Springboks withstand Scotland 42-28 in Nations Championship thriller

PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) — World champion South Africa survived an impressively stubborn Scotland 42-28 in a thrilling Nations Championship contest at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

The Springboks led 14-0 and 35-14 but had to withstand relentless Scotland attacks which frequently backed up the home side into its 22.

South Africa missed a remarkable 46 tackles but Scotland lacked a clinical touch and kept letting the host off the hook.

Scotland fought back to tie the match 14-14 by halftime and close to 35-28 with 10 minutes to go. It had a four-try bonus point and was within another converted try.

Then another Scot was suddenly running into space, Magnus Bradbury. Tom Jordan sent a kickpass toward the right touchline but wing Kyle Steyn spilled it under pressure.

Almost inevitably, Handre Pollard put a grubber in behind Scotland that was scooped up by center Jesse Kriel, who bumped off two Scots to secure the Boks victory with three minutes left.

The Boks are two for two in the championship with Wales coming next weekend, while Scotland go home to face Fiji consoled with its most points against South Africa since the 1999 Rugby World Cup.

There was no chance Scotland would be taken by surprise at kickoff, like England was last weekend at Ellis Park. Instead, Scotland stunned the Springboks by surging into the 22 twice. Both chances were blown by a double movement and crooked throw-in.

The Springboks made 10 changes after the 45-21 defeat of England and responded to Scotland through scrum penalties. No. 8 Evan Roos was held up but scrumhalf Embrose Papier scooted in for his first test try. The try of the match followed.

Prop Boan Venter held above his head 116-kilogram lock Cobus Wiese to catch the restart, then carried him forward to hit the ground running. Wiese bowled over three Scots and took down two more. Roos completed the try.

Scotland was unbowed. Three more chances in the South Africa 22 went begging until a tap penalty finished with Matt Fagerson crashing over in the 35th minute.

Right on halftime, captain Sione Tuipulotu took Finn Russell's offload up the middle and sent wing Kyle Rowe free to the line for the tying try.

South Africa gave Scotland another opening to start the new half when Ben-Jason Dixon was sin-binned for head contact in a ruck.

But Scotland couldn't take advantage, including getting over the tryline once.

The Boks weren't so wasteful. Elrigh Louw, on for Roos, powered over after 12 phases; Damian Willemse stepped and reached out to score; and prop Zac Porthen capped a devastating nine minutes with a try from the back of a ruck. All were converted and South Africa looked out of sight at 35-14.

But another break by Scotland lock Scott Cummings sent Josh Bayliss haring to the posts, and two minutes later scrumhalf Ben White was stretched to the full to score. Scotland was back in it yet again and the Loftus crowd were silenced yet again.

But Scotland finished as it started and missed a chance at beating the Boks outside Scotland for the first time.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

South Africa's captain Pieter-Steph du Toit, right, claims the ball in the lineout against Scotland's Scott Cummings during the Nations Championship Test rugby match between South Africa and Scotland, in Pretoria, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Scotland's Kyle Steyn, right, jumps for the ball with South Africa's Aphelele Fassi during the Nations Championship Test rugby match between South Africa and Scotland, in Pretoria, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Scotland's Pierre Schoeman, top, is tackled by South Africa's captain Pieter-Steph du Toit, right, and his teammate Wilco Louw during the Nations Championship Test rugby match between South Africa and Scotland, in Pretoria, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

South Africa's Jesse Kriel, center, celebrates with his teammates after scoring a try during the Nations Championship Test rugby match between South Africa and Scotland, in Pretoria, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

SOUTHAMPTON, England (AP) — Jos Buttler and Harry Brook led the way with swashbuckling batting displays as England went top of the T20 rankings after beating India by 56 runs on Saturday to take the five-match series 4-0.

Buttler hammered 131 in 64 balls and captain Brook made 95 not out in 45 deliveries to propel England to 257-3, its third highest T20 total and highest against India.

“We've managed to get ourselves to No. 1 in the world, which was the aim after the second game,” player of the series Brook said after his side restricted India to 201-8 in reply.

It rained sixes at the Utilita Bowl as he and Buttler shared a memorable second-wicket stand of 233, England's highest for any wicket in a T20.

India, which opted to rest 15-year-old batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi after the teenage sensation failed to make an impact in the three previous games, was made to pay for deciding to bowl first after winning the toss.

Buttler made a welcome return to form by smashing 8 sixes and 12 fours as he charged to his second T20 international century. Brook continued his excellent series, which began with the opening match being abandoned due to bad weather, by clubbing 8 sixes and 4 fours.

Shivam Dube took two late wickets, including Buttler's, but his solitary over cost 22 runs.

“It’s been a little bit of a lean patch for a while,” Buttler said. “It was a great day for me personally and a great day for the team. I am really happy to get back to my best and contribute to a brilliant series win.”

India, displaced by England at the top of the rankings, had a mountain to climb to reach its target and made a poor start when opener Abhishek Sharma was removed for 3.

Ishan Kishan struck a 35-ball 56 while Tilak Varma raced to 53 in 25 deliveries but India was always behind the run-rate. All-rounder Sam Curran took 3-36 and leg-spinner Adil Rashid picked up 2-24.

“There’s a lot to take from this series," India captain Shreyas Iyer said. "The conditions, the awareness, the adaptations to the wicket.

“Of all the grounds we played on, this was probably the best. The approach to our batting was different today.”

The two teams begin a three-match series of one-day internationals in Birmingham on Tuesday.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

England's Jos Butler plays a shot during the international T20 Cricket match between England and India In Southampton, England, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Anthony Upton)

England's Jos Butler, right is congratulated by teammate Harry Brook after hitting a six during the international T20 Cricket match between England and India In Southampton, England, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Anthony Upton)

England's Harry Brook, left, and Jos Buttler during the international T20 Cricket match between England and India in Southampton, England, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Anthony Upton)

England's Jos Buttler plays a shot during the T20 international cricket match between England and India in Southampton, England, Saturday July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Anthony Upton)