After their 56-0 victory over Tonga in their Autumn Nations Series clash at Murrayfield, here’s how the Scotland team performed on Sunday.
15 Tom Jordan: The New Zealand-born utility back gave his side good momentum from the back as he caught the eye with several outstanding carries. Although he wasn’t really tested under the high ball, Jordan’s aerial game was of a high standard throughout, as well as his positioning at the back. 8
14 Kyle Rowe: Scotland’s backline received good front-foot ball from their forwards, and Rowe was one of the home side’s best attackers as he kept the visitors’ defenders on their toes for the full 80 minutes. Unlucky not to score a try, but can be happy with his efforts. 8
13 Ollie Smith: He came into the run-on side and had several good attacking moments as he created opportunities for his team-mates and also did his bit on defence. 7
12 Sione Tuipulotu: Scotland’s skipper was his side’s star of the show in last weekend’s loss to Argentina and continued where he left off in that match as he tested Tonga‘s defence with several strong ball carries before leaving the field after 55 minutes, with Stafford McDowall replacing him. 7
11 Duhan van der Merwe: The British & Irish Lions flyer returned to the run-on side, after being dropped out of the matchday squad, then added to the bench, and he was keen to make up for lost time with some strong carries. His efforts were rewarded as he scored a well-taken try, which sees him moving to the top of Scotland‘s all-time try-scoring charts again, ahead of Darcey Graham. 8
10 Fergus Burke: The Saracens star had big boots to fill as he came into the run-on side as Finn Russell’s replacement, but he delivered a fine all-round display during a 67-minute stint on the field before Kyle Steyn replaced him. Impressed with his playmaking skills and his goalkicking, which saw him slotting five out of five conversions. 8
9 Ben White: The Toulon scrum-half also made his return to the run-on side and delivered a slick service to his outside backs before George Horne replaced him in the 55th minute. 7
The forwards
8 Magnus Bradbury: Another one who came into the starting line-up after kicking his heels on his sidelines and showed his class with an outstanding performance. The Edinburgh stalwart was brilliant on attack as he caught the eye with 15 barnstorming carries and finished with a match-high 137 metres gained, which resulted in him walking off with the official man-of-the-match award. 9
7 Jamie Ritchie: Not far behind Bradbury was his club-mate Ritchie, who showed his class with an excellent attacking display for the full 80 minutes and crossed for the opening try early on. Bradbury and Ritchie combined brilliantly on attack, and apart from that, the former Scotland skipper also put his body on the line on defence. 8
6 Andy Onyeama-Christie: He was in the thick of the action from the outset as he shone on either side of the ball during his time on the field. Onyeama-Christie did his basics well, especially with ball in hand, where he asked several questions of the Tongans until Josh Bayliss replaced him on the hour mark.7
5 Max Williamson: Came to the fore with an outstanding all-round display as he took the fight to Tonga on attack, especially at close quarters and scored a deserved try. He was also solid on defence and impressed in the lineouts as well. Crossed for a deserved try in the opening half before being replaced by Marshall Sykes after 55 minutes. 7
4 Alex Samuel: Like his fellow Glasgow Warrior Williamson, Samuel also caught the eye with a superb all-round effort. He won his fair share of lineout balls and impressed on defence. 7
3 Zander Fagerson: The experienced front-row will be happy with his performance upon his return from a lengthy injury setback. Fagerson was solid in the execution of his core duties, while he also impressed with the ball in hand before being replaced by Will Hurd in the 48th minute. 7
2 George Turner: He came into the run-on side and gave a good account of himself as he was lively with the ball in hand and did what was expected of him on defence. Replaced by Ewn Ashman in the 47th minute. 7
1 Rory Sutherland: Like fellow prop Fagerson, he did what was expected of him in the scrums during a 48-minute shift, with Nathan McBeth coming on to replace him. Sutherland also won a turnover for the Scots. 7
Replacements: While Scotland’s starting line-up laid a solid platform, there was a definite improvement in the intensity levels once their head coach Gregor Townsend started ringing the changes early in the second half. While all the replacements impressed, there were excellent performances from Ashman and Horne, and both were rewarded with a brace of tries apiece. 8