Libbok calls the tune as Scotland are left standing

By NICK POWELL

South Africa …. 18pts

Tries: Du Toit 47, Arendse 51

Conversions: De Klerk 52

Penalties: Libbok 13, 25

Scotland …………. 3pts

Penalties: Russell 40+2

A TWO-TRY salvo early in the second half was enough to give reigning champions South Africa victory in the opening game of their World Cup defence against Scotland.

South Africa had a half-time lead thanks to two Manie Libbok penalties to one from Scotland's Finn Russell, and the Boks quintupled their three-point advantage in the space of five second half minutes with tries from Pieter-Steph du Toit and Kurt-Lee Arendse, the second superbly assisted by Libbok.

Springboks head coach Jacques Nienaber said: “I think it could have been a slippery one. Scotland are a good side – they are not number five in the world for nothing.

“They pushed things a long way in the game, I thought we had a little bit of dominance in the first half but we had to grind the win out.”

Libbok took the second of two chances off the tee to draw first blood for South Africa, as Finn Russell was harshly penalised for what was deemed a deliberate knock-on, before the Springbok flyhalf doubled his side's advantage following an impressive Jasper Wiese turnover.

After Russell fed Darcy Graham with a beautifully timed pass following a wrap around in midfield, the diminutive winger burst up to within ten metres.

But Graham failed to release Duhan van der Merwe with a timely pass and the chance broke down.

Scotland were able to halve the deficit at the break as Russell knocked over a penalty in first-half overtime following a huge shove from props Pierre Schoeman and Zander Fagerson at a scrum on halfway.

South Africa started the second stanza better and Du Toit crashed over for the game's first try.

Libbok missed a shot at goal but redeemed himself in stunning fashion just moments later as his delicious no-look crossfield kick landed in the grateful hands of Arendse, who burst over from 35 yards.

Cheslin Kolbe was first hauled down by a brilliant Russell tackle after a break from halfway, and then Grant Williams was denied one of the great World Cup tries as he broke from ten metres from his own line to Scotland's half, beating five defenders before eventually being clipped by Huw Jones.

It was the last big opportunity of the contest, and though South Africa may have left the field disappointed not to get a four-try bonus point and Scotland a losing one, the former will be happy to have avoided a potential banana skin.