Gregor Townsend's Scotland side concluded their autumn campaign with a commanding eight-try, 56-0 victory over a ill-disciplined Tonga at a rain-swept Murrayfield. While the result provided a emphatic finish, it could not overshadow the disappointment of earlier defeats to New Zealand and Argentina that had defined their series.
Red Card Paves the Way for Early Dominance
The match's trajectory was set early when Tongan back-rower Semisi Paea received a yellow card in the 5th minute for a dangerous clearout. Following a bunker review, this was upgraded to a 20-minute red card, leaving the visitors a man down for a significant portion of the first half.
Scotland ruthlessly capitalised on their numerical advantage. Jamie Ritchie, making his first appearance of the autumn, powered through two defenders to open the scoring in the 10th minute. The occasion was then marked by hooker George Turner, who celebrated his 50th cap for Scotland by charging through a gap to score next to the posts. The first-half try-scoring was rounded off by lock Max Williamson, who wriggled his way over from close range. Stand-off Fergus Burke was successful with all three conversion attempts, giving the hosts a comfortable 21-0 lead at the interval.
Van der Merwe Reclaims Historic Record
Any remote possibility of a Tongan fightback was extinguished by their continued lack of discipline, with lock Harison Mataele and backs Taniela Filimone and Fine Inisi all sent to the sin-bin for cynical offences during the second and third quarters.
After a period of stubborn Tongan defence, the historic moment arrived in the 59th minute. Following good work by substitute George Horne, Duhan van der Merwe ran clear to score his 35th international try. This crucial score moved him back ahead of his Edinburgh team-mate Darcy Graham at the top of Scotland's all-time try-scoring charts.
Late Flurry Adds Gloss to the Scoreline
With Tongan resistance thoroughly broken, Scotland ran in four further tries in the final quarter to give the scoreline a truly emphatic look. Replacements Ewan Ashman and George Horne both scored doubles in the closing stages, showcasing the depth of the Scottish squad and ensuring the team finished their challenging campaign on a resounding high.
The comprehensive nature of the win, built against a side ranked 19th in the world, provides a positive note but also highlights the gulf in performance required to consistently challenge the top-tier nations like New Zealand and Argentina.
