Another lost opportunity for Scotland means that they now have to rely on Argentina to give them a chance of being seeded to reach the quarterfinals of the next World Cup. They could also pay a heavy price for their gallant but ultimately futile performance against South Africa, with Frank Hadden, the head coach, revealing a catalogue of 11 players with varying degrees of injury that make at least some doubtful for the next game.

The main concerns are over Chris Paterson, who came off early with a suspected broken cheek, and Thom Evans, who was in obvious pain when he eventually hobbled off the field late in the second half. By yesterday, the news on both was improving. Paterson was seen by a specialist who told him the damage did not require surgery, but it will not be until later in the week that they will be able to tell if there is a hairline fracture. Evans has a dead leg as well as extensive bruising to his left arm.

As yet there is no decision whether either will be available for the game against Canada in Aberdeen. On top of that, both Phil Godman and Allister Hogg had stitches in head wounds, and Jason White is likely to miss training today with a neck problem. The other six should recover in time.

Paterson’s injury, though, cost Scotland the match. They have tended to get complacent about goalkicking since he emerged as one of the best in the world, but without him the cupboard was bare. Dan Parks, who looked a bag of nerves when he came on as a blood replacement — and was booed by the Scottish support — missed a pair of penalties while Godman missed two penalties and a drop goal. In all, 15 points went begging in a game Scotland lost by four.

At least he had an excuse, which is more than can be said for Godman’s miss in front of the posts six minutes from time. Then he butchered an overlap on his left, electing to go alone, and his final act was to kick the ball to South Africa when his side desperately needed to hang on to it.

All of which was a pity, since he had played superbly up to those final minutes, putting men into space with his long accurate passes, and tactically controlling the match in a way that gave the lie to the idea that he cannot kick. He almost won it with a break from behind his own line, and a pinpoint pass to Hogg that set up, first, Mike Blair, and then Ben Cairns on darts to the line that were stopped a frustrating few inches short.

He did play a vital role in Scotland breaking their Murrayfield try drought, following up a brilliant break from Blair with a dart that almost reached the line before the forwards piled in and Nathan Hines scored his second international try in 55 caps. He converted from under the posts, having put over an earlier penalty from about the same spot, which meant that Scotland took a ten-point lead into half time and dared dream of pushing on for victory.

Instead, it was South Africa who came out fired up for the second half, their momentum putting the Scots under real pressure for Ruan Pienaar, the fly half, to bring his side within catching distance with two penalties before Jacque Fourie, the replacement wing, gave the Springboks the lead. A third Pienaar penalty gave his side a bit of breathing space, but Scotland showed tremendous spirit, mounting a final assault that almost came up with the winning score.

Apart from the missed penalty, they were awarded another penalty in front of the posts but with time running out and needing five points, Scotland ran it. They were scrambling all over the South Africa line but could not find the final pass and when the forwards had the shunt on from a scrum five, elected to run it. So close, but still so far.

Scorers: Scotland: Try: Hines (38min). Conversion: Godman. Penalty goal: Godman (27). South Africa: Try: Fourie (57). Penalty goals: Pienaar 3 (44, 54, 65).

Scoring sequence (Scotland first): 3-0, 10-0 (half-time), 10-3, 10-6, 10-11, 10-14.

Scotland: C Paterson (rep: H Southwell, 10); T Evans (rep: R Lawson, 72), B Cairns, N De Luca, R Lamont; P Godman (rep: D Parks, 11-21, 39-42), M Blair; A Jacobsen (rep: A Dickinson, 64), R Ford, E Murray, N Hines (rep: M Mustchin, 74), J Hamilton, J White (rep: S Gray, 56), J Barclay, A Hogg.

South Africa: C Jantjes; J-P Pietersen, A Jacobs, J de Villiers (rep: F Steyn, 65), B Habana (rep: J Fourie, 54); R Pienaar, R Januarie; T Mtawarira (rep: G Steenkamp, 74), B du Plessis (rep: B Mujati, 5), J Smit, B Botha (rep: A Bekker, 60), V Matfield, S Burger (rep: D Rossouw, 74), J Smith, P Spies (rep: R Kankowski, 74).

Referee: D Pearson (England).

Attendance: 36,037.