Scotland Player Ratings
1. Allan Jacobsen:  The popular prop had a mixed afternoon.  He held his side of the scrum up well, and made a rare foray with ball in hand in the first half.  But he was also careless, conceding a penalty and losing possession.  6

(replaced by 17. Alasdair Dickinson (64): A mixed fifteen minutes for the prop.  Two knock-ons made the crowd moan, but he made up for it with some barging runs late on when others’ legs were getting weary.  6)

2. Ross Ford:  A fine afternoon for a player who is really flourishing in a Scotland shirt.  Like an extra back row player, he tackled and made yards all afternoon, and was consistent with his lineout throws too. 8

3. Euan Murray: He took on Tendai ‘Beast’ Mtawarira in the scrum and came out the other side with further evidence that he is now a truly world class prop, and is in with a big shout for the tight-head position on the Lions test side against the same opposition next year. 8

4. Nathan Hines: Another hero in the Scottish pack.  Not only did he score a long awaited try for Scotland at Murrayfield, but he was involved in all the exchanges that kept his team in the game for so long.  Close quarter tackling, driving, rucking and scrapping for possession, Hines did it all.  8

(replaced by 18. Matt Mustchin (74): Got into the thick of it but no time to have an influence.)

5. Jim Hamilton:  A solid performance from the biggest man on the pitch, overshadowed by his partner Hines but still not to be sniffed at.  He was a behemoth in the lineout, and made several big tackles to stop the dangerous Springbok ball-carriers in their tracks. 7

6. Jason White: Started to show shades of his old self, for the first half at least.  The former Scotland captain weighed in with a couple of his trademark big hits, which gave the whole team a lift in the early moments.  Faded in the second half however.  7

(replaced by 19. Scott Gray (58): Always difficult to replace a man like Jason White – Gray was solid, and though unspectacular, to shackle a South African pack is no easy task.)

7. John Barclay:  Yet to shine for Scotland the way he does on a regular basis for his club, Glasgow.  Barclay held his own, but foundnd the going tough against the experienced World Cup winner, Juan Smith. 6

8. Ally Hogg:  A big, barnstorming performance for Hogg, who undoubtedly wanted to stake his claim after inheriting a starting spot last week.  The Edinburgh man probably carried more ball than any other Scottish player, and though his decision making was sometimes questionable, his commitment was never in doubt. 8

9. Mike Blair:  As usual, one of the outstanding players on the park.  The South African defence simply couldn’t contain his sniping runs from the breakdown and quick tap penalties.  He and half back partner Godman were a persistent threat. 8

10. Phil Godman:  If the ever- improving stand-off can deliver performances like this on a consistent basis, Scotland will score tries every time they play.  Such a handful all day long, and though he missed an important kick and was forced to leave play to have a wound attended to, he was Scotland’s stand-out back.  9

(replaced intermittently by 21: Dan Parks: The Glasgow stand-off did little to improve his chances of reclaiming a starting berth.  Missed two early penalties that could have helped Scotland to a win. 5)

11. Rory Lamont:  A close contender to Godman as the most dangerous ball carrier in the backline, if more through pace and power than guile and deceptiveness.  He had a great tussle with South Africa’s real star winger, JP Pieterson, contesting some mammoth high balls and chasing down a series of positional kicks. 8

12.  Nick de Luca: The quieter of the two centres, but he is finally beginning to look comfortable in the international arena.  He weighed in with his fair share of tackles on the hefty Springbok attack, and though he had little chance with ball in hand, the youngster showed his flair with an audacious NFL quarter-back style pass in the second half. 7

13. Ben Cairns:  Adapting to his new international standing much quicker than his centre partner, Cairns made up for an anonymous first half by making probably the most yards for Scotland’s backs in the second.  His pace is well known, but it was his support play and jinking sidestep that concerned South Africa the most.  7

14. Thom Evans: Left Bryan Habana for dead.  There’s little more that needs to be said.  It was always going to be a question of how Evans fared against the IRB World Player of the Year rather than how he performed in his own right, but his energy eventually and easily outshone his high-profile rival.  7

(replaced by 20. Rory Lawson (73): No time to make an impact.)

15. Chris Paterson: Added to his record cap tally, but only lasted ten minutes after claiming a threatening up and under and being tackled awkwardly.  n/a

(Replaced by 22: Hugo Southwell (12):  Southwell is always dependable, but on this occasions he added an edge to his game, and shone for the duration of his performance.  Made some awesome tackles, attacked with power and determination, and kicked intellegently to unsettle the South Africans. 8)