SCOTLAND are out to continue their good form as they welcome world champions South Africa to Murrayfield in today’s early kick-off.
The Scots took the scalp of Australia with a 15-13 win last weekend as they continue on a positive track under Gregor Townsend.
And Finn Russell says Scotland are looking to make it into the world top five with another Autumn Internationals win.
The fly-half commented: “We’ve always been up there in the top 10.
“We want to push to get into the top five, if not higher.
“If we get the next couple of results that we’re looking for and go into the Six Nations we’ll be on our way up there and I believe we can. We’ve got a good belief in the squad.
“That game on Sunday was one we potentially might have lost in the past, when the narrow margins would go against us. But now we seem to have changed that.
“There’s a lot of excitement building around this team and where we’re going.
“We’ve been building over the last three, four, five years to get to where we are now and it feels like we’re starting to turn a corner in terms of getting wins from more of the narrow games, which is great.”
The visiting Springboks meanwhile did what they do best as they ground out a 23-18 win against Wales at the Principality stadium last Saturday.
But that match was tinged with controversy after a pitch invader appeared to deprive Liam Williams of a try for the Welsh.
Callum Rowe was pelted with beer by fuming Dragons fans as he was dragged away by security in Cardiff.
What time does Scotland vs South Africa rugby kick off?
- Scotland vs South Africa takes place on Saturday, November 13.
- The match kicks off at 1pm UK time – 3pm in South Africa.
- It will be held at Murrayfield.
- The sides last met in 2018 when the Springboks ran out 26-20 winners at the same venue.
What TV channel is Scotland vs South Africa rugby on and can I live stream it?
- Scotland vs South Africa rugby is not on regular UK television.
- However, it is available to live stream on Amazon Prime Video.
- If you have a Smart TV you can also install Amazon Prime Video directly onto your television.
Can I watch Scotland vs South Africa rugby for free?
Team news
South Africa have made three changes from the team that beat Wales last week.
Former Wasps full-back Willy le Roux replaces Damian Willemse, Elton Jantjies comes in for Handre Pollard at fly-half and Franco Mostert takes takes Lood de Jager’s place at lock.
Scotland team: 15 Stuart Hogg (c), 14 Rufus McLean, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ali Price. 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 Stuart McInally, 3 Zander Fagerson, 4 Sam Skinner, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 6 Nick Haining, 7 Jamie Ritchie, 8 Matt Fagerson.
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Jamie Bhatti, 18 Oli Kebble, 19 Jamie Hodgson, 20 Hamish Watson, 21 George Horne, 22 Adam Hastings, 23 Blair Kinghorn.
South Africa team: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Jesse Kriel, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Herschel Jantjies; 1 Ox Nche, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Franco Mostert, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 7 Kwagga Smith, 8 Duane Vermeulen.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Lood de Jager Mostert, 20 Jasper Wiese, 21 Cobus Reinach, 22 Handre Pollard, 23 Frans Steyn.
Latest odds
- Scotland 2/1
- Draw 18/1
- South Africa 4/9
*Odds from Betfair correct as of Friday, November 12.
What have they said?
Hogg believes Scotland can follow up their memorable win over Australia if they can outmuscle the Springboks at BT Murrayfield on Saturday.
The full-back said: “They are an unbelievable team, they have got some brilliant individual players and they are world champions for a reason.
“But like everything there are weaknesses within it and hopefully we can exploit that.
“We need to be patient in what we are trying to do and also stand up to their physicality. If we can stand up to that and outmuscle them we give ourselves a good opportunity of winning.”
Stay up to date with all the latest from Murrayfield in our live blog…
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SOUTH AFRICA SO FAR
South Africa have played just one game so far on their three-game tour – and what a game it was.
A classic Test match at Cardiff in front of a packed Wales crowd last Saturday that ebbed and flowed – and in the end it just ebbed in South Africa’s favour.
The Springboks face England at Twickenham next Saturday, but they can’t take their eye off the ball against a dangerous Scottish side today.
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SCOTS SO FAR
It’s been a brilliant autumn series for Gregor Townsend’s men so far and Edinburgh has become a bit of a fortress.
They took Tonga apart a fortnight ago 60-14 and followed up with a famous 15-13 win over Australia last Sunday.
South Africa are probably the sternest test they face in this slate of games and the year ends with Japan at Murrayfield next weekend.
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HOGG ON BOKS
Captain Stuart Hogg believes Scotland can follow up their memorable win over Australia if they can outmuscle the Springboks at BT Murrayfield.
The full-back said: “They are an unbelievable team, they have got some brilliant individual players and they are world champions for a reason.
“But like everything there are weaknesses within it and hopefully we can exploit that.
“We need to be patient in what we are trying to do and also stand up to their physicality.
“If we can stand up to that and outmuscle them we give ourselves a good opportunity of winning.”
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WELCOME
Good afternoon everyone, welcome to our live coverage of this autumn international clash in Edinburgh.
The high-flying Scottish team welcome a tough and tested Springboks side to Murrayfield in an intriguing encounter this afternoon.
Scotland are buoyed by thrashing Tonga and then beating Australia last week on a famous Sunday afternoon in Auld Reekie.
And they’ll be relishing another stiff challenge against South Africa – who beat Wales in a pulsating clash last week.
It’s another brilliant day of rugby action and it all starts in Edinburgh at 1pm local time.
Gregor Townsend’s side can go fifth in the World Rugby rankings if they can pull off this massive scalp over Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks.
But it will be no mean feat given the way the injury-hit Boks took apart the Lions over the summer.
And some of these Murrayfield stars will be smarting from that difficult tour of South Africa.
If you’re feeling like an autumnal day in front of the TV with the fire on and a few tinnies then today is the one for you, with three cracking matches to come.
Stay right there for all the build-up ahead of kick-off.
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