South Africa may be below strength for their meeting with Scotland in Port Elizabeth on Saturday, having had to release their European-based players back to their clubs as the Test falls outside the official international window, but Vern Cotter, the Scotland head coach, appreciates his first month in charge will end with his side’s most taxing fixture.
Scotland have won their three matches on tour so far, each game growing in difficulty. A comfortable win against the United States in Houston was followed by late winning scores against Canada and Argentina, a recovery after their Six Nations campaign ended with a 51-3 defeat by Wales in Cardiff.
“I’ve been pleased with the initiative that’s developing within the team,” said Cotter, who took charge this month after finishing his contract with Clermont Auvergne. “We’re starting to get good variety in our game and now it’s a matter of seeing if we can do it against very good opposition. South Africa will be a benchmark for us and if we can impose ourselves on them and make accurate choices in the way we play, it will be a step in the right direction.”
Cotter has made four changes from the side that recovered in Córdoba last week after trailing 19-10 during the second-half. Henry Pyrgos replaces Grayson Hart at scrum-half, Tim Swinson returns to the second row, Chris Fusaro takes over from Blair Cowan on the open side and the 20-year-old Glasgow No8, Adam Ashe, who joined the squad last week from New Zealand where he was in a scholarship programme having played at every age-grade level for Scotland, wins hisfirst cap.
“All the reports about him from New Zealand have been very positive and Adam is a very talented young player,” said Cotter. “He has looked sharp in training and, as a specialist No8, this is a prime opportunity for him. The players know we have to find a few more levels after Argentina, but to win there was a significant achievement.”
The South Africa head coach, Heyneke Meyer, described last week’s one-point victory over Wales in Nelspruit as their best during his two years in charge, not because of the performance – they trailed 17-0 at one point and were 30-17 down with eight minutes to go – but for the way they fought back to win.
Scotland have a better record over the Springboks than Wales – five victories over the years, all at home, compared with one – and the decision of clubs in France and England to recall their players has deprived Meyer of some of his most influential players, including Morne Steyn, Francois Louw and Bryan Habana. There are five uncapped players in South Africa’s match-day squad, although the only starter is the fly-half Hendre Pollard, who eight days ago was playing against England in the Junior World Championship final.
“Having to make so many changes is not ideal but it is the first time we have organised a fourth Test in June,” said Meyer. “We have done so to replicate what will happen in next year’s World Cup and it was the reason I picked a bigger squad than usual. I am really excited about this team and some of the young players will get the opportunity to show what they can do.”
The South Africa captain, Victor Matfield, said he expected an improvement in the performance against Wales despite the six changes to the starting lineup. Only New Zealand have beaten the Springboks since October 2012 and they won 28-0 in Murrayfield last November.
“All the players have been in the system for the last four weeks and a number now have the chance to show what they are made of,” said Matfield. “The young players have a real enthusiasm, even if you have to calm then down at times. We know that Scotland will play with a lot of heart and they always make the breakdown difficult. It is our last game before the Rugby Championship and we know we need to fire.”
Meanwhile, the Brumbies head coach, Laurie Fisher, is set to fill the same position at Gloucester at the end of the Super 15 campaign. Fisher, who has experience of European rugby having been in charge of the forwards at Munster, has a year left on his contract in Canberra. He said that he was not in a position to confirm or deny that he would be moving to Kingsholm, saying only that nothing had been signed.
