Scotland 85 United States 0
IF Donald Trump suddenly decides to slap fresh tariffs on Scotch whisky this weekend then it shouldn’t be too hard to figure out why.
To borrow that famous football commentary line, the President’s boys took a helluva beating here as a rampant Scotland opened their Autumn International series by running in 13 tries against a United States side that failed to fire a single shot.
The match was all over as a contest by the time Gregor Townsend’s side scored their third try within the first 10 minutes. At half-time, with Scotland 45-0 ahead, there were a few starting to pore over the statistics to see if a record drubbing could be on the cards.
By the end a piece of history had indeed been claimed, the 85-0 thumping the third biggest ever Scotland victory and their best result in a century of matches at Murrayfield, even if the opposition was poor as seen in these parts for quite some time.
Scotland’s Jamie Dobie scores their fourth try in the rout of the USA
Ollie Smith of Scotland celebrates after scoring his team’s thirteenth try
There was also another twist in the ongoing duel to claim the crown of all-time try scorer, with Darcy Graham’s hat-trick taking him level with Duhan van der Merwe on 34.
This was a big night for van der Merwe as he marked a half-century of appearances for his adopted country by scoring a double, usurped both by Graham and Jamie Dobie who also claimed three tries.
Dylan Richardson, the only forward to score on the night, Kyle Rowe, Stafford McDowall, George Horne and Ollie Smith all also crossed the line in a Test match that was competitive in name alone.
The torrent of tries was enough to warm up the 50,000-strong crowd on a chilly Edinburgh evening and send them home or into the nearby pubs with a smile on their faces.
What it means for next weekend’s match against the All Blacks, however, is anyone’s guess. Choosing a fixture against the world ranked No. 15 – a side that lost to rugby minnows, Spain, earlier this year – and running in a barrowload of tries will certainly have helped to top up confidence levels.
It also allowed Townsend, deprived of his England and France-based Exiles, the chance to hand debuts to Liam McConnell and Harri Morris, and a sprinkling of caps to a few others who tend to reside on the fringes of things.
Scotland’s wing Darcy Graham dives over the line to score a try at Murrayfield
Scotland’s Duhan van der Merwe scores his side’s second try of the game
McConnell, in particular, enjoyed a brilliant cameo when he powered down the line before executing a one-handed basketball pass for van der Merwe’s first. Two similar gallops up the field in the second half also had the fans out of their seats. The Edinburgh flanker already looks like one to watch for the future.
On the other hand, however, this was no dress rehearsal at all for Scotland for what they can expect to face when New Zealand pitch up on Saturday given how little they were tested in defence. And a fair number of those involved here will now be thanked for their efforts and sent back to their clubs, with Finn Russell, Blair Kinghorn, Ben White, Sione Tuipulotu all back and available for the big one.
Still, you can only beat what is in front of you and Scotland did not stint in their efforts as they ran their opponents into the ground from the first whistle. This was the United States’ first visit to Murrayfield since 2000 when they were lashed 53–6 and, after another heavy beating, they won’t be desperate to return any time soon.
Scotland debutant Liam McConnell goes on a run against the USA
Van der Merwe spilled an early opportunity but it was the only let-off for the visitors on a night to forget. The tries arrived at steady intervals, enough to keep the crowd happy and negate the need for the dreaded Mexican wave.
It was Richardson who claimed the first after five minutes, powering over from close range for his first Murrayfield try after strong work by the pack. Instead, it was the backs who claimed the glory – as they often do – as Scotland, in their all pink kit, exposed the Americans’ stretched defence to pick holes either through the middle or out wide with unerring regularity.
McConnell, selflessly, elected not to attempt to mark his debut with a try by instead passing inside to van der Merwe to stroll over from close range for the second,
Graham then got his first of three after a long, looping pass from Adam Hastings left the winger in splendid isolation in the corner. That ended any prospect of this being a competitive fixture and instead Scotland continued to pile on the pressure.
The fourth involved a nice interchange between Dobie and Graham, the scrum-half clipping a kick forward that was collected by the winger who ran at pace before setting up Dobie to score.
Next to bask in the glory was van der Merwe who scored his second in trademark fashion, a thunderous run down the line involving a slight touch in the brakes to embarrass American winger Tony Fricker who flew into touch allowing van der Merwe to score with ease.
McDowall, captain for the day, was the creator of the sixth score, throwing a dummy and picking a perfect line to power forward before allowing Dobie to score his second.
There was no respite for the beleaguered Americans who ended up shipping a seventh try before the half-time break, Graham collecting Rowe’s neat flip to again dot down.
Scotland’s Adam Hastings kicks a conversion in the victory over USA
Scotland winger Darcy Graham breaks through to score his team’s third try
Scotland made five changes at the interval but it did little to alter the flow of the match as Graham swapped passes with Smith before landing his hat-trick, moving alongside van der Merwe as the all-time try scorer in the process.
Dobie was soon shifting to the wing to accommodate George Horne from where he set up Rowe for the try his overall hard work deserved.
Even the home fans were starting to feel bad, groaning in frustration when the USA butchered a rare opportunity in the Scottish 22.
The home players, though, were not of a mind to show mercy as they ran in four more scores. McDowall crossed the line after fastening onto Ross Thompson’s pass, before van der Merwe and Rowe combined to send Horne running clear.
Dobie completed his hat-trick after good work again by Rowe before Smith crossed for try No. 13 of a great night for Scotland – and a dismal one for their visitors.
