there are some work ones clearly.”
Sunday’s Test at Murrayfield kicks off at 18:10.