Van Der Merwe Becomes Scotland’s Record Try-scorer In Thrashing Of Tonga

Duhan van der Merwe moved successful beforehand of Darcy Graham astatine nan apical of Scotland’s all-time try-scoring charts arsenic Gregor Townsend’s broadside rounded disconnected a disappointing autumn pinch an eight-try 56-0 triumph complete indisciplined Tonga astatine Murrayfield.

The Scots’ bid was ever going to beryllium defined by results against New Zealand and Argentina, truthful back-to-back losses successful those 2 Tests meant nan sojourn of a Tonga broadside classed 19th successful nan world would beryllium mostly irrelevant successful nan last study – unless Townsend’s men were beaten again.

That script ne'er looked apt erstwhile nan hosts – pinch 14 changes from nan broadside that started against nan Pumas a week earlier – eased into a 21-0 interval lead done converted tries from nan forwards Jamie Ritchie, George Turner and Max Williamson, each scored astatine a clip erstwhile Semisi Paea was serving a 20-minute reddish card.

Tonga had 3 different players fixed yellowish cards earlier Van der Merwe’s 35th world effort conscionable earlier nan hr took him backmost up of his Edinburgh teammate Graham. The substitutes Ewan Ashman and George Horne scored 2 tries each successful nan last 4th to adhd gloss to nan scoreline.

The visitors were connected nan backmost ft from nan commencement and their hopes of building their measurement into nan crippled were dented erstwhile Paea was shown a yellowish paper successful nan 5th infinitesimal for a vulnerable clearout. After a bunker review, nan back-rower’s infringement was changed to a reddish card.

Scotland capitalised by scoring their first 3 tries successful his absence. The first came successful nan 10th infinitesimal erstwhile nan Perpignan back-rower Ritchie, connected his first quality of nan autumn, powered his measurement done 2 Tongans to unfastened nan scoring.

The scoreboard shows nan last people astatine Murrayfield, arsenic Scotland ended their autumn internationals pinch a one-sided victory. Photograph: Jane Barlow/PA

Turner, nan hooker, past marked his 50th headdress pinch a effort erstwhile he charged done a spread to people adjacent to nan posts aft being fed by Ritchie. The 3rd came successful nan 23rd infinitesimal erstwhile second-rower Max Williamson wriggled his measurement complete from adjacent range. Fergus Burke added nan extras for each three.

When Tonga returned to their afloat complement of 15, they managed to stem nan travel for nan remainder of nan half earlier nan fastener Harison Mataele was shown a yellowish for a cynical offside correct connected half-time.

The Scots would person been mindful that they besides led 21-0 a week antecedently against Argentina earlier capitulating to a 33-24 defeat. Any imaginable of nan constricted Tongans mounting a comeback, however, was efficaciously killed by their ain indiscipline arsenic Taniela Filimone and Fine Inisi were fixed yellowish cards for deliberate knock-ons successful nan 3rd quarter.

After a play of guidance from nan visitors, Van der Merwe ran clear to people nan Scots’ 4th effort successful nan 59th infinitesimal aft bully activity by Horne to group him up.

A beleaguered Tonga fell isolated successful nan closing stages arsenic Ashman and Horne some helped themselves successful nan last quarter.