Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu is deliberately playing down expectations ahead of his side's Nations Championship fixture against world champions South Africa in Pretoria on Saturday. Rather than talking up the prospect of a famous upset over the Springboks, Tuipulotu says the squad is keeping its "quiet confidence" in the changing room, an approach he attributes to hard-earned experience following Scotland's collapse against Argentina at Murrayfield last November.

The match at Loftus Versfeld represents a formidable challenge: Scotland have never beaten South Africa on South African soil and have not played there since 2014, with the Springboks remaining overwhelming favourites despite making 10 changes to the side that beat England. Head coach Gregor Townsend and his players credit their recent upturn — wins over Wales, England and France in the Six Nations, plus a victory away to Argentina — to honest internal conversations after the November defeat. Tuipulotu, who will win his 40th cap in Pretoria, believes Scotland have evolved since narrowly losing to the Boks in 2024 and views the game as a rare, treasured opportunity in his career.