Try-le Steyn
Scotland thrash Tonga as debutants make their mark, Aussie preview and woman's squad named
WELCOME BACK: how good is it to have international rugby back, and with proper fans this time? Murrayfield was buzzing at the weekend, and things are building nicely for the bigger tests against Australia, South Africa and Japan. Saturday’s comfortable victory over Tonga will have pleased Toonie and co, particularly the performance of the day’s debutants, but the head coach will be keen to stress that tougher tests lie ahead, as focus shifts to the return of Dave Rennie to Scottish shores. This week we look back at the main takeaways from the Tonga match, cast our eye over the recently announced Scotland Woman’s squad, and as always sling some awful puns around. Enjoy!
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SCOTLAND V TONGA: Scotland kicked off their autumn series with a convincing 60-14 victory over Tonga at Murrayfield. Townsend’s men will face far stiffer competition than this but he will be delighted at how his debutants showed up, some promise in Kinghorn’s maiden outing at standoff, and decent game time for the likes of Price, Watson and Zander Fagerson after their Lions exertions in the summer.
Kyle Steyn was the eventual man of the match, chalking up just the four tries, the first Scotland player to do so since Big Gav at the 1995 World Cup, while Rufus McLean (x2) and Pierre Schoeman both crossed on their debuts. Turner, Haining and Kebble also dotted over to complete the ten try rout.
DEBUT DAY: What of the day’s debutants? Mclean was eclipsed only by Steyn, taking to international rugby like a duck to water and playing with the same smile we have seen in Glasgow colours. While his first score showed determination and pluck, his second was all class, a drop of the shoulder and swivel of the hips leaving the Tonga defence clutching thin air. Although Duhan and Darcy appear to be in pole position for the starting wing spots against Australia, we wouldn’t bet against Toonie springing a surprise come selection time. We can’t get enough of this finish…
Pierre Schoeman carried on his good club form with Edinburgh, solid at the set piece, physical in the tackle and carrying well in heavier traffic. The thought of him lining up against South Africa is a mouth watering one. Sione Tuipulotu also had a decent outing, showcasing a nice range of passing skills. Jamie Hodgson showed up well and brought the sort of physicality that may see him partnered with Grant Gilchrist next week, or at least sitting on the bench, Luke Crosbie and Marshall Sykes made the most of their relatively short involvements and there were assured performances from young starlets Ross Thompson and Jamie Dobie. How good was the on field cap presentation as well?
And what about this from Luke Crosbie?
KINGHORN AT 10 - THE NEW MARMITE? Although far from perfect, and caveated by the quality of the opposition, Blair Kinghorn actually had a decent outing in his first international start at stand-off. In reality he has all the skills for the position - a big boot, a wide range of passing and decent vision - while his restarts are perhaps the best we have available. But for some reason Kinghorn seems to divide opinion, at least in the Twitter-verse (and also in a particularly vocal Anstruther pub on Saturday…). Ultimately his best position may still be fullback, but in the lead up to the World Cup, it doesn’t hurt to try out some different options.
AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE: but now the proper action begins, as Scotland look ahead to this Sunday’s test against Australia. Dave Rennie looks to be building something exciting with the Wallabies, after a few false starts, with a run of five straight victories to their name, including back to back wins over South Africa in the Rugby Championship. There will be further familiar faces at Murrayfield come Sunday, with Matt Taylor and Petrus du Plessis amongst Rennie’s back room staff.
While Rennie has successfully blooded a number of exciting youngsters that should feature this weekend, in recent months he has been able to call upon the services of veteran campaigners such as Quade Cooper and Samu Kerevi - a privilege he will not have this weekend after their Japanese employers stepped in and said “give us back our toys”. Added to Scotland’s recent good record against the Aussies, the prospect of a Sold Out BT Murrayfield™ and the impending return of the likes of Stuart Hogg, Finn Russell and co, and the scales maybe start to tip in favour of the home team...
SCOTLAND WOMENS SQUAD ANNOUNCED: Bryan Easson has named a 26-woman squad for the upcoming test against Japan at the DAM Health/Minifield/ERS stadium. Familiar names including the likes of Rachel Malcolm, Jade Konkel, Emma Wassell and Helen Nelson are joined by newcomers Shona Campbell, Meryl Smith, Anne Young and Holly McIntyre (all of whom ply their trade at Edinburgh University). Japan have recently qualified for the World Cup as the highest Asian finishers, and should provide good opposition ahead of Scotland’s qualifier tournament, which looks set to be held in Dubai in January.
SCOTS ABROAD
English Premiership
Gloucester v Exeter: Andrew Davidson (5), Adam Hastings (10) and Charlie Chapman (21) v Sam Skinner (6), Stuart Hogg (15) and Sam Hidalgo Clyne (21)
Bath v Wasps: D’arcy Rae (3) and Josh Bayliss (8) v Robin Hislop (1)
London Irish v Bristol: Alan Dell (17) and Kyle Rowe (23) v Jake Kerr (2) - former Scotland 7s man Rowe finishing well for a fine solo try
Northampton v Leicester: Fraser Dingwall (12), Rory Hutchinson (15) and Nick Auterac (17) v
Worcester v Sale: Finn Smith (10) and Duhan Van der Merwe (11) v Bevan Rodd (1) and Gus Warr (9) - Duhan grabbing himself a double, including this very Duhan-esque finish, to finally get on the scoresheet for his new side.
Harlequins v Saracens: Scott Steele (21) v Tim Swinson (5), Andy Christie (6) and Sean Maitland (14) - in further evidence of how exciting life gets at Thistle HQ, a random perusal of the Saracens website revealed that young back rower Andy Christie - who has been getting plenty of game time this season - is Scots qualified, and has represented Scotland age group sides in the past. If it’s good enough for Saracens…
Meanwhile in the Top 14, Finn Russell was once again on the bench for Racing 92, as they continue to persist with youngster Gibert. Perhaps not ideal prep for the upcoming AIs but lack of game time has not stopped Russell pulling world class performances out of the bag in the past.
Inexplicably, Josh Strauss continues to chug out in the boiler room for the Tel Aviv Heat - and apparently he had a blinder, as our friends at the European Super Cup were keen to point out.
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