What did this inform us about Scotland? It screamed that, bodily, they are often ferocious. Not within the scrum and definitely not when the bench must be known as upon, however across the discipline. Scotland have main issues in front-row back-up, however that’s hardly information.
The sport confirmed the superb Tom Jordan is an enormous addition to the combination in any variety of positions and that Max Williamson is made for Check rugby.
Williamson is the hulking lock that Scotland want. He can hit and play. He turned over Siya Kolisi at one level. He drove into the center of the Boks various instances. He has energy and youth. At 22, he is pleasure on legs.
He was injured for this one, however Gregor Brown is one other of Scotland’s coming drive. By the tip of the autumn, head coach Gregor Townsend goes to have extra dwell contenders for a Six Nations 23 than he had going into the autumn.
Jamie Dobie is one other. Kyle Steyn, Kyle Rowe and Darcy Graham can be again. Euan Ferrie is one to look at. There are positives in a number of locations. The autumn can be successful if they will go experimental in a victory over Portugal subsequent weekend after which see off an apparently resurgent Australia the week after.
The issue right here was one in all execution. The Boks have been ruthless and Scotland weren’t. Strip away every thing else and that was it in a nutshell.
There is a wider theme across the Scottish assault. Consider the type of tries they have an inclination to attain. Within the first match of the Six Nations, Pierre Schoeman blasted over for the opening attempt after Scotland careworn the Welsh defence for 13 phases. That kind of attempt will not be all that frequent for Townsend’s group.
Normally, it is a one or two-phase surprise rating, like Duhan van der Merwe’s second in Cardiff, like Ben White’s attempt towards France and like Van der Merwe’s hat-trick towards England. After they come off, impressed by the excellence of Finn Russell or Huw Jones, they’re gorgeous. Towards one of the best defences on the earth, these unimaginable scores are more durable to return by. You want extra weapons.
Townsend and his coaches must have a severe have a look at the best way they play within the opposition pink zone towards the elite. Sensational work placing them in place, however why did so many excellent alternatives go begging towards the Boks?
Nice defence, certain. Cynical defence, very probably. However what else? What can they find out about the best way they assault once they have an opponent in bother near their very own line? How do they flip the screw by dynamic section play moderately than banking on particular person moments of brilliance? Nearly as good as a lot of Sunday was, their incapability to transform was painful.
That is no tries in two Exams towards the Boks. Within the Six Nations they bought one towards France and one towards Eire and failed to attain a degree towards Eire in Paris within the World Cup till the sport was lengthy accomplished at 36-0.
Scotland play a model of attacking rugby that may heat the guts, however cold-bloodedness is required, too. They’re the nice entertainers once they actually must be the nice executioners.