Scotland look forward as they clash with Boks

Scotland will look to their forwards to lead the charge against South Africa this weekend.

While the South Africans signalled their intentions for tomorrow’s first Test by choosing their most physical pack in years, the Scots have clearly decided to fight fire with fire.

The team selection proved one thing – a combination of burly backs to match the physical Bulls forwards means South Africa will be looking to dominate up front and at the back to ensure a big win over the Scots.

And it is all to erase the 21-6 shock defeat in Edinburgh last year which still sits in the minds of the local fans.

A victory is important for both sides. For Scotland it will prove their win over the Boks last year was no fluke, that they have the talent to match the Southern Hemisphere superpowers and have a glimmer of hope for this year’s World Cup in Australia.

For South Africa, and coach Rudolf Straeuli in particular, it will mean that the pressure is off a bit, that sanity has been restored and that the success-hungry public can start believing in a pattern which can emulate the success of 1995, when the country won the World Cup in their debut performance in the event on home soil.

But for Scotland the reality is there – the Boks will come fast and hard, asking no quarter and giving not an inch.

What they will face is set to be the most physical of battles that they have faced, with a bunch of new faces in the side eager to exploit their call-ups to make an impression for selection for the World Cup later this year.

There is no secret that Straeuli is impressed by the Bulls pack – six inclusions in the Test side speak for themselves – and the manner that the Bulls managed to upstart the rest of the Southern Hemisphere Super 12 sides up front will be needed if the home side are to get the head start they need in the series.

Scottish forwards coach Jim Telfer, who needs no introduction to straight talking before test matches, made it quite clear what sort of onslaught the Scots are likely to face this weekend.

“We do not back down against any pack,” he said this week. “We will have to match them at every confrontation – legally as much as possible.

“It is as simple as that. The Boks will try and dominate and intimidate us. That is the nature of international rugby and we relish the challenge.

“In November, before we played the Boks at Murrayfield, we had an extremely physical training session to prepare for them. It worked.

“Once again, we accept that, if we are to have any chance of winning, we have to get parity or ascendancy of forward play. That has always been the case and always will be the case.”

So the stage is set for a physical battle that the South Africans will relish as well.

Should Scotland be up to the challenge they will earn the respect of the rest of the world and give the Boks an indication of how far they have to travel to be world contenders.

Should they fail, then a much sterner test is awaiting them next week at Ellis Park when they will face a confident and motivated Bok outfit smelling blood.