- Fifth Greenland hearing for anti-whaling activist Watson
- Kurdish activist fled Iran into Italy nightmare
- Airlines around Asia ground Bali flights after volcano erupts
- Curry dazzles on Thompson's return as Warriors down Mavs
- Profiles of candidates for World Rugby chairman election
- Elon Musk: rocket man takes aim at Washington
- How China's censorship machine worked to block news of deadly attack
- Toxic smog smothering India's capital smashes WHO limit
- Australian airlines cancel Bali flights after volcano erupts
- China snuffs out memorials to victims of deadly car ramming attack
- Taliban score successes with embassy closures, COP attendance
- Evacuations, call for aid as Typhoon Usagi approaches Philippines
- Blinken in Brussels as Trump win raises alarm over Ukraine
- China's Xi heads to Peru for APEC meeting shrouded in Trump fears
- Popham hopes new World Rugby chairman heralds new dawn in concussion issue
- 7-Eleven owner considers going private to avoid foreign buyout: reports
- Palau president says China flouting its ocean boundaries
- China clears memorial to victims of deadly car ramming attack
- German lithium plant hopes to turbo-charge Europe's EV makers
- Asian markets extend losses as Trump fears build
- New push for EU-South America trade deal despite French fury
- France, Italy and Portugal target Nations League quarters
- Trump presidency raises fresh conflict of interest concerns
- Somaliland votes amid Horn of Africa tensions
- Chile's 'transplant' footballers champion organ donation
- Trump names Musk to 'efficiency' post as team takes shape
- UN nuclear chief heads to Iran for crucial talks
- Indonesia go Dutch in pursuit of World Cup dreams
- Israel gets US pass on Gaza aid but agencies say it's not enough
- US airman who leaked classified documents jailed for 15 years
- UK writer Samantha Harvey wins 2024 Booker with space novel
- US bans flights to Haiti after three jetliners hit by gunfire
- Lincicome ends 20-year LPGA career at hometown event
- Canadian women's coach, two aides out after drone scandal
- Sinner turns aside Fritz to close in on ATP Finals last four
- Global stocks slip as markets take post-US election breather
- UN condemns 'acts reminiscent of the gravest international crimes' in Gaza
- US bans flights to Haiti as gang violence rages
- Aga Khan emerald fetches record $9 mn in Geneva auction
- Venezuela crackdown helped avert 'civil war': attorney general
- Trump shapes team ahead of White House return
- Climate cash should also go to nuclear, says UN atomic chief
- Free Facebook in EU with less targeted ads
- Dupont set to be fit for New Zealand despite illness
- New balls, please, plead top men's tennis players
- Ban rules Radradra out of Fiji's final November internationals
- US contractor ordered to pay $42 mn to Iraqis tortured at Abu Ghraib
- Lame-duck US climate team vows to be 'effective' at COP29
- Painter Frank Auerbach, contemporary of Freud and Bacon, dies at 93
- UN carbon market inches closer after COP29 agreement
Mapimpi at the double as South Africa again prove too strong for Scotland
Makazole Mapimpi scored two tries as world champions South Africa returned to the top of the world rankings with a 32-15 win over Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday.
The Springboks, however, had to withstand a fierce second-half onslaught from a Scotland side that lost lock Scott Cummings to a new 20-minute red card early on.
But although Scotland stayed in touch through the boot of Finn Russell, with the fly-half's fifth penalty reducing the Springboks' lead to just four points at 19-15 heading into the last quarter, they were unable to manage a try for the second straight game against South Africa.
Mapimpi struck twice in the first half as South Africa, fresh from adding this year's southern hemisphere Rugby Championship title to their back-to-back World Cup triumps, led 19-9 at the break in their November tour opener.
Scotland pressed hard before Handre Pollard scored South Africa's first points of the second period with a clutch 65th-minute penalty.
The fly-half's shot from in front of the posts seven minutes from time then left the Springboks' two scores ahead before, in the closing moments, replacement forward Jasper Wiese powered over for a try from a scrum as South Africa completed a ninth win in a row over Scotland.
Erasmus made 11 changes to the starting 15 that thrashed Argentina 48-7 in his side's Rugby Championship finale in September, with scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse the only back to keep his place -- a sign of South Africa's impressive strength in depth.
Veteran lock Eben Etzebeth captained South Africa in a Springbok record-extending 129 Tests, with regular skipper Siya Kolisi one of seven forwards on the bench.
Scotland came in to this match fresh from thrashing Fiji 57-17 at Murrayfield last weekend but having lost 18-3 to South Africa when they last played the Springboks at the 2023 World Cup in France.
It took South Africa just four minutes to open the scoring on Saturday when Pollard's superb kick-pass found the unmarked Mapimpi.
Scotland were reduced to 14 men when Cummings was sin-binned for an illegal neck roll, with the second row later permanently excluded following a video review.
But under the new 20-minute red card trial, Scotland were back to full-strength 20 minutes later when Max Wiliamson replaced Cummings.
Despite the disruption, two Russell penalties edged Scotland 6-5 ahead.
But the Springboks hit back when prop Thomas du Toit scored his maiden Test try after powering over from a scrappy line-out on the half-hour mark.
Pollard, who missed his first conversion, added the extras as South Africa went 12-6 up.
Russell again cut the Springboks' lead but they pulled clear again before half-time.
Andre Esterhuizen carried forcefully off a huge South Africa scrum before the ball worked wide to Willie le Roux.
The full-back, winning his 98th cap, then struck a delightful chip into the arms of Mapimpi for a try converted by Pollard.
Scotland thought they had a try of their own when Ben White rounded off a fine move but the scrum-half's score was disallowed for centre Huw Jones's knock-on in the build-up.
Russell's fourth penalty early in the second half left Scotland in sight of the Springboks at 12-19 behind.
Erasmus then deployed the latest version of his celebrated 'Bomb Squad' as a raft of replacements, including Kolisi, came off the bench, with Etzebeth the only starting Springbok forward left on the field.
Yet it was Scotland who then threatened a try only for Matt Fagerson to knock on in front of the posts after South Africa-born wing Duhan van der Merwe -- the Scots' all-time record try-scorer -- was hammered in the tackle by Etzebeth.
Mapimpi was sin-binned as Scotland kept pressing but the Springboks' line held firm.
South Africa play an England team still smarting from a dramatic 42-37 loss to Australia at Twickenham next weekend, while Scotland face emerging rugby nation Portugal.
K.Thomson--BTB