How do you beat South Africa? It is a question that will have been at the forefront of Gregor Townsend’s thoughts as he prepared for today’s World Cup opener in Scotland against the Springboks.
Scotland have beaten South Africa just once in 15 meetings in the last 20 years – a 21-17 victory in the Autumn Tests in 2010.
It is not a competition that has been particularly fruitful. It also looks all the more intimidating given South Africa’s form heading into the tournament.
In recent weeks, the reigning world champions have inflicted record defeats on both Wales and New Zealand.
In particular, their 35-7 demolition job at the All Blacks at Twickenham a fortnight ago was an ominous warning to the rest of the rugby world.
But when it comes to beating the Boks, Ali Price is one of the few Scottish players who can speak from a position of knowledge and experience. Price was one of the standout performers for the British and Irish Lions during their tour of South Africa two years ago in the summer of 2021.
Ali Price was one of the standout performers as the British and Irish Lions defeated South Africa in the first Test of their 2021 tour, although they lost the series 2-1
Now Scotland prepare to take on the world champions in Marseille, and Price hopes a Lions blueprint can inspire them
The Scotland and Glasgow Warriors scrumhalf started two of the three Tests for the Lions, and also came off the bench in the other. Price was a key player as the Lions won 22-17 in the first Test, although the Springboks fought back to win the series 2-1.
Price is knowledgeable and articulate when asked how Scotland can damage South Africa. As far as he is concerned, trying to outwit the Boks up front and beat them at their own game would be a fool’s errand. Scotland must remain true to its own identity.
“I know the South African players, I know what they are doing and I know how they want to play the game,” says Price. “When we came back to the Lions tour a few years ago, we did a lot of analyzing them and learning how to play against them.
‘I saw the match a few months ago where they lost to New Zealand in the Rugby Championship. The All Blacks had a clear game plan. They were very strong in the air, the kick battle became a great weapon. That’s similar to what we did with the Lions when we had success against South Africa.
‘First you have to win that aerial kick battle, but then you also have to be brave and play a game of rugby. Ultimately you have to try to move South Africa.
‘You have to play your own rugby. You can’t go into a Test match against South Africa and end up in an arm wrestle at the front. Realistically, that probably won’t be good for you.
‘No one does what South Africa does as well as they do. No one will beat them at their own game. You have to back yourself and play your own game.
‘Yes, of course you have to match them physically and be ready for that challenge. But you also have to play your own style of rugby.’
Although they won the first Test two years ago, the Lions progressed into the series and played perhaps their best rugby.
Gregor Townsend leads Scotland to the World Cup, taking on the Springboks, Tonga, Romania and Ireland in Pool B
Price, pictured playing for the Lions against South Africa, said: “You have to play your own rugby. You can’t get into an arm wrestle beforehand.”
Dan Biggar started all three Tests, but it was Finn Russell who really brought them to life when he came off the bench early in the final match. South Africa ultimately triumphed 19-16, winning the series 2-1, but it left a lasting impact on Price on how to play them.
“We saw it when Finn came off the bench in the third Test,” says the 30-year-old scrum-half, who remains a valuable asset to Townsend’s side despite no longer being a guaranteed starter.
‘That’s when we really started to open up and although we only lost by a few points in the end, most people agreed that we played some of our best rugby in that third Test.
‘We wanted to play with a lot of width and really get South Africa moving. That’s something that could definitely cause them problems.
‘The power game is their strength. Our strength is moving the ball quickly and accurately and involving our strike runners in the back line.
“You don’t go into a match against South Africa trying to copy their strengths. Match them physically, yes, but don’t try to copy them. We also have Finn Russell. He will do what he does best.’
By his own admission, Price goes into the World Cup after a difficult season for both club and country.
He lost his place to George Horne in Glasgow when Franco Smith took over, and also to Ben White in the national team. But he is still one of Scotland’s most experienced players. He will play a key role throughout the World Cup, both from the starting line-up and from the bench.
He is confident he can force his way into Townsend’s plans and points to the fact he has fought his way back from a difficult start to the 2018 Six Nations.
Scotland were beaten 34-7 by Wales in Cardiff and Price himself knew he was not having a good game.
Price has had a difficult year for club and country. “You get to an age and a stage in your career where you learn to deal with it,” he said
He then struggled for form and fitness in Glasgow before fighting back to make the No. 9 jersey his own after Greig Laidlaw’s retirement in 2019. ‘At the last World Cup I broke my foot in the first game against Ireland,’ says Price . ‘It was extremely disappointing to then have to miss the rest of the tournament.
“It will be great to go back to a World Cup and get another go at it. Hopefully I can be a little more involved and the tournament will last a little longer for me.
‘The past year has been quite challenging. There was sometimes some frustration about my own form, about the playing time. But you come to an age and a phase in your career where you learn to deal with it.
“At the end of the day, you’re a professional athlete. There will be times when you go through difficult times. I’ve had it earlier in my career, around 2018, when I broke into the national team and then had a few performances where I knew I could have done better.
‘Games where things just didn’t go well for me. I felt my form slipping and had to build myself back up from there, which I could do.
‘I don’t feel like my form has deteriorated as much now as it did then. Yes, last season was quite frustrating for me in terms of playing time, but you have to credit George as well.
“He came into the team and played really well. So there was a combination of factors. But I definitely feel like I still have a lot to offer.”