South Africa start Rugby World Cup defence with win over Scotland

The Springboks, featuring 14 of the match-day squad of 23 that beat England in the 2019 final, were made to work hard for the win, with just two Manie Libbok penalties to show for their first-half graft, Finn Russell pulling one back for Scotland.

A brace of tries within three minutes from Pieter-Steph du Toit and Kurt-Lee Arendse early in the second period, however, turned the game.

"I'm just stoked that the first step went the way it did," said Libbok, whose cross-kick for Arendse's try effectively dashed Scotand's hopes.

"I'm grateful for my forwards to give me the platform. I saw the space out wide so I went there. I'm pleased it came off."

Scotland coach Gregor Townsend praised his side's initial defence but rued a second-half marred by errors.

"We defended well in the first half, we then grew into the game and the set-piece," he said.

"We felt we could kick on in the second half. They won the third quarter hands down and a lot of that was down to their good play and our inaccuracy."

It was the first time South Africa have won their first match at a World Cup since they edged out Wales 17-16 in 2011, having then gone on to opening-game defeats by New Zealand in 2019 and Japan four years earlier.

The victory also extended the Springboks' winning run over the Scots to eight and maintained their record of having never lost to them outside of Scotland.

In balmy Marseille conditions at a packed Stade Velodrome, Jacques Nienaber's team played the long game before putting Scotland to the sword for the third time at the World Cup pool phase after previous victories in 1999 and 2015.

After winger Duhan van der Merwe was twice pounded by Bok skipper Siya Kolisi tackles, it did not take long before the defending champions