South Africa scored six tries and held their nerve against a Scottish onslaught to claim a 42-28 victory in their Nations Championship clash in Pretoria on Saturday, with the visitors left to rue several missed opportunities.
The Springboks made 10 changes to the team that had defeated England the week before and, with a relatively inexperienced side, were there for the taking.
But a wasteful Scotland could not capitalise and remain winless in South Africa after eight attempts.
With the score level at 14-14 at halftime, South Africa lost replacement lock Ben-Jason Dixon to a yellow card for head contact at the ruck early in the second half, but Scotland didn’t manage a point while a man up.
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It took the Springboks almost 20 minutes to get into the visitors’ 22 after the break, but when they did, replacement loose forward Elrigh Louw crossed to score.
In Brisbane, winger Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang scored a brace on his Test debut as France came from behind to crush Australia 42-26.
Among eight changes to France’s starting 15, Olympic sevens gold medallist Grandidier-Nkanang touched down in both halves to help Les Bleus rebound from their opening loss to New Zealand last week.
France trailed 21-12 at half-time after two early tries from Wallabies flanker Fraser McReight, but they rallied superbly, scoring 30 unanswered points in a four-try burst to dismantle the hosts.
Meanwhile, in Wellington, Will Jordan scored a record 50th try for New Zealand in a hat-rick as the All Blacks thrashed Italy 47-17.
Jordan touched down once in the first half and twice in three minutes after half-time at to eclipse Doug Howlett’s record against an outclassed Italian side.
Later in the day, second-half substitute Henry Pollock scored a hat-trick as England ran in 11 tries in a 73-8 thrashing of Fiji.
England lead 35-3 at half-time, with tries from Marcus Smith, captain Jamie George, Guy Pepper, Benhard Janse van Rensburg and Seb Atkinson, but had the game swing in further in their favour when Fiji were reduced to 14 men for the second half after scrumhalf Simione Kuruvoli was sent off for kicking out at Ellis Genge, striking him in the chest.
Marcus Smith’s opening try had an element of good fortune as Fin Smith’s kick out wide to Tommy Freeman flew over the winger’s head but hit the corner flag, bouncing back into play. The fullback’s quick thinking saw him dot down to give England a sixth-minute lead.
From there, they never looked back, with debutant Janse van Rensburg scoring in his first touch after briefly coming on as an replacement for Henry Slade. After the break, Noah Caluori marked his Test debut with a flying dive for a try, while Pollock’s turn of pace saw him steal the show with an impressive hat-trick.
In the last fixture of the day, Wales failed to build on a strong start as Argentina ran out comfortable winners in San Juan.
An early try from Dewi Lake gave Steve Tandy’s side an early lead but the Pumas quickly responded with the first two of their five tries.
Rhys Carre pulled Wales back level, but three more tries in a 13-minute spell either side of half-time gave the hosts a commanding lead before Ben Warren’s consolation.
Weekend results
New Zealand 47 Italy 17
Australia 26 France 42
Japan 20 Ireland 36
Fiji 8 England 73
South Africa 42 Scotland 28
Argentina 35 Wales 21
