Scotland prepared for next weekend’s match against New Zealand with a 85-0 annihilation of USA at Murrayfield.
Winger Darcy Graham and scrum-half Jamie Dobie landed hat-tricks and Duhan van der Merwe, on his 50th cap, crossed the whitewash twice. There were tries for Dylan Richardson, Kyle Rowe, George Horne, Ollie Smith and captain Stafford McDowall. Adam Hastings kicked ten points, while Horne landed ten from the boot as well.
Scotland were without players based in England and France, but there was no need for them. USA were one of the worst international teams to visit Murrayfield and contributed to their own downfall with some awful defending.
This result is Scotland’s biggest winning margin at Murrayfield, eclipsing a 48-0 win over Spain in 1999. They fell short of breaking the all-time record victory, an 100-8 trouncing of Japan in 2004, although after an electric first half with 45 points on the board, the prospect was there.
Edinburgh duo Liam McConnell and Harri Morris made their debuts but there are likely to be many changes when the All Blacks visit Edinburgh on Saturday.
Here are marks out of ten for the Scotland starters at Murrayfield.
9. Jamie Dobie
Continued his excellent form for Glasgow Warriors with a starring performance here. Pulled strings at scrum-half. Got in on the scoring act on 20 minutes, bursting on to a pass after good work from Graham. Landed his second on 27 minutes and was full of creativity thereafter, showing his versatility on the wing and getting his deserved hat-trick try on 78 minutes. Stunning show. 10 | SNS Group / SRU
10. Adam Hastings
Played 40 minutes before making way due to an HIA. Strolled the first half, kicking ten points and missing two of his seven conversions. 7 | SNS Group / SRU
11. Duhan van der Merwe
Fluffed his lines right at the start with a bad try-denying fumble, but opened his account on seven minutes and never looked back. Wiped out poor American winger Fricker to add his second on 25 minutes. Might be a tad disappointed not add more points to the board but played his part with line-breaks and power. 9 | SNS Group / SRU
12. Stafford McDowall
Good night's work for the captain. Set up Dobie's second try with run and dummy and then bulldozed over for his own score on 71 minutes. 9 | SNS Group / SRU