Despite Scotland passing up the earliest of opportunities, a series of penalty infringements from USA at scrum time writ large the difference in heft between the two packs and with one of those advantages, Dylan Richardson burrowed over for the game’s opening try. Adam Hastings converted (7-0, 5 mins).

A little over a minute later, Scotland were in again. A barnstorming run up the left touchline by debutant Liam McConnell, following an easy turnover, led to the blindside flanker lobbing the ball back inside to van der Merwe, who bagged a 33^rd international try on his landmark appearance. Hastings added the extras (14-0, 7 mins).

Not to be outdone, fellow prolific flyer Darcy Graham then went in as Scotland roared to three tries before 10 minutes had elapsed. A looping ball by Hastings, following another generous turnover on the USA 22, was caught and finished in typical style by the right winger, with the conversion once more textbook (21-0, 10 mins).

The Americans enjoyed some territory by way of a penalty from a collapsed scrum, and another when their scrum-half Ruben de Haas was played off the ball, but a quickly taken tap penalty was butchered.

Scotland didn’t take long to surge back, Jamie Dobie finishing with aplomb after Graham had collected his own chip and chase around halfway. Hastings went four from four from the tee (28-0, 20 mins).

Van der Merwe bludgeoned his way to a double shortly after, following slick hands from Kyle Rowe in midfield, with the big winger bumping away Toby Fricker en route. Hastings missed the extras from near the touchline, although inclusive of the 2024 tour match in Washington DC, the stand-off had landed his last 10 against the USA (33-0, 24 mins).

Dobie double up as well after a clever run by captain Stafford McDowall, the scrum-half providing support on his skipper’s shoulder before once more going over in a classy finish which Hastings converted (40-0, 27 mins).

After a lull, Patrick Harrison almost brought the house down with a 70m foot race, the hooker motoring along with the will of the Murrayfield faithful, only to lose out to Fricker at the last.

Scotland grabbed another before the interval, with Graham adding his own brace. From a stolen line-out, Hastings found Rowe, whose rapid flick bounced into his winger’s clutches. Hastings couldn’t add from the right touchline, but it had been as serene a half as international rugby could throw up (45-0, 36 mins).

Half-time: Scotland 45-0 USA

Gregor Townsend replaced five players at the interval, with the likes of Scott Cummings, Rory Sutherland and Jack Dempsey coming off, perhaps in anticipation of next week’s Test against the All Blacks.

Scotland were soon back in the groove and despite the change in personnel, it was local hero Darcy Graham who lit proceedings back up. A break from his own 22 after a lovely sleight of hand by Rowe set Graham haring up the right-hand touchline, from which point he exchanged well-timed passes with Ollie Smith before going over for his hat-trick, tying wing mate van der Merwe on 34 for Scotland (50-0, 44 mins).

With George Horne coming on at scrum-half, Dobie was moved to the wing to accommodate the departure of hat-trick hero Graham, and Dobie was involved soon after, breaking inside the US 22 and putting Rowe over. Horne converted (57-0, 57 mins).

The Americans kept spirited and almost bagged themselves a try when Tavite Lopeti’s behind-the-back ball put winger Mitch Wilson away, but a fumble at the last disappointed even the most ardent Scot in the crowd.

Speaking of which, Liam McConnell’s second rampage of the afternoon, this time comprising all of 60m, should have resulted in another score, but the youngster went for the line when Horne was barking home in support.

The captain got in on the act as the final 10 minutes approached, with Ross Thompson putting McDowall in for a route one close range finish. Horne converted as Scotland passed the 60-point mark (64-0, 71 mins).

And Horne did get on the scoresheet after van der Merwe punctured the US defence, passed inside to Rowe, whose scissor pass gave Horne the easiest try, which he duly converted (71-0, 73 mins).

The crowd were treated to another hat-trick when scrum-half-turned-winger Dobie, just announced as Player of the Match, finished a flowing move which involved van der Merwe and Rowe, both of whom seemed to have a say in so many tries. Horne helped himself to another two from the tee (78-0, 77 mins).

And there was time for Ollie Smith to ensure that each of the starting back division added points to the cause, stepping his way to the line in the wake of a host of defenders out on their feet. The last act was Horne’s conversion, wrapping up a comfortable opening Quilter Nations Series afternoon for the hosts (85-0, 80 mins).

Full-time: Scotland 85-0 USA

Scotland: Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Warriors), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby), Ollie Smith, Stafford McDowall (both Glasgow Warriors), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby); Adam Hastings, Jamie Dobie (both Glasgow Warriors); Rory Sutherland (Glasgow Warriors), Patrick Harrison, D’Arcy Rae (both Edinburgh Rugby), Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors), Marshall Sykes, Liam McConnell, Dylan Richardson (all Edinburgh Rugby), Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors).

Replacements: Harri Morris (Edinburgh Rugby) (for Harrison, 61 mins), Nathan McBeth, (Glasgow Warriors) (for Sutherland, half-time), Murphy Walker (Glasgow Warriors) (for Rae, half-time), Alex Samuel (Glasgow Warriors) (for Cummings, half-time), Max Williamson (Glasgow Warriors) (for Sykes, 50 mins), Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh Rugby) (for Dempsey, half-time), George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) (for Graham, 50 mins), Ross Thompson (Edinburgh Rugby) (for Hastings, half-time).

USA: Erich Storti, Mitch Wilson, Dominic Besag, Tommaso Boni, Toby Fricker; Chris Hilsenback, Ruben de Haas; Ezekiel Lindenmuth, Kaleb Geiger, Pono Davis, Marno Redelinghuys, Jason Damm (captain), Viliami Helu, Cory Daniel, Paddy Ryan.

Replacements: Sean McNulty, Payton Telia, Maliu Niuafe, Tevita Naqali, Makeen Alikhan, Ethan McVeigh, Tavite Lopeti, Luke Carty.

Referee: Damián Schneider (UAR)
Assistant referees: Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR) and Katsuki Furuse (JRFU)
Television Match Official: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
Fair Play Review Officer: Olly Hodges (IRFU)

Attendance: 56,589

Quilter Player of the Match: Jamie Dobie