Scotland vs South Africa LIVE rugby: Springboks begin Autumn Nations Series at Murrayfield

Jack Dempsey is relishing the “ultimate test” as Scotland bid to prove they have grown since their last meeting with world champions South Africa 14 months ago.

Gregor Townsend‘s side struggled to lay a glove on the Boks as they lost 18-3 in a World Cup pool-stage match in Marseille in September 2023.

South Africa went on to win the tournament for the second successive time, but Dempsey is excited to see how his team fare against them in Sunday’s Autumn Test at Murrayfield.

“I’m itching for it,” said the Australia-born back-rower. “It’s the ultimate test.

“They’re the back-to-back defending champions, the best in the world. And they deserve to have that crown. They’re the ultimate litmus test in terms of being a professional rugby player.

“We’re at a point now where we want to see how much we’ve grown from the World Cup, from when we played them last time. They’re the best country for eight years straight.

“We’re not under any illusion about what’s coming, but we’re glad to have them here and glad to play against the best in the world.”

Rory Darge believes Glasgow’s United Rugby Championship success last season can have a positive effect on Scotland‘s mindset as they bid to topple world champions South Africa at Murrayfield on Sunday.

The back-rower was one of several members of Gregor Townsend’s squad who played for Warriors when they pulled off their historic URC final triumph over the Bulls in Pretoria in June.

Scotland full-back Blair Kinghorn also enjoyed notable success last term as part of the Toulouse squad that won a Top 14 and Champions Cup double.

Darge believes that, in addition to having faced the Springboks at the World Cup 14 months ago, such lofty accomplishments at club level have given the Scotland players a renewed sense of confidence for facing formidable challenges like the one coming their way on Sunday.

“It is a good thing that we’ve had the experience of playing South Africa,” said the 24-year-old.

“A lot of the group have had the experience of playing them now, so I have a bit of a better idea of what’s coming.

“The other thing that helps is the sort of form that the players in this group have been in away from here. The results they’ve got and obviously the club’s successes and the form that we’ve been in with Scotland as well means that we’ll go into it with a bit of belief.

“It gives you a bit of belief that you can go out and win those big games (at club level). It’s not just Glasgow, obviously Blair coming out with experience of winning the double, and others. That definitely has an impact.”

Andre Esterhuizen is adamant there is no chance of South Africa taking their current sense of buoyancy for granted after they arrived in the UK for their three-Test Autumn Series.

The Springboks have won the last two World Cups and further underlined their credentials by winning five of their six matches against New Zealand, Australia and Argentina in this summer’s Rugby Championship.

Rassie Erasmus’ formidable side will be expected to add further victories against Scotland, England and Wales over the next three weekends.

“For rugby players, it’s one day you can be at the top of the world, the next day you can lose to anyone,” said Sharks centre Esterhuizen, speaking from the team’s Edinburgh hotel.

“So, yes, it’s good to have confidence and a bit of an aura, but also you know that any team at the top 10 could probably beat you on any given day.

“And that’s rugby. We just focus every week on being the best we can that week and obviously, strive to be better. You can’t always be at the top and think you can’t get better.”

Graham’s absence affords Duhan van der Merwe the opportunity to build a lead as the pair scrap over Scotland’s try-scoring record.

Scotland are boosted by the availability of all of their non-domestic based stars today, but are without last week’s star man: four-try Darcy Graham suffered a head injury in the win over Fiji and has been ruled out.

This is the final game of the first full weekend of Autumn Nations Series action, but the rugby is far from over, with a hectic schedule continuing throughout November. He’s everything you need to know:

Sione Tuipulotu admitted his Scotland captaincy could hardly have started in more emphatic fashion after his team raced into an early 26-0 lead on their way to a 57-17 victory over Fiji in their first autumn Test.

The Glasgow centre was appointed skipper by Gregor Townsend last month and was thrilled that his tenure began so smoothly, with four tries in the opening quarter of the match.

“We jumped out fast,” said Tuipulotu. “It went probably better than I thought it was going to go, to be honest. That first 20 minutes, I thought we were going to be in a real arm-wrestle, but the boys really fronted up.”

A very good afternoon and welcome to The Independent’s LIVE coverage of Scotland vs South Africa as this action-packed Autumn Nations Series continues. The Springboks kick off their November Tests with a trip to Murrayfield and a meeting with a Scottish side that impressed against Fiji last weekend.

Things are sure to ratchet up a notch or three with the world champions in town, though. Kick off is at 4.10pm GMT.