Scotland 10 South Africa 21: match report Kruger had soared high at the line-out and his colleagues had quickly joined him, with Strauss taking the ball from him. For a few yards it was a virtually unhindered march. Belatedly the Scottish defenders recognized the danger, but by then it was too late. With Pat Lambie having kicked two penalties to Greg Laidlaw's one, that made it 11-3 at the end of the first quarter. Scotland had one decent opportunity. Laidlaw kicked brilliantly to the corner from a penalty on halfway in the middle of the field. Amongst others David Denton drove well, but, frustratingly, a penalty was conceded just short of the line. Predictably, the oft seen sight of coach Robinson slamming the table high up in the stands was repeated again. Attack coach Scott Johnson joined in too. There was further frustration for Scotland five minutes into the second half when they conceded a soft try, a second for Strauss as he intercepted Mike Blair's telegraphed pass. In fairness, though, the hooker showed excellent handling skills, taking he ball at first in one hand and no little pace either from 30m out. He did look behind, as much probably for a signal from the referee as for chasing opponents, but neither materialized. So under the posts went the smiling Strauss for Lambie to convert. Robinson made clear his thoughts on Blair's error: he replaced the scrum half immediately. But it was inspired. Scotland simply had to score. Quickly. And so in a few minutes they had, and it was Blair's replacement, Henry Pyrgos, who had scored. The Glasgow scrum half had brought some genuine energy to the Scotland team from the moment he arrived, dummying and running with his very first touch. The easy option in that instance is to pass. Pyrgos announced himself there and then. He looks a fine prospect, and he took his try well from a pre-rehearsed move, charging through the gap in the middle of the line-out after Kelly Brown had tapped down from the tail. Up in the stands Robinson and Johnson now high-fived. Laidlaw converted and suddenly South Africa were rattled. Ruan Pienaar and Lambie had kicks charged down, and South Africa simply could not find a way out of their own half. Al Kellock, a first-half replacement for Richie Gray who took a nasty knock to the head, was everywhere and Brown and Denton were no less prominent. There was also an impressive showing from loose-head prop Ryan Grant. He was lively and feisty throughout. British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland would do well to monitor his progress. In fact Scotland's scrummage was especially strong in that second-half period. They even opted for a scrummage when given a free kick. That is always brave against South Africa, but was indicative of the mood Scotland were in at that stage. But, as it was, Scotland then conceded a free-kick of their own. That was a story in itself. In general during all their pressure Scotland were just too imprecise. Twice, through Laidlaw and replacement Ruaridh Jackson, they committed the cardinal sin of kicking ball away in South Africa's 22 without recovering it or scoring. Crucial line-outs were lost. Not even the sin-binning of South African replacement Flip van der Merwe, for his misdemeanours at a Scottish driving maul with four minutes to go, was enough to provide Scotland with a further score. South Africa's defence, in which wing JP Pietersen was a surprising stand-out, held firm. Simple, strong and effective. It will be a huge test for England next weekend.