Scotland 59-21 Portugal: Hosts rating 9 tries as Freddy Douglas turns into their youngest participant since 1963
Darcy Graham ties Scotland’s attempt file with twenty ninth profession rating; Arron Reed notches quick-fire second-half double as Scotland make it two wins from three in Autumn Nations; Gregor Townsend’s males sloppy at instances however register 9 tries; Scotland finish marketing campaign in opposition to Australia subsequent Sunday
Final Up to date: 16/11/24 7:18pm
Scotland scored 9 tries – together with a record-equalling effort for Darcy Graham – as they beat Portugal 59-21 at Murrayfield and teenager Freddy Douglas grew to become their youngest participant since 1963.
Again-rower Douglas, 19, got here on for the final quarter-hour to make his first senior look within the sport, having not but performed a membership sport for the Edinburgh first crew.
Wing Arron Reed notched a quick-fire brace within the second half, whereas Graham, Will Hurd, Stafford McDowall, Josh Bayliss, Jamie Bhatti and Jamie Dobie additionally crossed the whitewash along with a penalty attempt.
- Autumn Nations Collection: Full fixtures and outcomes
- Stream Sky Sports activities with NOW – no contract
Graham touched down after jinking via Portugal’s defence to match Duhan van der Merwe’s file of 29 Scotland tries.
The house aspect have been sloppy at instances – their line-out was a trigger for concern – they usually conceded three tries as Luka Begic, Raffaele Storti and Samuel Marques scored for Portugal.
However coach Gregor Townsend – who made 14 modifications – noticed his aspect dazzle in assault they usually now have two wins from three within the Autumn Nations Collection, after following an opening-round victory over Fiji with a spirited loss to world champions South Africa.
Scotland conclude their marketing campaign at residence to Australia subsequent Sunday earlier than turning consideration to their Six Nations opener in opposition to Italy on Saturday February 1.
Scotland see off plucky Portugal at Murrayfield
Hurd scored Scotland’s opening attempt after simply 4 minutes, whereas captain for the day, McDowall, seized on a unfastened go from Storti to register the second.
Portugal’s tough begin continued after they conceded a penalty attempt within the twenty seventh minute after Duarte Torgal was penalised – and sin-binned – for intentionally collapsing a maul.
In Torgal’s absence, Graham waltzed effortlessly previous three Portuguese gamers to attain, whereas Bayliss then breezed over on the precise for Scotland’s fifth attempt after pretty play by Tom Jordan and Rory Hutchinson.
Portugal finally bought off the mark within the final motion of the primary half via hooker Begic, just for Bhatti to push over and reassert Scotland’s authority 4 minutes into the second half.
Twitter Attributable to your consent preferences, you’re not capable of view this Privateness Choices
Portugal refused to capitulate, with Marques wriggling his approach over off the again of a scrum within the fifty fifth minute earlier than including a conversion.
Reed then put daylight between the groups with tries down the left earlier than Portugal scored their third attempt when Storti discovered a spot on the precise and darted over.
Scotland flexed their muscle tissues once more within the 73rd minute as alternative again Dobie went over the road.
Townsend: Scotland depth higher than ever
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend: “Portugal introduced a whole lot of physicality and line velocity that we needed to simply
modify to and discover options and the gamers did that.
“The primary half was in all probability extra scientific at instances, as soon as we bought via a sticky 5, 10 minutes. The second half, with the modifications and the very fact we did not have as a lot possession, perhaps it wasn’t as fluent.
“However that was a superb efficiency and an excellent win in opposition to a Take a look at crew.
Twitter Attributable to your consent preferences, you’re not capable of view this Privateness Choices
“I feel it is positively essentially the most power in depth we have had throughout the board. We have made 14 changes- it will have been 15 if Harry Paterson had been match.
“We have been choosing gamers that hadn’t performed for us earlier than, hadn’t performed many video games they usually carried out properly. So I feel our depth is healthier than I’ve ever seen it.
“It was actually pleasing that [Douglas] did not go in search of issues. He caught to the defensive system, got here up, put his tackles in. I have been very impressed along with his maturity and professionalism this week.”