South Africa second-half blitz sees off battling Scotland
S
outh Africa received the defence of their title off to a formidable begin on Sunday when a second-half surge allowed them to overpower a toothless Scotland 18-3 to maneuver into a powerful place within the World Cup’s’group of loss of life’.
In a tense first half, two Manie Libbok penalties had South Africa forward however a morale-boosting scrum penalty shortly earlier than halftime, slotted by Finn Russell, gave the Scots an actual raise as they headed into the altering rooms 6-3 down and nonetheless dreaming of an upset.
The Springboks, nevertheless, got here out with a brand new depth and two tries inside three minutes successfully settled the result.
A sometimes highly effective set of ball carries finally created the area for Pieter Steph du Toit to cost over after which a brilliantly disguised Libbok kick discovered Kurt-Lee Arendse inexplicably in acres of area to catch and fall over the road and the shell-shocked Scots by no means appeared in a position to mount any form of comeback.
South Africa will now be extremely fancied to progress to the quarter-finals whereas Scotland, ranked fifth on the planet, are prone to must beat world primary Ireland to keep away from a pool-stage exit.