Scotland crushed the United States 85–0 at Murrayfield, running in 13 tries to claim the biggest win in the stadium’s 100-year history and the third-largest victory in their Test history.
Jamie Dobie and Darcy Graham both scored hat-tricks, Duhan van der Merwe marked his 50th cap with a brace, and Scotland’s defence completed the job by keeping the Eagles scoreless in a ruthless Quilter Nations Series outing.
Relentless first-half sets record tone
Few inside Murrayfield expected anything other than a Scotland victory, but the manner and margin of it still stunned. With both squads missing frontline players because the fixture fell outside the official Test window, this was billed as an opportunity for fringe and developing talent to impress. Scotland’s did so from the opening minutes.
After just five minutes, Dylan Richardson powered over to open the scoring. From there, the hosts barely let the USA breathe. Van der Merwe, leading the team out on his milestone appearance, finished a sweeping move for his first try of the night, set up by a blistering line break and basketball-style offload from debutant flanker Liam McConnell.
Graham and Dobie then began to cut loose. Both crossed twice before the interval, with Scotland repeatedly stretching an outgunned and disjointed USA defence. McConnell was central again, nicking a lineout and launching the attack that ended with Graham collecting a sharp pass from Kyle Rowe to claim his second.
By the time the half-time whistle went, Scotland led 45–0. The game was long gone as a contest, but Gregor Townsend’s side showed little inclination to ease off.
Graham and Dobie complete their trebles
Any hope the USA had of stemming the tide disappeared early in the second half. Graham darted in to complete his hat-trick just a few minutes after the restart, moving him level with Van der Merwe on 34 Test tries for Scotland.
Dobie, who started at scrum-half and later shifted to the wing after Graham’s withdrawal, continued to shine. His deft chip over the top created a break that allowed Graham to gather and return the ball for Dobie to race under the posts. Later, a clever support line off a Stafford McDowall midfield surge brought him his third try and sealed a richly deserved player-of-the-match display.
Scotland’s scoring did not stop there. Rowe finished a flowing move in the second half, helped in part by Dobie’s involvement in the build-up. McDowall powered over for a deserved try of his own, George Horne added another from the bench, and Ollie Smith also crossed as the USA defence collapsed under a late onslaught.
Adam Hastings and Horne shared the kicking duties, landing five conversions apiece to complete the 85–0 scoreline and underline Scotland’s dominance.
McConnell makes a statement on debut
Among the many positives for Townsend, McConnell’s outing in the back row stood out. Thrown in after only a handful of professional appearances for Edinburgh, the 21-year-old brought intensity in both attack and defence.
Beyond the eye-catching break that created Van der Merwe’s first try and the lineout steal that preceded Graham’s second, McConnell made several more surging runs that had the USA scrambling. On one of them he looked certain to put Horne away, only for a slight loss of composure at the final pass to let the visitors off the hook.
Even so, the performance hinted at significant future potential in a position where Scotland already possess serious depth.
“Cohesive” Scotland delight Townsend
Townsend was quick to highlight how quickly this reshuffled side had gelled.
“Straight away, the players were very cohesive which is hard to achieve in a week’s training, with a brand new team, but it just shows you the togetherness this group has, but also how hard they worked.
“We asked for effort and physicality and we got that for most of the game, clearing the ball in contact, but also when we had to defend. We were aggressive, and disciplined in the main.
“The players really worked hard for each other. It’s great there was such a big crowd tonight, and they got to see our strengths. We’ve obviously got a few very talented guys in our team.”
For Dobie, whose hat-trick capped a superb all-round performance at nine and then on the wing, the night was as enjoyable as it looked.
“Fun is one of the words to describe that. It can be tempting to go off script, but we didn’t do that and that’s why we scored 80-odd points, because we stuck to the plan.
“The most pleasing thing is to keep them scoreless. It was a big focus point before the game, and even more so at half time.
“I’m loving my rugby at the moment. It’s been a good start to the season, and that’s the same for a lot of the boys in the squad.”
His comments underlined a key theme of the evening: Scotland’s ability to keep structure and discipline even as the score mounted.
USA exposed as Scotland eye All Blacks
While Scotland will rightly enjoy the scale and style of this victory, there was an acknowledgement that sterner tests lie ahead. The USA arrived under strength and with their domestic club game in turmoil, and they struggled badly to cope with Scotland’s pace, power and cohesion.
Next week brings a completely different challenge when New Zealand roll into Edinburgh. With Finn Russell, Sione Tuipulotu and other front-line players set to return, Scotland will field a much-changed side – and a vastly higher standard of opposition awaits.
Yet this blowout, with its clean sheet, hat-tricks and record margin at Murrayfield, ensures Scotland go into that All Blacks clash with momentum and genuine belief.
Scoring summary
Scotland 85 (45)
Tries: Richardson, Van der Merwe (2), Graham (3), Dobie (3), Rowe, McDowall, Horne, Smith
Conversions: Hastings (5), Horne (5)
United States 0 (0)
Teams
Scotland: Rowe; Graham, Smith, McDowall (c), Van der Merwe; Hastings, Dobie; Sutherland, Harrison, Rae, Cummings, Sykes, McConnell, Richardson, Dempsey.
Replacements: Morris, McBeth, Walker, Samuel, Williamson, Bradbury, Horne, Thompson.
United States: Storti; Wilson, Besag, Boni, Fricker; Hilsenbeck, De Haas; Lindenmuth, Geiger, Davis, Redelinghuys, Damm (c), Helu, Daniel, Ryan.
Replacements: McNulty, Telea-Ilalio, Niuafe, Nawali, Alikhan, McVeigh, Lopeti, Carty.
