Autumn internationals round-up:Dan Parks kicked Scotland to a 21-17 victory at Murrayfield, ending South Africa's hopes of a Grand Slam.
Scotland head coach Andy Robinson was seeking a response from the 49-3 loss to New Zealand last weekend and he got it as the hosts edged a scrappy encounter laden with penalties and decided by the boot of Parks.
Scotland were without a win over South Africa since the 2002 Murrayfield meeting, but eight years on Parks, so often the hero in recent times, demonstrated his unerring accuracy, kicking six penalties and a drop goal to punish the Springboks’ indiscipline.
It was Scotland’s fourth win in five Tests and just a second victory over South Africa in 13 post-Apartheid meetings.
Englandfailed to hit the heights of last week's record victory over Australia but they remained patient long enough to clinch a hard-fought 26-13 win against Samoa.
Matt Banahan, making his first Test start at outside centre, and replacement flanker Tom Croft scored the tries while Toby Flood added 16 points with the boot.
But it was a long time coming. England struggled to convert a mountain of possession as Samoa produced a defiant defensive performance.
Berrick Barnes put on an exhibition of kicking as Australiabattled to a hard-fought 32-14 win over Italyat the Stadio Artemio Franchi.
Barnes kicked a perfect eight out of eight six penalties and conversions from tries by Drew Mitchell and Rocky Elsom but it was far from comfortable for the Wallabies.
The Azzurri pulled to within four points at half-time and a try from Robert Barbieri exposed the visitors’ scrum problems once again, but in the end they were strong enough.