South Africa will put their unbeaten Rugby World Cup record against Scotland on the line when the two sides meet in a highly anticipated Nations Championship clash in Pretoria this weekend.

The Springboks have won all three of their previous World Cup encounters with Scotland, including their most recent meeting at Rugby World Cup 2023 in Marseille. On that occasion, tries from Pieter-Steph du Toit and Kurt-Lee Arendse helped the defending champions secure a crucial Pool B victory.

Du Toit will once again play a leading role for the world champions, captaining a rotated South African side in the absence of regular skipper Siya Kolisi. The two-time World Rugby Player of the Year will earn his 97th Test cap and arrives in confident form after guiding the Springboks to an impressive opening-round victory over England at Ellis Park last weekend.

Scotland, meanwhile, will look to inspirational captain Sione Tuipulotu to drive their challenge. The midfield leader was among the standout performers in the Scots’ victory over Argentina and will again be central to their hopes of upsetting the reigning world champions.

The match pits together two of the most dangerous attacking teams from the opening round of the Nations Championship. Both South Africa and Scotland crossed for seven tries last weekend — the highest total of any side in the competition.

The statistics highlight just how clinical both teams have been with ball in hand. Scotland averaged an impressive 1.34 points per possession, while South Africa recorded 1.05 points per possession, making them the only teams in the tournament to average more than a point every time they had the ball.

With South Africa chasing another statement win and Scotland eager to prove they can compete with the world’s best, fans can expect an entertaining contest between two sides brimming with attacking confidence.

The battle between Du Toit’s powerful Springbok pack and Tuipulotu’s dynamic Scottish backline could ultimately determine who emerges victorious in what shapes as one of the standout fixtures of the Nations Championship weekend.