Scotland record record victory

Scotland 21 South Africa 6

Scotland plunged South African rugby into further trouble at Murrayfield today when they recorded a record victory over the fallen giants – their first triumph against this opposition for 33 years.

The Springboks made wholesale changes to the side that was beaten by France last week, but that failed to have the desired affect as they wilted under the home side’s pressure.

But the record win was not without controversy as Budge Pountney was awarded a second-half try despite television pictures failing to show he had grounded the ball.

Nikki Walker, in only his second international appearance, compounded Springbok misery with his first test try late on as the host nation recorded their biggest win ever over their opponents – eclipsing the 6-0 win in 1906.

Brendan Laney scored Scotland’s remaining points with his boot, but even he could have made the scoreline even more humiliating had he took all his chances.

The win followed Scotland’s victory over Romania and it was always on the cards from the opening minutes.

The Sprinboks were told in no uncertain terms early on that they would have to produce a battling performance to prevent their second successive defeat.

The visitors gifted Scotland two penalties inside the first 12 minutes and Edinburgh centre Laney proved he was up to the task by sending both kicks between the posts from close to the flanks.

South Africa responded by trying to get their free-flowing rugby together, but they came up against brave Scottish resistance as they looked for a prize scalp.

But the men in the green shirts looked evidently shaky under pressure and last week seemed to have a big effect on them as Marco Wentel had the easiest of catches to make from Bryan Redpath’s punt, but he seemed to take his eye off the ball and knocked it on.

Leeds Tykes stand-off Gordon Ross almost added to their woes in the 19th minute, but his attempted drop goal curled just wide of the posts.

The South Africans were in disarray and the crisis could have deepened had back-row forward Martin Leslie managed to hold Redpath’s short pass with gaps ready to be exploited.

The visitors needed a brilliant tackle from Johannes Conradie in the 25th minute to stop the flying Glasgow wing Stuart Moffat in his tracks as he burst through on the overlap from Simon Taylor’s pass.

Moments later and Laney went close to making their dominance count when he attempted to put the ball down in the corner, but he failed to ground in his efforts.

For all the pressure Butch James gave the South Africans some welcome relief in the 32nd minute to reduce the defect to three with a penalty as the heavens once again opened.

That gave them a much-needed lift and moments later they pulled the scores level, with the break approaching, through the trusted boot of James, although they turned down a good chance of scoring a try.

Scotland should have gone in at the interval with a three-point lead, but Laney missed his easiest effort from almost in front of the posts.

But the home nation never let that affect them after the restart and they scored the first try in controversial fashion just six minutes in.

The powerful Scottish pack drove to the line after a mistake from Adrian Jacobs had put his side in more trouble and Pountney was adjudged to have grounded the ball even though television replays proved inconclusive.

Laney made up for his earlier miss by sending the kick between the posts from another tight angle.

Lanai’s right foot could have given his side more breathing space from a similar position, but he dragged just wide of the mark.

The home side could have added insult to injury in the 72nd minute when Werner Greef failed to hold a high kick from Gregor Townsend.

But Scotland were not able to capitalise as Walker was unable to hold on to Laney’s pass with the tryline at his mercy.

The South Africans were punished just moments later when the Borders youngster leaped onto the ball after Greef had spilled the ball.

Laney missed the conversion, but the agony was already piling up on the visiting nation, who were plunging to an all-time low.

For the Scots, David Hilton came on late on after his three-year ban from rugby after it was discovered he did not qualify to play for the country.