Great entertainers from Scotland are impressive and sloppy in South Africa

Against Bucks, Scotland had more territory, carried more, gained more metres. They made 17 clear breaks to South Africa’s four, beating 47 defenders while South Africa beat just 19. The Bucks missed 47 tackles and still won 38% of the territory.

We don’t see inside the souls of rugby players these days, which is probably just as well. The pain of contributing so much and still feeling so awful at the end of it must be intense.

Scotland have never beaten South Africa in South Africa. Before Saturday, it had been a dozen years since the last chance.

The new Nations Championship means they won’t have to wait nearly as long for another chance, but it could still be too long for some in the Scotland squad. For these guys, this was the moment, and it passed.

Box, it must be said, was in full experimental mode. It was their second in a row, making Scotland’s defeat all the more infuriating. When will they get a weakened South Africa again?

There was no Ox Enche, Malcolm Marx or Thomas du Toit in the front row, no Eben Etzebeth, Lud de Jager or Franco Mostert in the second row, no Sia Kolisi or Jasper Wiese in the back row. Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse were not involved. Kanaan Moody, Damian de Allende, Manny Liebock, Sacha Feinberg-Mongomezulu, Andre Osterhuizen and Cobas Reinach were not. It is missing more than 950 Test caps.

There is no such thing as a poor Springbok team. They can produce three or four world-class outfits, all of which have the ability to beat most other countries.

Rasi Erasmus is building depth for the next World Cup and this was another milestone in that process. Scotland threw everything at its students and they fought to win. On current form, France are their only threat in Australia next year.

Praising the losing team is never a good idea, but it’s hard to avoid in this case. Appreciation and a bit of pity and a bit of disappointment too.

As good as they are individually and collectively – Sione Twipultu is one of the best players and leaders in the world game – they still lack the precious commodity to find a way to win consistently.

That mission continues, by part engaging and maddening. They got Fiji next at Murrayfield and even when Gregor Townsend made the changes he indicated they should win it comfortably.

Two wins and a four-try bonus point defeat would represent a strong first installment of the Nations Championship. It will leave everyone wanting more, hoping against hope that, as ever, Scotland’s great success is still possible.