Through it goes, and South Africa lead in Stellenbosch.

South Africa are getting over the gainline well, roared on by the home crowd.

Leah Bartlett doesn't roll away quickly enough at the ruck and Libbie Janse van Rensburg is going to have a pop at goal from the resulting penalty.

South Africa go to the maul from the first line-out of the contest, and Sarah Bonar is pinged for an infringement by referee Natarsha Ganley.

However, the Scottish pack deal with the next maul far better, holding it up and winning a scrum of their own.

Libbie Janse van Rensburg kicks high into the clear blue sky, and we are off in Stellenbosch.

The players are out in Stellenbosch - Scotland in their familiar dark blue; South Africa in their bright turquoise change strip.

A very passionate rendition of Flower of Scotland echoes round the ground, and we're just about ready to go.

Centre Lisa Thomson has hailed Scotland's "crazy" squad depth ahead of their WXV2 opener.

Scotland prepared for the tournament with victory over Spain, and Thomson believes there is a real sense of progression among the players.

"We've developed as a squad," Thomson said. "We're away with 30 players now that have all got game time at international level under their belt.

"Anybody could play on that pitch and put in a performance that Scotland is proud of, so I think that is the biggest thing.

"The depth that we have is crazy right now. It's super exciting going forward. We've got a squad of 23 and people missing out that could be absolutely on that pitch."

Image source, SNS

South Africa are able to welcome back experienced quartet Tayla Kinsey, Aseza Hele, Lindelwa Gwala and Sanelisiwe Charlie from injury for this game.

They all missed out on the warm-up matches against Kenya and Samoa, but are ready to return for the start of WXV2.

South Africa XV: Qawe, Samboya, Grain, Nyanda, Hess, Janse van Rensburg, Kinsey; Charlie, Gwala, Latsha (capt), Ubisi, Lochner, Dumke, Mcatshulwa, Hele.

Replacements: Botes, Ngxingolo, Schonert, Booi, Jacobs, Gunter, Potgieter, Zulu.

Scotland head coach Bryan Easson welcomes back Loughborough Lightning lock Emma Wassell from injury and centre Lisa Thomson from GB sevens duty.

Saracens second row Louise McMillan and Bristol Bears' Meryl Smith drop to the bench following last month's 36-5 win over Spain.

Scotland: Rollie, Lloyd, Orr, Thomson, McGhie, Nelson, McDonald; Bartlett, Skeldon, Belisle, Wassell, Bonar, Malcolm (capt), McLachlan, Gallagher.

Replacements: Martin, Young, Cockburn, McMillan, Konkel-Roberts, Mattinson, Smith, Musgrove.

The three-tier competition aims to offer consistent annual fixtures for sides outside of World Cup years.

Scotland, who are in the second tier, begin against South Africa on 13 October before facing the United States on 20 October, with their final game against Japan on 27 October.

Scotland will have hopes of topping WXV2 after South Africa's struggles at the World Cup, which included a 75-0 loss to England. The USA lost to Italy in that competition, a side Scotland beat a few months later in the 2023 Six Nations.

Even they do so, there is no promotion to WXV1 in the first year of the competition.

Image source, SNS

Good afternoon everyone. Scotland are in Stellenbosch for their first game of the inaugural WXV tournament, taking on hosts South Africa.

Kick-off is just 20 minutes away, so let's get cracking...