Key events
“Hi Dan.”
Hey Simon McMahon. With that surname I can guess which team you’ll be cheering for today..
“I’m pretty excited for this one. This is the most exciting Scotland side I can remember, and they are more than capable of springing a surprise against the reigning champions today. If they can put 80 minutes together. If not, we’ll lose. But we won’t go down without a fight, though not literally of course (I hope). Even if it doesn’t go our way today, we have Ireland to look forward to, and we owe them one. COME ON SCOTLAND!!!”
Too right. Scotland will fully back themselves to do something special today. And without the burden of expectation they can go out there and let rip. Remember Russell’s contribution when he joined the British & Irish Lions in 2021? All of a sudden a stodgy looking group in red were painting the prettiest pictures. He’s that sort of player. If he cooks today the Boks will know all about it.
“Dan, Just boarded a plane to the US for work. Am gutted I will not be able to watch the game… maybe we could have a slight delay… because I think the first 10min are all important. C’mon SCOTLAND!!!”
That’s from Fraser Donaldson. Besides hoping his plane gets severely delayed so he can watch the whole game, he makes a great point.
I think that’s Scotland’s best chance of winning this. They need an early lead. If the Boks get on top I can’t see them letting up.
It’s cooking in Marseille. Around 30C and it feels a little like Cape Town on a scorching mid-summer’s day.
But Teamy from Lisbon is choosing to focus their attention elsehwere:
“Just landed in Lisbon and the weather in decidedly Scottish. I’m taking this as a good omen, regardless of what it’s like in Marseille. Actually quite glad as I was planning to watch in one of the Praças with friends but now no-one needs to see me in a state of high anxiety for 80 mins”
Scotland haven’t beaten South Africa since 2010. But that didn’t deter Jamie Ritchie who not only said his team will play “the fastest rugby in the world” but also that his charges can “beat anyone in the group”.
Talk about fighting talk. They’re confident. And why not? They’re ranked fifth in the world for a reason.
Just to get you in the mood, here’s my preview of the match:
Boks looking to combine power with grace
It’s a pack that could shift Mount Puget if it wanted to. But that’s not the only weapon the defending champions have right now. They have a backline that can also sparkle and though their midfield is defensive their outside backs and fly-half are players who will look to attack every time they get their hands on the ball.
South Africa: Willemse; Arendse, Kriel, De Allende, Kolbe; Libbok, De Klerk; Kitshoff, Marx, Malherbe, Etzebeth, Mostert, Kolisi (c), Du Toit, Wiese.
Replacements: Mbonambi, Nche, Nyakane, Snyman, Van Staden, Vermeulen, Williams, Le Roux.
Scotland looking to run Boks ragged
They won’t die wondering, that’s for sure. It’s a backline that can tear any team apart with a “magician”, as Damian Willemse called him, wearing 10 on his back. But can they get enough ball to conjure their spells?
Scotland: Kinghorn; Graham, Jones, Tuipulotu, Van der Merwe; Russell, White; Schoeman, Turner, Z Fagerson, Gray, Gilchrist, Ritchie (c), Darge, Dempsey.
Replacements: Cherry, Bhatti, Nel, Cummings, M Fagerson, Price, Redpath, Smith.
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
Which is your favourite talking point? The clash of styles as the Springboks’ heavies meet the dash and daring of the Scottish backs? How about two maverick 10s pulling the strings? Or the clutch of South African-born players in the Scottish side who’d love to upset the odds? One of them is Duhan van der Merwe. How’s he going to get on against Cheslin Kolbe today?
We journalists and fans can turn any old match into a piece of theatre but no hyperbole is needed for this one. It’s arguably the best ever Scottish side – certainly in my lifetime – up against the defending champions.
Jamie Ritchie promised to play the “fastest rugby in the world” against the Boks and South Africa will want to underline the status as world champions with an emphatic and statement-making victory.
I’m buzzing for this. The atmosphere around Marseille has been frothing all weekend and this feels like the grand crescendo to cap it all off.
My name is Dan. Do drop me a line on twitter or email and if you fancy, send some pics of your and your mates wherever you’re watching this around the world.
I’ve got a feeling that this could be an all-timer.
