One hundred years from their first game at the iconic Murrayfield Stadium, Scotland heralded a new era in rugby dominance last Saturday. The historic venue witnessed a cricket score as Scotland ran rampant against a stunned USA team, setting the stage for an unforgettable day of record-breaking performances.
In a lopsided affair marked as part of the Quilter Nations series, Scotland notched an astonishing 13 tries. This tally fell just three short of their all-time best against Japan in Perth in 2004. The first half alone was a captivating spectacle, with Scotland scoring at an impressive rate of over a point per minute, establishing a 45-0 lead by halftime. This was the most points Scotland has ever scored in the opening 40 minutes of a Test match, outpacing their previous high of 42 points against Romania during the Rugby World Cup in 2023.
The match concluded with an incredible final score of 85-0 in favor of Scotland, marking their biggest-ever win at Murrayfield. The individual performances were equally remarkable; half-centurions Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham celebrated as they both finished the match with 34 tries, extending Scotland’s all-time try-scoring record.
Among the many highlights was Scotland’s achievement of having six players gain over 100 metres during the match, illustrating their offensive prowess. Leading the charge was rampaging flanker Liam McConnell, who made an impressive debut and led the team with 139 metres gained. Close behind him was Jamie Dobie, who not only scored a hat-trick but was also recognized as the official Player of the Match, racking up 124 metres.
Remarkably, Dobie adapted his role seamlessly when he switched from scrum-half to wing after Darcy Graham departed the match early in the second half. Graham himself clocked in at 105 metres, a commendable feat among fellow try-scorers. Full-back Kyle Rowe came in with 115 metres, while centre Ollie Smith managed 109 metres, and van der Merwe rounded out the stellar performances with 107 metres.
With this performance, Scotland etched their name in history alongside rugby giants. Previously, only New Zealand and Argentina had the record for the most players gaining over 100 metres in a match, each having five in respective matches against Tonga (2021) and Uruguay (2024). However, Scotland’s remarkable feat of six centurions not only highlights their attacking capabilities but also emphasizes the depth of talent within the squad.
McConnell’s debut was a performance for the ages. His impressive metres gained place him among the best debut performances, as noted by his Edinburgh captain, Magnus Bradbury, who characterized it as one of the finest he had ever witnessed. Only All Blacks legend Ardie Savea has surpassed McConnell’s debut total since records began in 2010, with a staggering 163 metres against Tonga on the eve of the Rugby World Cup in 2019.
Despite the contrasting strength of the USA team, McConnell’s performance stands tall among legendary figures such as Louis Picamoles (131 metres against England in 2017), Sergio Parisse (130 metres against Argentina in 2010), and Siya Kolisi (129 metres against France in 2017).
As a collective, while Scotland’s team record of 1,153 metres gained against Romania at RWC 2023 remains intact, their tally of 916 metres in this match stands as the second-highest in their Test history. This performance not only underscores Scotland’s offensive depth but also sets a promising tone for their future in international rugby.