Scotland captain Bryan Redpath believes Scotland have a point to prove in Saturday’s clash with South Africa at Murrayfield.
The Sale scrum-half has watched Scotland claim the notable scalps of both England and France in recent Six Nations campaigns.
But that level of performance is never matched in the autumn Test series against southern hemisphere sides.
Australia and New Zealand have both enjoyed relatively
comfortable afternoons at Murrayfield in the last two seasons.
Now Redpath wants Scotland to break the losing habit and inflict more misery on the Springboks after their defeat against the French at the weekend.
”There have been times when Scotland have played very well — not necessarily against the southern hemisphere sides but against the likes of England and France — and pulled off performances that have
got wins,” he said. ”Now we have to start performing more against the southern hemisphere sides like Australia, South Africa and New Zealand.
”And there would be no better time than now to give ourselves an opportunity to perform well and not just to leave it to the one-off games in the Six Nations.
”But we know South Africa are a very good side and a side you have to respect.
”They’re a proud nation and they’ll be disappointed to lose at the weekend (to France). We’re aware of that and it won’t be an easy game.”
The Springboks are set to make wholesale changes from the side which went down in Marseille as they look to do their own re-building for the World Cup next year.
However, Redpath, who steered his side to a 37-10 win over Romania at the weekend, has urged the Scots to be wary of the wounded South Africans.
Redpath said: ”South Africa have a lot of quality players. ”We understand how good a team France are and it doesn’t make South Africa a bad team to lose to France on their home ground.
”Whoever they play, they have quality players throughout their whole squad and we know they’ll pose a big threat whoever they choose.
”We just have to work a lot harder on things and understand how big a threat they are.
”They have lots of pace in their backs and they’re always very physical, probably the most physical southern hemisphere side and it will be very hard.” – Sapa-AFP