Scotland signed off on a turbulent 2025 with a comfortable 56-0 win over Tonga at Murrayfield.
The Scots were never in any danger against the Pacific Islanders, who showed ill-discipline right from the off and were put to the sword, particularly in the second half as Scotland’s strength from the bench showed.
Gregor Townsend’s side - which showed 14 changes from last weekend’s painful defeat by Argentina - ran in eight tries. Substitutes George Horne and Ewan Ashman bagged doubles and there were scores from Jamie Ritchie, George Turner, Max Williamson and Duhan van der Merwe. Fergus Burke and Horne were flawless from the tee.
While Scotland will be have pleased to have chalked up such an impressive scoreline and rallied after the defeat against the Pumas, their full record this year only shows wins over Italy, Wales, Maori All Blacks, Samoa, USA and Tonga, with defeats from more established nations such as England, France, Ireland, Fiji, New Zealand and Australia.
It is a set of results that has placed further scrutiny on head coach Gregor Townsend, whose future was questioned in the build-up to this game.
Here are the player ratings from the match against Tonga at Murrayfield.
13. Ollie Smith
Kept things ticking over at centre and complimented Glasgow Warriors teammate Sione Tuipulotu. 7 | SNS Group / SRU
14. Kyle Rowe
Plenty of running from the winger. Never stopped going and set up Horne for a try late in the game. Went to full-back when Steyn came on. 7 | SNS Group / SRU
15. Tom Jordan
Solid at full-back and moved out to stand-off later in the game. Polished performance. 7 | SNS Group / SRU
16. Replacements
The bench made a huge difference. George Horne (above) added some zest to the backline, grabbing two tries and setting up another. There was another brace for Ewan Ashman, part of a completely fresh front row with Will Hurd and Nathan McBeth. Stafford McDowall, Kyle Steyn and Josh Bayliss also appeared. | SNS Group / SRU