Scotland v South Africa:SOUTH AFRICA hope a turbulent week, which began with two players sent home for failing drugs tests, will end with their Grand Slam mission three-quarters complete at Murrayfield today.
The 2007 world champions meet Scotland in the second Autumn Test seeking a third victory on tour, following narrow successes over Ireland and Wales and ahead of next weekend’s clash with England at Twickenham.
Wing Bjorn Basson and hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle reported positive tests for a banned stimulant following the Ireland game, with the results announced on Monday.
The duo were suspended and sent home, leaving the tour under a cloud with the Springboks scaling back their use of nutritional supplements.
Basson, who started in the win over Wales, was due to head home anyway with an ankle injury, and he was joined by Bryan Habana, who suffered a broken hand in training in Edinburgh on Tuesday.
Springboks captain Victor Matfield does not believe the last seven days have been too difficult for his side to handle.
“When you play for the Springboks, every week is a big week, there is always a big challenge that you face. So no, I don’t think that this week has been different or bigger than any other weeks.
“We are not allowing anything to deflect our focus, we are focusing only on beating Scotland on Saturday.
“We won our previous games but in neither of them was our accuracy where we would like it to be.”
Matfield is looking for an improved display at Murrayfield. “We started slowly last week but we started quickly the week before and allowed Ireland to come back at us,” added the captain.
“To me it is all a question of accuracy. If you are not accurate, particularly in your kicking game, then you struggle during those stages of the game that this is the case.”
The Springboks are wary of a response from Scotland following their 49-3 loss to New Zealand last weekend in their first Test for five months. “We mustn’t give them easy ball, mustn’t give them space or momentum – then we’ll definitely be in the game for a full 80 minutes.”
Joe Ansbro is focused on delivering a performance as he prepares to make history as the first black rugby player to represent Scotland. Northampton back Ansbro replaces the injured Max Evans in a starting XV showing five changes from last weekend.
Ansbro places no particular emphasis on the landmark and is merely relishing tackling the world champion Springboks.
The 25-year-old Glasgow-born back said: “It’s never defined me. The way I’ve been brought up, throughout my entire life, it’s never been an issue. For me this is just all about playing for Scotland and putting in a good performance.
Scotland v South Africa: Venue: Murrayfield Kick-off: 2.30pm On TV: BBC 1
SCOTLAND: H Southwell; N Walker, M Evans, G Morrison, S Lamont; D Parks, R Lawson (Gloucester, capt); A Jacobsen, R Ford, E Murray, S MacLeod, R Gray, N Hines, J Barclay, K Brown. Replacements: D Hall, M Low, R Vernon, R Rennie, G Laidlaw, R Jackson, C Paterson.
SOUTH AFRICA: Z Kirchner; G Aplon, F Steyn, J de Villiers, L Mvovo; M Steyn, F Hougaard; T Mtawarira, B du Plessis, J du Plessis, B Botha, V Matfield (capt), D Stegmann, J Smith, R Kankowski. Replacements: A Strauss, CJ van der Linde, F van der Merwe, W Alberts, R Pienaar, A Jacobs, P Lambie.
Referee: Stuart Dickinson(Australia).
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