Gregor Townsend believes Scotland will face the toughest test in world rugby when they face South Africa on Sunday – insisting the Springboks have raised the bar to a new level.
Facing a team who have won back-to-back World Cups, Townsend admitted Scotland will go into the match as clear underdogs at Murrayfield.
South Africa have picked a strong team featuring a multitude of players who have been integral to those triumphs in 2019 and 2023.
Scotland head coach Townsend also praised his opposite number Rassie Erasmus, whom he believes is now the greatest coach of this generation.
Asked if South Africa have taken the game to a new level, Townsend replied: ‘I think they have, I think they’re the benchmark.
‘If you look through the World Cup, they didn’t blow anybody away, but they had enough to win two or three of the games by one or two points.
In 2023, South Africa became back-to-back world champions, taking the title again in Paris
It will be a baptism of fire for Tom Jordan at full-back, moving from his usual position of ten
‘To have that level of intensity and focus and not drop off, that’s what makes you world champions. But to do it two seasons in a row, two World Cups in a row, is fantastic.
‘And then to not switch off either after the World Cup, to win the Rugby Championship this year, they are the benchmark for everyone right now.
‘I think from maybe four years ago to where they are now, they play a brand of rugby that tests you more than just the physicality.
‘They’ve got some brilliant rugby players and athletes out wide and they use them. They have evolved as a team.
‘Clearly we’re underdogs. I know every coach wants to say they’re underdogs, but surely we’re underdogs against the double world champions. They’re favourites and they wear the favourite mantle well.’
Townsend and Erasmus know each other from their days coaching Glasgow Warriors and Munster, as well as on the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa in 2021.
There is clearly a healthy mutual respect, with Townsend saying: ‘I think when you meet him away from the Test match itself, he’s very intelligent, very respectful, and thinks a lot about the game.
‘When you go into the Test match environment, he’s competitive, he’s a winner. He’ll do all it takes and more to help his team win.
‘He’s proven to be the most successful coach of our era in the last four years, but even longer than that. We have a lot of respect for their coaching group.’
Scotland have lost their last eight matches against South Africa, the most recent of which came in last year’s World Cup.
Townsend has been able to welcome back first-choice half-back pairing Finn Russell and Ben White this week, as well as Blair Kinghorn.
Kinghorn has been shifted from his usual berth at full-back out to the wing, with Tom Jordan slotting in at 15 after covering the position in the win over Fiji last week.
Townsend is under no illusions that Scotland need to step it up if they are to claim what would be the biggest win of his seven-year tenure.
‘It has been an exciting week for us,’ he said. ‘To be able to go to a game where you know you’re taking on the world champions, it’s going to be a sell-out.
Jack Dempsey attempts to break the line against the physical Boks in the 2023 defeat
‘You know that you’re going to have to play your best rugby to be in the game. So yes, it’s got everybody’s minds focused and the players are really relishing this opportunity.
‘We know we have to be at our best in every sector. The best at test level you often think is physicality and effort.
‘If you don’t bring those two things to Test level, then you’re not going to win. But I think focus has to be there.
‘Our players have had the experiences, not just against South Africa, but the experiences they’ve had, whether good or bad, it’s brought them to this place now.
‘A lot of them have had caps together and experience of knowing what’s coming and what is needed to win.
‘But also their own individual experiences, whether at Glasgow or at their other clubs, this is a more experienced team than ever before. A lot of the Glasgow players know what it’s like to go to South Africa and win.
‘We’re playing against a very experienced team obviously and one that have won the World Cup. That’s a challenge in front of us but I believe this team is ready to take on that challenge more than ever before.’
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