The Springboks have beaten Scotland by 15 points at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in Marseilles, 17 points in Edinburgh in 2024 and 14 points in Pretoria in 2026. Across neutral, away and home venues, the average winning margin is 15.3 points.

More remarkably, the Pretoria side that beat Scotland 42-28 in the Nations Championship retained just four players from the World Cup match-day 23 and four from the team that won in Edinburgh in 2024, yet still delivered virtually the same result.

Pieter-Steph du Toit (No 7) and Grant Williams (substitute) are the only two to have played in all three matches.

Scotland are ranked fifth in the world rankings and in the last season have hammered France at home, England at home and Argentina in Argentina.

It is a testament to Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus and his match 23 identification. Equally, the belief he has in the depth of his back-to-back world champions.

Springboks have beaten Scotland:

• 18-3 at the 2023 Rugby World Cup (15-point margin)
• 32-15 in Edinburgh (17-point margin)
• 42-28 in Pretoria (14-point margin)

Erasmus’s selections and faith in his players’ depth has resulted in the Springboks producing virtually the same outcome against Scotland in three Test matches, despite changing 19 of the 23 players from both previous meetings.

Springboks: Three match 23s compared

Match 23 retention

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Pretoria 2026 vs World Cup 2023

Players in both match 23s (4)

Breakdown

• 4 players retained in the match 23.
• 3 retained as starters.
• 1 retained on the bench.
• Kriel starts at No 13 in both matches.
• Du Toit starts at No 7 in both matches.
• Williams is replacement No 22 in both matches.
• Willemse moves from fullback to inside centre.

Units retained

Front row

0 of 3 retained

2023:

• Kitshoff
• Marx
• Malherbe

Pretoria:

• De Villiers
• Grobbelaar
• W Louw

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Locks

0 of 2 retained

2023:

• Etzebeth
• Mostert

Pretoria:

• C Wiese
• Nortje

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Loose forwards

1 of 3 retained

Retained:

• Pieter-Steph du Toit

Changed:

• Siya Kolisi
• Jasper Wiese

Now:

• De Villiers
• Du Toit
• Roos

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Halfbacks

0 of 2 retained

2023:

• Faf de Klerk
• Manie Libbok

Pretoria:

• Papier
• Pollard

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Midfield

1 of 2 retained

Retained:

• Jesse Kriel

Changed:

• Damian de Allende

Replacement:

• Damian Willemse

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Back three

0 of 3 retained in the same positions

2023

• Kolbe
• Arendse
• Willemse

Pretoria

• Hooker
• Van der Merwe
• Fassi

Willemse remains in the side but moves into midfield.

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Pretoria vs Edinburgh 2024

Players in both match 23s (4)

Breakdown

• 4 players retained.
• 2 retained as starters.
• 2 retained on the bench.
• Pollard remains starting No 10.
• Du Toit remains starting No 7.
• Williams remains replacement 22.
• Elrigh Louw remains on the bench but changes jersey from 20 to 21.

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Units retained

Front row

0 of 3 retained

Edinburgh:

• Ox Nche
• Bongi Mbonambi
• Thomas du Toit

Pretoria:

• Venter
• Grobbelaar
• W Louw

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Locks

0 of 2 retained

Edinburgh

• Eben Etzebeth
• Franco Mostert

Pretoria

• C Wiese
• Nortje

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Loose forwards

1 retained

Retained:

• Pieter-Steph du Toit

Changed:

• Siya Kolisi
• Jasper Wiese

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Halfbacks

1 retained

Retained:

• Pollard

Changed:

• Jaden Hendrikse

Replacement:

• Papier

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Midfield

0 retained

Edinburgh

• Andre Esterhuizen
• Lukhanyo Am

Pretoria

• Willemse
• Kriel

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Back three

0 retained

Edinburgh

• Mapimpi
• Moodie
• Willie le Roux

Pretoria

• Hooker
• Van der Merwe
• Fassi

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Players selected in all three Springbok match 23s

Only two players appear in all three squads.

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Players starting all three Tests

Only one

• Pieter-Steph du Toit

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Same position in all three

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Captaincy

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Biggest talking points

1. Pretoria is almost an entirely new Springbok squad

Only four players remain from the World Cup match 23.

Only four remain from Edinburgh.

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2. Pieter-Steph du Toit is the only constant starter

He starts all three matches.

He captains the Pretoria side.

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3. Grant Williams is the only constant replacement

He wears No 22 in all three squads.

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4. Every starting front row is different

Three Tests.

Three completely different front rows.

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5. A new lock pairing in Pretoria

2023

• Etzebeth
• Mostert

2024

• Etzebeth
• Mostert

Pretoria

• C Wiese
• Nortje

Pretoria is the first change in the second row.

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6. Pollard returns

Pollard did not start the 2023 World Cup match.

He starts at No 10 in Edinburgh.

He starts at No 10 in Pretoria.

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7. Kriel reconnects Pretoria with the World Cup

Kriel starts No 13 in 2023.

He is absent from the Edinburgh 23.

He returns at No 13 in Pretoria.

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8. Willemse’s versatility

2023

• Fullback

Pretoria

• Inside centre

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9. South Africa’s depth among outside backs

World Cup 2023:

• Kolbe
• Arendse
• Willemse

Edinburgh 2024:

• Mapimpi
• Moodie
• Willie le Roux

Pretoria 2026:

• Hooker
• Van der Merwe
• Fassi

Three completely different back threes.

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10. Three different scrumhalves

• Faf de Klerk
• Jaden Hendrikse
• Embrose Papier

Only Pollard provides continuity in the halfbacks (at No 1) between the last two matches.

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