Scotland ended South Africa's hopes of securing a first Grand Slam in 50 years as they mastered poor conditions to beat the world champions 21-17 at Murrayfield.

Dan Parks was on target with each of his six penalties and added a drop goal for a Scotland team that rarely threatened the try line.

South Africa, who had won their two previous games in the series against Ireland and Wales, did manage a try through Willem Alberts in the 71st minute.

It ensured a tense climax for Scotland, but they held out for a win that swept away the gloom that followed their crushing 49-3 defeat by New Zealand seven days earlier.

Scotland suffered the ignominy of a two-hour de-brief on Monday when coach Andy Robinson made his side re-watch the match to establish exactly where they had gone wrong.

The ex-England boss also made five-changes to his starting line-up, albeit two of them injury-based as Max Evans and Mike Blair failed to recover from knocks picked up in the clash against the All Blacks.

Perhaps understandably Scotland made a shaky start to the match and within three minutes South Africa had taken the lead thanks to an easy kick from Morne Steyn, after Scotland were penalised for being off-side.

And within three minutes South Africa had taken the lead thanks to an easy kick from Morne Steyn, after Scotland were penalised for being off-side.

And the tourists could easily have added another two penalties to their tally inside the first 10 minutes as Scotland were blown up for obstruction, on CJ van der Linde, and pulling the scrum down.

But first Morne Steyn and then Francois Steyn both missed their kicks at goal to let Scotland off the hook before Gio Aplon drew a fourth penalty, for failing to roll away, with a dangerous break down the centre of the field.

This time Morne Steyn did slot the ball home to double the South African lead and let a poor looking Scotland side, staring at another tough day on the field.

But a try-saving hit and turnover from Graeme Morrison seemed to galvanise Scotland and they quickly made their first foray into the South African half with Parks kicking his first penalty just before the 20 minute mark to get their side of the scoreboard ticking over.

And with their first points on the board, Scotland ran away with the next 20 minutes of the encounter; Parks kicking a drop goal and another two penalties as South Africa's discipline let them down.

The hosts lost Richie Grey to what looked like a rib injury and the Springboks took full advantage of the break in their opponents' momentum to get their side of the scoreboard moving once again, three minutes before the interval.

There were tense moments on the stroke of half-time for the Scots as Parks was flattened by a very heavy hit after an attempt at a drop goal but, after taking his time, the fly-half, crucial for the home side throughout the clash, got up and jogged off down the tunnel for the break.

South Africa made the better impression immediately after the re-start and Morne Steyn quickly levelled the scores with his fourth successful kick of the afternoon.

As conditions rapidly deteriorated in Edinburgh, it was Scotland who came closest to scoring a try first after a break from replacement Richie Vernon. However, a shoulder-charge from full-back Zane Kirchner, that went un-penalised, slowed the huge Scottish forward down enough for South Africa to recover and re-install their defensive line.

But again it was ill-discipline that let the reigning world champions down as they allowed Parks another three kicks at goal; the Cardiff Blues fly-half converting them all as Scotland closed on a famous win at Murrayfield.

The Springboks did ensure a tense finish, though, when they sent substitute Alberts over the line; the Sharks number eight spotting a gap of the back of the line-out.

But 20-year-old substitute Patrick Lambie failed to add the conversion, amid boos from the Scottish contingent in the 36,000 crowd, and Scotland held on for the final 10 minutes to secure the win.

Pippa Davis / Eurosport