Scotland v South Africa: Autumn Nations Series rugby union – live

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The athletes are gathering in the corridor.

Kwagga Smith is captaining the Springboks as he makes his 50th appearance for the national team.

Bryan Habana claims that this is the strongest group of Springboks ever put together in South Africa's history.

He also mentioned that it's the finest group of Scots ever.

It should be excellent, then.

Check out Sarah Rendell's article from Cardiff, covering Fiji's landmark victory:

What do you think about the 7-1 bench split? Does anyone feel that it goes against the essence of rugby?

Rassie Erasmus, grinning widely, acknowledges that his team changes were necessary due to the quick six-day gap between their previous match and the game against England.

A couple of weeks ago, he was trying hard to persuade Gerard Meager that the tough South African team is really just a group of nice guys. Is anyone believing that?

People are gathering around me, and there are plenty of South Africans here.

The streets of Edinburgh were filled with people wearing green jerseys. While they don’t make up the largest crowd—I'd estimate it's a 70-30 ratio—they enthusiastically celebrate every point scored by South Africa.

After Wales' defeat to Fiji, Scotland stands out as the sole European team to have triumphed over a southern hemisphere opponent in five matches this fall.

Shocked? You really shouldn't be. That is, if you checked out my earlier article about the four major teams from the southern hemisphere (excluding Fiji).

Did you overlook it? No worries, I’m here to help:

A few of you might have caught my mistake when I was discussing the Scotland team.

Everything is sorted now, all thanks to Allan MacDonald, who reached out to assist me.

Allan shared his opinions about Jordan playing in the full-back position:

I was taken aback when he switched to fullback after Rowe left the game last week. However, I guess Scotland frequently employs their fullback as an additional playmaker. With Kinghorn also capable of stepping into that position, it could potentially keep the South African defense on their toes for that critical moment.

Fiji has just claimed a victory over Wales, winning 24-19 in Cardiff. This marks Wales' tenth consecutive loss, tying their record for the worst streak in history.

Rassie Erasmus and his Springboks are actively working on their public image this autumn.

But is it effective?

Michael Aylwin isn't convinced. However, as he points out, it doesn't really matter. The South African team has established itself as the tough guys in the sport. So why not own it?

The bench has a lopsided seven-to-one ratio, with just Grant Williams – who plays as both a scrum-half and a winger – being the sole back on the sidelines.

There are some key players who are anticipated to make a significant impact later in the game, but don’t underestimate the starting lineup. The back row is quite agile and will aim to disrupt Scotland’s possession. Plus, with Andre Esterhuizen charging through the inside centre, the Springboks will deliver a strong performance right from the start.

South Africa's lineup includes Wille le Roux; Canan Moodie, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, and Makazole Mapimpi. In the half-back positions, we have Handre Pollard and Jaden Hendrikse. The forward pack features Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, and Thomas du Toit in the front row, while Eben Etzebeth serves as captain alongside Franco Mostert, Marco van Staden, Elrigh Louw, and Kwagga Smith.

Substitutes: Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenkamp, Vincent Koch, RG Snyman, Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Jasper Wiese, Grant Williams.

Several notable players, such as Fin Russell, Ben White, and Blair Kinghorn, are coming back to the team.

Tom Jordan, who was born in New Zealand, will be making his debut as a full-back for his new representing country. Normally, he plays as a midfielder, so using him in the backline, alongside Kinghorn positioned out wide, might indicate that Scotland plans to utilize an aerial approach in their game. However, it might simply be due to Darcy Graham's injury.

Scotland's lineup includes Tom Jordan; Blair Kinghorn, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu (captain), and Duhan van der Merwe as the backs; with Finn Russell and Ben White leading the play as the half-backs. The forward pack consists of Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, and Zander Fagerson in the front row, followed by Grant Gilchrist and Scott Cummings in the second row. The back row features Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, and Jack Dempsey.

Substitutes: Dylan Richardson, Rory Sutherland, Elliot Millar Mills, Max Williamson, Josh Bayliss, Jamie Ritchie, Jamie Dobie, and Stafford McDowall.

Up until now, the teams from the Rugby Championship have dominated their opponents from the Six Nations.

The New Zealand All Blacks narrowly defeated England and managed to maintain their distance against Ireland. Meanwhile, Australia clinched an exciting victory at Twickenham, while Argentina delivered a commanding performance against Italy.

The reigning double world champions, the Springboks, are now setting their sights on Scotland. Gregor Townsend's squad represents the last chance for those who still believe that Europe’s top teams can compete with the powerful teams from the southern hemisphere.

Scotland hasn't managed to win against South Africa since 2010, with their losing streak now reaching 10 matches. In their most recent encounter at last year's World Cup, they were overpowered. While they possess the flair and skill to break through any defense, the outcome of this match will likely be determined in the physical battles where tough, resilient players clash.

Can Scotland take on the formidable bench known as the Bomb Squad, a term coined after South Africa's 2019 World Cup victory? It's possible. But what about a Nuclear Squad? Rassie Erasmus has chosen seven forwards to sit out, including regular captain Siya Kolisi and the previous World Player of the Year, Pieter-Steph du Toit.

If Scotland can give Finn Russell plenty of opportunities to play aggressively, manage the strength of the South African forwards, and build a significant lead to lessen the influence of the Springbok substitutes, they might just have a real shot at pulling off an incredible upset.

There are many uncertainties, but one lesson we've gathered from the Autumn Nations Series is that we should be ready for surprises.

How exciting is international rugby right now?! Another thrilling match is just around the corner!

I'm at Murrayfield and I'm really excited to get started. Feel free to send me an email if you have any ideas or feedback you'd like to share.

The game will start at 4:10 PM GMT.

Stay tuned for updates on teams and more information to follow.