Scotland vs South Africa Rugby Union Head-to-Head & Stats

Simon Lewis

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Last updated: 10 Nov 2024

Simon Lewis 10 Nov 2024

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First match played in 1906 at Hampden Park in Glasgow; South Africa dominates the head-to-head statistics.
Scotland won three of the first eight Tests between the two nations up until 1969. The two nations didn’t play one another again until 1994, and South Africa have since won 20 of those 22 Tests.
South Africa are enjoying a great winning streak, having won their last eight Tests against Scotland.

Cheslin Kolbe on the break against Scotland

Cheslin Kolbe breaks against Scotland. (credit: CHRISTOPHE SIMON / Getty Images)

This rugby union fixture dates back to the first match played between the two in 1906, at Scotland’s football stadium, Hampden Park, in Glasgow, with the home side running out 6-0 winners. Since then, the two nations have locked horns 29 times, with South Africa ruling the roost by claiming 24 wins to Scotland’s five.

The two nations have typically just played single Tests against one another, their only two Test series coming in 2003 and 2006, with both being played in South Africa. The home side won both series 2-0.

Scotland were fairly competitive through their first 13 Tests against South Africa, winning four of them, but South Africa have won 15 of the last 16 Tests against Scotland.

South Africa have never lost at home to Scotland, and only one of their four defeats was by more than six points: that was in 2002 when Scotland won 21-6 at Murrayfield. South Africa’s biggest win came in 1997, when the Springboks beat Scotland 68-10 at Murrayfield.

Table of contents
Scotland vs South Africa Head-to-Head Record
Rugby World Cup Record

Scotland vs South Africa Head-to-Head Record

Typically a bruising affair between two packs blessed with giant forwards, there has traditionally also been a lot of kicking in their Tests, with both nations blessed with good kickers. Recent years have provided a lot more exciting running rugby, with both sides wonderfully balanced between powerful packs and attacking backs.

Scotland have almost never been a walkover for the Springboks, and are usually highly competitive, although they have always struggled to take things over the line.

Scotland’s five wins have been sprinkled among a host of Springbok victories, with the Scottish only once claiming back-to-back wins, while the Springboks have had five-plus winning streaks on three occasions.

Info	Played	Won by Scotland	Won by South Africa
In Scotland	21	5	16
In South Africa	7	0	7
Neutral Venue	2	0	2
Overall	30	5	25

Latest Results

Date	Result	Score	Stadium	Country
17 June 2006	South Africa Won	29–15	EPRU Stadium	South Africa
25 August 2007	South Africa Won	3–27	Murrayfield	Scotland
15 November 2008	South Africa Won	10–14	Murrayfield	Scotland
20 November 2010	Scotland Won	21–17	Murrayfield	Scotland
17 November 2012	South Africa Won	10–21	Murrayfield	Scotland
15 June 2013	South Africa Won	30–17	Mbombela Stadium	South Africa
17 November 2013	South Africa Won	0–28	Murrayfield	Scotland
28 June 2014	South Africa Won	55–6	Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium	South Africa
3 October 2015	South Africa Won	34–16	St James' Park	England
17 November 2018	South Africa Won	20–26	Murrayfield	Scotland
13 November 2021	South Africa Won	15–30	Murrayfield	Scotland
10 September 2023	South Africa Won	18–3	Stade Vélodrome	Paris
11 November 2024	South Africa Won	15-32	Murrayfield	Scotland

Rugby World Cup Record

South Africa and Scotland have met on three occasions at the Rugby World Cup. The first meeting at the World Cup took place in 1999 at Murrayfield in Scotland, with the Springboks running out 46-29 winners.

At the 2015 Rugby World Cup played in England, South Africa saw Scotland off with a comfortable 34-16 win.

In the recent 2023 Rugby World Cup, Scotland looked a big threat, but a superbly managed Springbok side ran out 18-3 winners on their way to their fourth World Cup title.