Duhan van der Merwe has etched his name at the top of Scotland’s all-time try-scoring charts with his 35th international try, leading his side to a dominant 56-0 win over Tonga at Murrayfield. The victory capped off a difficult autumn series for Scotland, which saw them suffer consecutive defeats against New Zealand and Argentina.
Scotland made 14 changes from the side that faced Argentina, yet quickly asserted control against Tonga, who were reduced to 14 men after Semisi Paea received a red card for a dangerous clearout in the fifth minute. The Scots capitalized immediately, scoring three tries before the 25th minute. Jamie Ritchie opened the scoring with a powerful run, followed by George Turner marking his 50th cap with a try. Max Williamson added the third before the interval, all converted by Fergus Burke.
Tonga struggled with indiscipline throughout the match, picking up three additional yellow cards, including Harison Mataele just before halftime. These sanctions hindered any momentum for the visitors, and Scotland’s forwards and backs exploited the gaps effectively.
Van der Merwe’s record-breaking try arrived in the 59th minute, set up by George Horne, taking him ahead of his Edinburgh teammate Darcy Graham. The final quarter saw Scotland extend their advantage with tries from substitutes Ewan Ashman and Horne, rounding out a comprehensive 56-0 scoreline.
Despite the earlier defeats in the autumn series, Scotland’s performance against Tonga demonstrated their attacking potential when discipline is maintained. Tonga’s errors and penalties provided the hosts with opportunities to dominate territory and possession, which they converted clinically into points.
The result ensures Scotland finishes their autumn internationals on a high note, with Van der Merwe’s new record as a highlight. While the wins against Tonga may not significantly alter Scotland’s overall series performance, the match allowed Gregor Townsend to rotate his squad and provide valuable game time for a number of players while consolidating a historic personal milestone for their star winger.
