Gregor Townsend: Springboks a bigger test than England

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has already experienced the high of a shock win over England, but in his book, beating the Springboks would top even that.

Murrayfield will play host to the clash between his side and Rassie Erasmus’ South Africa on Saturday. Although Scotland are just one place below their visitors in World Rugby’s rankings, Townsend is expecting a monumental challenge.

“Given what they’ve done recently, it would probably be our biggest win of the last couple of years,” he said.

“Obviously, the England win [25-13 in this year’s Six Nations] stands out as memorable given they had won so many games in succession and that trophy [the Calcutta Cup] we play for makes it even more special.

“I just feel South Africa now are in the top two or three teams in the world with how they’ve played against the best teams in the world.

“Going to New Zealand and beating them, almost beating them a second time, showing what they were capable of last week against France, coming from behind to get a great win… they are going to be a very tough team to beat.”

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Townsend heaped praise on South Africa’s forward pack, giving Erasmus credit for maintaining their physicality despite changing the Springboks’ approach.

“We get physical challenges in the Six Nations with the likes of England and France, and in recent seasons Ireland. But ask any coach in world rugby which team provides the biggest physicality with your forwards, it is South Africa. It always has been,” he said.

“They have evolved their game since Rassie took over, but they’ve not gone away from their forward pack. They select the biggest, strongest men they can find.”