Makazole Mapimpi’s double helped South Africa outmuscle Scotland 30-15 at BT Murrayfield.
The world champions added Scotland to their list of beaten opponents a week after edging Wales in the Autumn Nations Series.
Mapimpi scored a try either side of half-time as the Springboks edged Scotland despite Stuart Hogg doing the same with his two scores taking his international tally to 24, making him Scotland’s joint all-time record try scorer.
Elton Jantjies added 11 points with his boot while further penalties from substitutes Handré Pollard and Frans Steyn put South Africa out of reach against a Scotland side that had beaten Australia at the same venue six days previously.
A week on from dominating the Welsh scrum in Cardiff, South Africa won a penalty at the same set piece within two minutes to set the tone.
The Springboks enjoyed similar success at the first few lineouts as they dominated the early exchanges, battering against a resolute Scottish defence.
For all South Africa’s dominance of possession and territory, Scotland were coming up with timely interventions, turning the ball over and preventing the visitors from adding points to their pressure.
Duhan van der Merwe made an electric break from well inside his own 22 up to halfway where he was brought down by Jesse Kriel on his 50th cap, relieving the pressure on Scotland and bringing the home crowd to life.
South Africa were penalised at the resulting breakdown and after 15 minutes of virtually solid defence, Finn Russell kicked Gregor Townsend’s side in front.
Vice captain Jamie Ritchie’s jackalling gave fly-half Russell the chance to stretch the lead but his penalty effort slipped just wide in the 20th minute.
The Springboks had more joy at scrum time, enabling them to march Scotland down field and when Ritchie was penalised for going off his feet at the ruck, Jantjies levelled the scores.
After a scrappy period of play, South Africa finally cut loose with an overlap on the short side as captain Siya Kolisi fed Mapimpi who escaped the clutches of Rufus McLean to dance down the touchline and dot down for the first try of the afternoon.
Jantjies missed the conversion but South Africa went ahead for the first time, 30 minutes into the game.
Scotland showed some real ambition in attack, Russell spraying kick-passes from side to side.
One found Van der Merwe on the left wing and his phenomenal offload kept the ball alive before slick hands from Sam Skinner found Chris Harris, who hurled the ball in from the touchline and when Herschel Jantjies could not collect it cleanly it allowed skipper Hogg to run in for his 23rd try for Scotland.
Russell’s conversion made it 10-8 five minutes before half-time but things could have been even better at the break for the Scots, who had only 40 per cent of possession in the opening 40 minutes.
South Africa moved early, bringing all three off the bench with the clock in the red, but Vincent Koch was pinged by Angus Gardner for not rolling away but Russell could not make the Springboks pay, pushing his penalty wide.
The Springboks made a lightning fast start to the second half when Damian De Allende’s superb speed allowed him to get on the outside of Matt Scott, playing his first game for Scotland in four years, and slip the ball to Mapimpi for his second score on the left wing.
Jantjies converted to give South Africa a five-point lead within four minutes of the restart before the fly-half took full advantage of Ritchie’s seatbelt tackle, his penalty putting the Springboks more than a converted score in front.
Jantjies along with his new half-back partner Cobus Reinach, a half-time replacement, began to control affairs and dictate the pace of the game as Scotland were once again deprived of possession and territory.
Frustration seemed to be getting the better of the hosts as more ill-discipline from Ritchie afforded Jantjies an easy penalty to put them 11 points down with 25 minutes to play.
Lukhanyo Am’s high tackle gave Scotland the platform at the lineout and the backs sent the ball through the hands from left to right drawing in Springbok tacklers until Van der Merwe popped the ball over the top to Hogg who steamed in for his second to get his side back in the game.
Russell missed his third kick of the match but Hogg’s record-equaling try, he is now Scotland’s joint most prolific try scorer of all time, had the BT Murrayfield faithful out of their seats heading into the final quarter.
Sub Handre Pollard’s shanked penalty attempt let Scotland off the hook but he did not make the same mistake a few minutes later, Steven Kitshoff’s good work being rewarded with three points.
Kitshoff’s fellow Bomb Squad member Malcolm Marx followed suit, winning another penalty and Frans Steyn, fresh from becoming South Africa’s longest-serving player, used his monster boot to send one over from 48 metres as the Springboks opened up a 12-point cushion inside the last ten.
Pollard nudged another penalty to put the result beyond doubt before fittingly Player of the Match Eben Etzebeth booted the ball out as South Africa came from behind at half-time to win for the fifth time in 2021.
