How Scotland U20 got back in the big time with eight-try victory in World Trophy final

Kenny Murray’s side were worthy winners, scoring eight tries in a 48-10 victory to lift the silverware and gain promotion. They will play in the elite level World Rugby U20 Championship next year, ending their five-year exile from the top-tier. The Scots had been relegated in 2019 after finishing 12th of 12 teams in the tournament in Argentina. The competitions were then suspended for three years due to Covid but when they returned last year Scotland suffered a shock loss to Uruguay in the pool stage of the Trophy in Kenya.

There were no mishaps this time. Scotland hosted the competition at Edinburgh Rugby’s Hive Stadium and sailed through the pool stage, racking up a century of points against both Samoa and Hong Kong China before beating Japan 46-10 to seal their place in the final.

The young Americans defended stoutly for long spells but the Scots prevailed thanks to a dominant performance from their pack. The tries came from a Euan McVie hat-trick, a double from the excellent Jerry Blyth-Lafferty and single scores from Johnny Ventisei, Tom Currie and Kerr Yule. Jack Hocking kicked three conversions and Andrew McLean one. Keelan Farrell got a late consolation try for the US.

The promotion was deserved after thoroughly professional performances throughout the tournament during which Scotland scored over 300 points in their four games.

“I’m very proud of the players,” said head coach Murray who had special words of praise for the captain, Liam McConnell. “It’s been four games in 15 days and it’s been tough - it takes it out the boys but I think we managed the squad well and I’m really proud of the performance over the last four games.

“Liam has had a tough two years leading it. We’ve not won a lot of games but he’s played 20 games at this level which is an incredible achievement and he’s finished his under-20 career by picking up the trophy and that’s one of the most pleasing aspects tonight.”

Murray’s said the squad’s fitness was key to their success. “Anyone watching can see we’re well conditioned,” he added. “We’ve had more of our under-20 players in the senior academy and I think that’s made a difference, with the guys playing a good level of rugby over the year. We’re prepared well for this and I’m really pleased with the performance. We scored over 300 points and conceded 32 and we couldn’t ask for any more than that from the boys.”

In a sign of what was to come in the final, Scotland stole the first lineout and shoved the US back on the first scrum but they had to be patient to reap the rewards of their forward dominance.

The US threatened briefly in the early stages but after a searing break from close to his own line by Scots stand-off Andrew McLean, virtually the whole first half was played out in the American half. The breakthrough came in the ninth minute through McVie. Scotland kicked a penalty to the corner and used their lineout to set up the chance, a tactic they would use regularly. The US held them up initially but the Edinburgh lock forced his way over eventually.

The home side had to wait until the 26th minute for try number two. It started with a great break from Conor McAlpine and although the scrum-half couldn’t make it the whole way he did well to offload. The Scots worked the ball out the backs and Ventisei cut back inside to score. McLean, who’d been off target with his first conversion attempt, made no mistake this time.

An ambitious penalty attempt from close to halfway from US full-back Corbin Smith fell short and soon after Currie notched the Scots’ third try with a pick and go from close range after more forward pressure to make it 17-0 at the turn.

The US fielded a player called Braemar Murray in the second row and they had been left with a mountain to climb but they did get off the mark with a Smith penalty early in the second half. Scotland responded almost immediately with their fourth try, once again trusting their lineout to deliver which it duly did and Jerry Blyth-Lafferty was at the end of the driving maul. The hooker had been one of Scotland’s most dynamic performers and he scored his second in the 65th minute, again off the back of a lineout drive. Hocking, on for McLean, slotted the conversion.

McVie, who had got the ball rolling with the opening try, completed his hat-trick with two tries in four minutes, both from close range and both converted by Hocking. Scotland made absolutely sure when replacement Kerr Yule surged over for their eighth try but the final word went to the US when Farrell touched down in the corner after a clever cross-kick from Smith, who converted.

Scorers: Scotland U20: Tries: McVie 3, Ventisei, Currie, J Blyth-Lafferty 2, Yule. Cons: McLean, Hocking 3. USA U20: Try: Farrell. Con: Smith. Pen: Smith.

Scotland U20: 15 F Watson; 14 F Doyle, 13 J Ventisei, 12 F Thomson (22 K Yule 57), 11 G Gwynn; 10 A McLean (J Hocking 50), 9 C McAlpine (H Patterson 66); 1 R Deans (17 B White 58), 2 J Blyth-Lafferty (16 S Stephen 69), 3 O Blyth-Lafferty (18 J Shearer 72), 4 E McVie, 5 R Hart (19 D Cockburn 52), 6 L McConnell, 7 F Douglas (20 O Duncan 64), 8 T Currie.

USA U20: 15 C Smith; 14 J Vassel, 13 D Besag, 12 M Threlkeld (22 O Cline 52), 11 K Farrell; 10 R Santos, 9 S Huntley (21 S Williams 61); 1 A Ross (17 T Wagner 61), 2 C Crist (16 S Smith 50), 3 A Rosenmeier (18 L Schaefer 50), 4 G Engels (19 B Muller 40), 5 B Murray, 6 G Pedegana (23 R Hahn 61), 7 D Lowther (20 D Fortune 40), 8 L Ballinger.

Referee: Katsuki Furuse (Japan)