As quick as a flash, Scotland have their try-o-meter (that’s a thing) up to 11, and it’s Rory Darge who is the beneficiary after Ben Healy once more splinters the Romania defence. 77-0 and this points difference, in a potentially squeaky group come next Saturday evening, is very welcomed.
Well, that was job done. And then followed by some champagne attacking rugby. Scotland needed a bonus-point win to keep their Rugby World Cup 2023 hopes realistic and my, how they delivered.
12 tries, with no fewer than four coming courtesy of Darcy Graham – now joint-second on the all-time list for Scotland Men – were in the main converted by Ben Healy (George Horne sneaking one in), who clearly enjoyed his own try-scoring first Rugby World Cup outing.
The other try scorers, and it took some glancing back, were: Hamish Watson, Ali Price, Matt Fagerson, Ollie Smith, Chris Harris, Rory Darge and Johnny Matthews on his first cap. Phew. Not since beating Ivory Coast 89-0 in 1995 have Scotland recorded such a handsome tournament victory.
Attentions turn to Ireland next Saturday 7 October in Paris and, although it will be a much taller order the this evening, Scotland will go in with every belief that they can make the last eight in France.
A 12th try for a rampant Scotland, and who else but Darcy Graham. It’s busy and there’s plenty of bodies around, but when in doubt, feed the twinkled-toed winger and he’ll make something more often than not. He goes one way, then the other, and back again before causing over for this fourth of the evening. Healy, perfect from the tee for a 12th time, makes it 84-0. Scotland’s record score in the competition was 89-0 against Ivory Coast in 1995, for reference…
Romania get a couple of offside penalties and willingly try to get something on the scoreboard by way of a try, but kick it out on the full to allow Scotland a line-out on their own 22. A rare opportunity passed up by Romania.
Johnny Matthews is now a Scotland cap! The hooker comes on for Ewan Ashman, to complete a flurry of replacements that have been hard to keep up with in light of the scoreboard flickering along. George Horne, Blair Kinghorn, Scott Cummings, WP Nel and Rory Sutherland are all on for the last 20.
Huw Jones and Rory Darge are on for Chris Harris and Hamish Watson, both of whom have been excellent this evening.
He’s been unerring from the tee and now Ben Healy has his first Scotland try! The stand-off breaks through and finds Darcy Graham, who almost dances on the spot to get past his man and pierce the defence. Healy takes the return pass and canters over, and of course he converts to make it 63-0.
Blair Kinghorn looks up and sees abundant clear space ahead, through which he carves his way, holding the ball in one hand before offloading to George Horne, who in turn feeds inside to debutant Johnny Matthews. The hooker, who knows a thing or two about the try-line, canters over for Scotland’s tenth, which Healy again converts, Ten from ten, 70-0.
It’s wave after wave from Scotland, who are not relenting in their task. Darcy Graham is almost on the end of another a few times, but the magic just deserts him for once.
From inside his own half, Ollie Smith senses that Romania are out on their feet and sets off on a weaving run. He’s brought down a metre from the line, releases quickly, picks up and then dots over. Healy to get the conversion? Hammers home another and Scotland have passed a half-century. 56-0.
Chris Harris is the next cab off the try rank, after Ben Healy lands a beauty of a left-foot cross-field into Cam Redpath’s arms. Harris is on hand to finish and Healy gets the conversion over with metronomic ease. 49-0.
Marius Simionescu will return to the field after his ten-minute sin bin is served, meaning Romania will have 15 players on the pitch for the first time in what seems an eternity.
Six tries, a bonus point in the bag and surely the five points are Scotland’s. Job done. It took a few minutes in the humid setting of the Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Lille, but Darcy Graham’s stunning hat-trick, as well as tries from Hamish Watson, Ali Price and Matt Fagerson, has eased any slight nerves pre-match. Ben Healy has been perfect from the tee, helping himself to six conversions.
Ben Healy, 6/6 from the tee, starts second-half proceedings in Lille. Scotland 42 to the good and no doubt wanting to make that points differential as healthy as possible in this final 40.
It’s correctly deemed to be a high one by Romania full-back Marius Simionescu on his opposite man Ollie Smith. A bunker yellow, a third of the half for the Romanians. Ben Healy converts after the delay, it’s 35-0 as we approach the denouement of the first half.
Again, it’s just seamless from Scotland. Chris Harris waits for Darcy Graham to get up to full speed and just sets him free, the winger flying over for his 22nd international try – level with a certain Chris Paterson in fourth place. Healy kicks a lovely conversion to maintain his flawless record so far, and Scotland are 28 to the good, with that bonus point in the bag.
Casual first-half hat-trick from Scotland’s prolific winger, who would surely do well in a certain BBC-produced primetime show? 23 tries in 38 caps.
Chris Harris makes the break through the Romania defence, finds Ali Price who calmly sees a sea of blue to his right and, no surprise, Darcy Graham is front of the queue to gobble it up and hare home for his third and Scotland’s sixth try. Healy converts yet again, and 42-0 mirrors the final scoreline from when the sides met in at Rugby World Cup 2007. Superb from the 23-try Scotland sprint merchant.
Matt Fagerson, who will be desperate to put his hand up for Ireland selection, mops up after Ollie Smith goes close in the left-hand corner. The ball is recycled after a potentially foul high tackle on Smith, and Fagerson the Elder trots over. Could be a yellow – again – for Romania.
Hamish Watson celebrates a first Rugby World Cup 2023 involvement by scoring his eighth Scotland try, and the opener against Romania.
Wayne Barnes is alerted to a potential Robert Irimescu high tackle and, after consultation with those watching the tv screens, the Romania hooker is given a yellow, which could be upgraded in the ensuing minutes.
It’s not as confusing as the headline. Flanker Florian Rosu is the latest Romanian to have his name in the book, following his teammate Irimescu into the bin for collapsing a maul in deliberate fashion when a try was beckoning.
The team in yellow have not really had much skin in the game, but a fumbled catch by Ben Healy has given them a scrum in a very useful part of the pitch. A few phases tidily gone through and Jason Tomane is through, but a centre combo of Cam Redpath’s tackle and Chris Harris’ turnover sees Scotland earn an easy penalty. Great defence.
Scotland gain possession in the middle of the park and go through the hands – the highlight of the phase being tighthead prop Javan Sebastian throwing not one but two dummies as his side plot a path into Romanian territory. It’s eventually lost but it was almost worth it for the ride.
Ali Price flyings a flat ball to Ollie Smith who, if he take sit, is unquestionably over for a try, but his attempted juggle comes up short and Romania clear. Scotland looking threatening at every turn.
A second offside, around 30m out, is given by referee Wayne Barnes. Ben Healy, with no thought of kicking for goal, finds touch, but Scotland make something of a hash of the line-out. The ball is regathered and Darcy Graham dances up the right touchline, but his ball to Sam Skinner is knocked on. Scrum Romania.
Cam Redpath feeds inside to Ben Healy, who delays his pass to Darcy Graham so as to allow the winger to puncture the Romania defence. The whippet is through, with Ali Price on this right to take an easy ball and coast home. Two more from Healy, 14-0 Scotland.
Scotland indeed do get their breakthrough! Cam Redpath slaloms through the Romanian midfield and is brought down, but delivers an audacious ball out the back door to Hamish Watson, who barrels over for his eighth international try. Ben Healy nails the conversion and Scotland lead 7-0.
Nice, slick inter-passing from Scotland early doors. Hamish Watson is in the thick of it, bouncing around in his pinball manner, and there’s a penalty advantage for offside. Can Scotland take advantage?
The task is simple in its essence. A five-point bonus point victory against Romania would present Scotland with the opportunity to beat Ireland next weekend (a few permutations at play) and qualify for the quarter-finals.
Plenty of time to sweat over that final Pool game. Task at hand in Lille.
Oh this is special, even by Darcy Graham’s standards. Ali Price spots the winger making a move on the inside of a ruck and Graham blasts away, negotiating the two Romania defenders in his wake with consummate swivelling hips that Elvis Presley himself would have been proud of. It’s just pure class. Healy lands his third conversion and it’s 21-0 in Lille. Thank you very much.
Romania cough up a scrum after possession is held up, and are then penalised for a transgression at the set piece. Scotland can’t make it count as Healy’s touch finder is about two inches short. Romania clear and Scotland must go again from halfway. Nervy but it’s early in this one.
Scotland and Romania have met thrice at the Rugby World Cup, in 1987, 2007 and in 2011, with Scotland winning on each occasion.
At the inaugural tournament, 36 years ago, John Jeffrey helped himself to a hat-trick in a nine-try, 55-28 success, with fellow back-row forward Ally Hogg repeating the feat in a 42-0 win in 2007.
Scotland’s last Rugby World Cup meeting with Romania was in 2011 in a much tighter contest, and one which owed a lot to Simon Danielli’s late brace of tries as Andy Robinson’s men got over the line 34-24 in Invercargill, New Zealand.
Let’s turn our attention to the women’s national team as they kick off against Spain. Watch live on scottishrugby.org now!
A cracking 36-5 win for Scotland Women at Hive Stadium against Spain, with six tries coming courtesy of Sarah Bonar, Rhona Lloyd, Meryl Smith, Fran McGhie, Emma Orr and Ellis Martin, with three conversions from Helen Nelson.
Over to the men in Lille, and the must-win Pool B encounter with Romania at Stade Pierre Mauroy.
Scotland and Romania, anthems as passionate as one might expect, go to battle in Lille’s Stade Pierre-Mauroy. Nothing less than a victory – a handy one – will do for designs of knockout Rugby World Cup presence.
Alin Conache’s kick-off is taken and Scotland are going to run from deep from the off.
A reminder that Scotland women take on Spain today at Hive Stadium in Edinburgh in their only Autumn Test of 2023 as they prepare of the WXV 2 tournament kicking off next month.
Tickets are still available to support your Scotland team at home so get yourself along to the stadium, make some noise for the women’s national team and then head to the Tennent’s Up & Under bar to support Scotland men v Romania from 7.30pm.
Buy tickets HERE
“I’m a better person because I’ve spent so much time with Rambo [Stuart McInally], I’m definitely a better rugby player.”
Full episode 🎙️ https://bit.ly/48BJBJQ
Your Scotland team are arriving at Stade Pierre-Mauroy ahead of an 8pm BST kick off against Romania tonight!
Stay with us as we bring you all the latest goings on from France.
Your Saturday night plans sorted! Join us from 8pm tonight when Scotland face Romania at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
#AsOne
Join us in wishing a happy 57th birthday to Scottish Rugby Hall of Famer, Gary Armstrong 🎂
Another look at your Scotland team to face Romania tonight.
#AsOne #RWC2023
#AsOne | #RWC2023
80:00 Second Half End
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40:00 First Half End
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Kick-off 8:00 pm
