Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard looks to have found his better half in Embrose Papier as the Boks beat Scotland 26-20 at Murrayfield on Saturday.
The Bok pivot shone in the outing to win the Man of the Match award.
But it was Papier, who played in his first run-on Test in the Green and Gold, that impressed and allowed Pollard to dictate matters from the flyhalf channel.
Regular scrumhalf Faf de Klerk was unavailable for the match, but without him, the Bok halfbacks seemed to work better together.
In De Klerk, the Boks have a playmaker who takes a lot on himself in terms of creating the magic.
Papier came in against Scotland and allowed Pollard to be the creative mastermind and it worked a treat – as was evident in the first try of the match.
IMPRESSIVE START: Springbok scrumhalf Embrose Papier. Photo: CRAIG BROUGH/REUTERS
That five-pointer came in the sixth minute when Pollard beat the rush defence of Scotland in his own half to sprint free for 10m before offloading to Papier on his inside.
The young scrumhalf then showed good composure by pulling in two defenders before putting RG Snyman into the gap.
Tackled from behind, the big lock proved that he too has good skills by offloading to prop Steven Kitshoff on his outside.
Kitshoff wasn’t going to be outdone and with two defenders bringing him down, then popped the ball to wing Sbu Nkosi, who was then tackled just short of the line.
Jesse Kriel then finished off the move after getting a pass from Papier to finish a thrilling five-pointer for the Boks.
Two minutes later and it was Scotland’s chance to show what they can do with the ball in hand.
When Nkosi shot up on Huw Jones, the ex-WP centre gave a brilliant pass behind his back to wing Sean Maitland who sprinted down the touchline, before finding Jones on his inside.
Jones then gave another backhanded pass to Pete Horne who made it 7-7.
Then in the 20th minute, Pollard got on the scoresheet himself.
After Damian de Allende and captain Siya Kolisi combined again to force a turnover in the Scots’ 22, the Boks took the ball wide for Pollard to sprint over after Maitland slipped in his tackle attempt (14-7).
LEKKER, BOYS: The Boks celebrate their win at Murrayfield. Photo: CRAIG BROUGH/REUTERS
A penalty apiece made it 17-10 before a billiant lineout move by Scotland saw Hamish Watson crash over to level the score.
A second-half penalty by Pollard gave SA the lead again before fullback Willie le Roux was harshly yellow carded for a failed interception.
That penalty made it 20-all with everything to play for in the last 35 minutes.
Pollard added another penalty, with replacement Elton Jantjies also kicking three points as the Boks held on for a 26-20 win.
Scotland – Tries:
Pete Horne and Hamish Watson; Conversions:
Greig Laidlaw (2); Penalties:
Laidlaw (2).
South Africa – Tries:
Handre Pollard and Jesse Kriel;Conversions:
Pollard (2); Penalties:
Pollard (3) and Elton Jantjies.