{"success":true,"data":{"id":"f185b13e-e290-48df-a5c3-a61bc4a37571","title":"Valiant Scotland give Springboks huge scare but fall just short in instant classic","summary":"Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent Notifications can be managed in browser preferences. Not now Yes please US Edition Change Support Now × \"Clear search box\") Custom Search Sort by Relevance Date NewsNews World CupWorld Cup SportsSports CultureCulture LifestyleLifestyle MoneyMon...","content":"## Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent\n\nNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.\n\nNot now Yes please\n\nUS Edition Change\n\nSupport Now\n\n[×](javascript:void(0) \"Clear search box\")\n\nCustom Search\n\nSort by\n\nRelevance\n\nDate\n\n*   News[News](https://www.independent.co.uk/us)\n\n*   World Cup[World Cup](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup)\n\n*   Sports[Sports](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport)\n\n*   Culture[Culture](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment)\n\n*   Lifestyle[Lifestyle](https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style)\n\n*   Money[Money](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/money)\n\n*   Travel[Travel](https://www.independent.co.uk/us/travel)\n\n*   Premium[Premium](https://www.independent.co.uk/independentpremium)\n\nMore\n\nMore\n\n### Thank you for registering\n\nPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in Please refresh your browser to be logged in\n\n# Valiant Scotland give Springboks huge scare but fall just short in instant classic\n\n## **South Africa 42-28 Scotland:**Gregor Townsend’s side pushed the double reigning world champions all the way but were unable to make history in Pretoria\n\n[Anthony Brown](https://www.independent.co.uk/author/anthony-brown)Saturday 11 July 2026 20:08 BST\n\n*   Copy link  \n*   Bookmark  \n*   [Comments](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/south-africa-scotland-springboks-result-b3013223.html#comments-area)Go to comments  \n\n## Bookmark popover\n\nRemoved from bookmarks\n\nClose popover\n\nopen image in gallery\n\nScotland fell agonisingly short against South Africa(Getty)\n\n### Your support helps us to tell the story\n\nFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.\n\nAt such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.\n\nThe Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.\n\n**Your support makes all the difference.**\n\n[Scotland](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/scotland-rugby)produced another big performance against top-tier opposition but their wait for a first-ever win in [South Africa](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/south-africa-rugby)continues [after they went down 42-28](https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/south-africa-scotland-live-score-result-springboks-nations-championship-b3010444.html \"South Africa v Scotland LIVE: Springboks edge past valiant Scots to win thrilling Nations Championship clash\") to the double reigning world champions in a thrilling Nations Championship showdown in Pretoria.\n\nHaving seen off England, France and Argentina in impressive fashion already this year, [Gregor Townsend](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/gregor-townsend)’s resurgent side made the [Springboks](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/springboks) fight to the end for their victory.\n\nAfter roaring back from 14-0 down to level things up at half-time, the Scots were ultimately left to rue their inability to score while Ben-Jason Dixon was in the sin-bin early in the second half.\n\nThe Boks looked to have broken the visitors’ resolve when they ran in three tries in the space of 10 minutes either side of the hour mark.\n\nBut Scotland hit back again through [Josh Bayliss](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/josh-bayliss) and [Ben White](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/ben-white) to close to within a converted try of their hosts, who eventually made sure of a hard-fought victory with a late breakaway try from Jesse Kriel.\n\nUndo\n\nUndo\n\n[](https://promopage.net/bbd95519-b28b-45c8-ae05-92fc5b5bbaf2)[Rub This 1 Mineral on Your Feet To Help Reduce Swelling Morning Vitality | [Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=eslmedia-theindependent&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=alternating-thumbnails-stream-1x4:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails%20II:)[Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=eslmedia-theindependent&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=alternating-thumbnails-stream-1x4:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails%20II:)](https://promopage.net/bbd95519-b28b-45c8-ae05-92fc5b5bbaf2 \"Rub This 1 Mineral on Your Feet To Help Reduce Swelling\")\n\nUndo\n\n[](https://auxx-lift.com/products/auxx-lift)[Garage owners rush to motorized storage lift [See how]Auxx-Lift | [Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=eslmedia-theindependent&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=alternating-thumbnails-stream-1x4:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails%20II:)[Sponsored](https://popup.taboola.com/en/?template=colorbox&utm_source=eslmedia-theindependent&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=alternating-thumbnails-stream-1x4:Mid%20Article%20Thumbnails%20II:)](https://auxx-lift.com/products/auxx-lift \"Garage owners rush to motorized storage lift [See how]\")\n\nUndo\n\nAfter an encouraging opening 10 minutes for the visitors, they were bludgeoned by two quickfire Springboks tries at the end of the first quarter.\n\nThe Springboks surged into an early lead, starting with Embrose Papier’s try(Getty)\n\nThe first was all about individual brilliance as scrum-half Embrose Papier sniped from the corner of a ruck and produced magnificent speed and footwork to outfox the Scottish defence and dart over the line in the 17th minute.\n\nScotland had no time to rediscover their poise as they were undone by a sensational team try by the Boks, finished from close range by Evan Roos, after Cobus Weise had acrobatically plucked [Finn Russell](https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/finn-russell)’s kick-off from the sky and embarked on a brilliant carry.\n\nScotland looked in danger of going under, but they summoned a brilliant response in the second quarter.\n\nScotland dug deep to hit back, as Matt Fagerson scored one of their tries(Getty)\n\nMatt Fagerson got them back in the game with a pick-and-go try in the 34th minute, and after a swashbuckling spell of play, some brilliant work by Russell and Sione Tuipulotu set Kyle Rowe through a gap in the last action of the half, with Russell converting both.\n\nHaving failed to score a try in their previous two matches against South Africa, the Scots now had two in quick succession as a remarkable first half ended all square.\n\nTownsend’s men continued in the ascendancy early in the second half and South Africa were reduced to 14 men within two minutes of the restart when replacement Dixon was sin-binned for catching Scott Cummings in the face with his head in a ruck.\n\nJesse Kriel eventually sealed victory(Getty)\n\nBut the springboks were relieved to emerge triumphant(Getty)\n\nScotland looked set to go ahead moments later but Ewan Ashman was held up on the line. Following a bunker review, Dixon’s yellow card was not upgraded and the scores remained level when he returned to the fray.\n\nSouth Africa took full advantage of their reprieve as Elrigh Louw, Damian Willemse and Zach Porthen all crossed the whitewash as the Scots lost their hold on proceedings.","source_name":"The Independent","source_url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/south-africa-scotland-springboks-result-b3013223.html","url":"https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/south-africa-scotland-springboks-result-b3013223.html","author":"Anthony Brown","author_name":"Anthony Brown","published_at":"2026-07-11T19:08:32.000Z","publication_date":"2026-07-11T19:08:32.000Z","image_url":"https://static.independent.co.uk/2026/07/11/20/2285660067..","category":"world","topic":"world","tags":[],"political_bias":null,"bias_score":null,"confidence_score":null,"credibility_score":null,"factual_quality":null,"reading_time":5,"word_count":895,"view_count":0,"breaking":false,"breaking_news":false,"ai_analysis":null,"fact_check_status":"unverified","archive_status":"hot"}}