Townsend urges Scotland players to relish facing Springboks

That is the view of head coach Gregor Townsend, who urged his side to embrace the challenge of facing the World Cup winners after Scotland kicked off their autumn with a 57-17 win over Fiji.  

While Scotland ran in eight tries, they were facing a Fijian side missing their European-based players and Townsend admitted to frustration at elements of his team’s performance.  

Asked where his side will need to improve, Townsend replied: “Every area, for sure.” 

Read more:

• Five things we learned as Darcy Graham guides Scotland to Fiji win
• Scotland player ratings vs Fiji as dazzling Darcy Graham returns
• Townsend praises Darcy Graham but admits areas Scotland can improve      

• Sione Tuipulotu reveals Darcy Graham 'Murrayfield is your playground' pep talk

• Tom Jordan reflects on 'unreal' debut after falling in love with Scotland

He added: “There will be a focus on what we need to get right next week because of the opposition as well." 

The Scotland coach said his side will need to be “on it” for the whole 80 minutes against Rassie Erasmus’ side, who have spent the past week preparing to face Townsend’s team with a training camp in Jersey. 

Townsend congratulates Duhan van der Merwe, whose late try saw him regain the try-scoring record after Darcy Graham's four-try haul had tied the pair level (Image: SNS) Townsend said: “I think we’ll have to be on it every action, every minute against South Africa because they're the best team in the world, world champions, however we want to describe them.  

“We obviously have other players coming back into our squad that through their experience and their ability will raise our levels again. 

“Having played together, we’ll definitely improve on the back of that, just that understanding. We were really pleased how quickly the players got back together" 

Townsend will also have the experience of Finn Russell and Blair Kinghorn, among other exiles who had to sit out the Fiji win, for the visit of the Springboks, who last tasted defeat at Murrayfield back in 2010.  

"Now we have to just adjust with the likes of Blair and Finn coming back into the selection mix.  

Finn Russell sat out the win over Fiji but is almost certain to return against the Springboks (Image: Arnold Clark) “But these guys have been in our squad for a while now, so it should be smooth for them too." 

Scotland have a painful recent memory of facing the ‘Boks - an 18-3 defeat in the World Cup opener in Marseille last September – a match that got away from Townsend’s team in the second half.  

Townsend said that would likely form part of the discussion ahead of Sunday’s game, but admitted the world champions have developed their game in the 14 months since the teams’ last meeting.  

“We've obviously used that in some of our meetings already - things that worked and didn't work against them, but they might have played about 15 games since then. 

Siya Kolisi lifts the Rugby World Cup (Image: PA) “So, the series against Ireland and The Rugby Championship, those are all relevant games for us. 

“They have changed their defensive coach since then, so there's little changes in their game.  

“They've now changed their attacking coach since then as well. They're definitely playing a different style of rugby. They're moving the ball wide, they've got multiple threats throughout the team. 

“It'll be an open game, we believe. Our defence will have to be really on point, not just for their physicality that's coming, but also their threats when they move the ball wide.” 

And in the immediate aftermath of the Fiji win, Townsend revealed his players’ focus had already switched to facing the Springboks.  

“Sione [Tuipulotu] talked about that in the changing room there. We knew today was an opportunity, the first game of the season. It was incredible that it was a sellout for a Fiji game. 

“Next week's a big opportunity too. It doesn't come around very often playing the world champions here at Murrayfield, so we'll give it everything in our training week and give it everything in the game."