Back-to-back shutouts set Scots up for grand finale

AFTER a 27-3 drubbing by Ireland and a steadying bonus-point win over Samoa, Gregor Townsend’s side delivered a resounding nine-try thumping in their first ever Test against Russia.

No doubt it received the royal seal of approval from the watching Princess Anne, but the question remains whether inconsistent Scotland can back this win up in their crunch qualification-decider against Japan in Yokohama today – if it goes ahead.

The established firstchoice Scotland half-back pairing of Greig Laidlaw and Finn Russell was rested, but young guns George Horne and Adam Hastings gave head coach Townsend plenty to ponder.

Horne and Hastings, making their starting debuts at a World Cup, were pivotal in spearheading an eight-minute, three-try blitz that decided the fate of the game midway.

“They were world-class,” said winger Darcy Graham, one of the outside backs to benefit from their form. “Adam was outstanding. We were on front-foot ball and it gave us a huge platform.”

Having shutout Samoa a week earlier, it was the first time since 1964 that Scotland went consecutive games without conceding a point.

Fly-half Hastings was composed throughout as he collected a 26-point haul, while Horne – who was shuffled out to the wing early in the second half – showed hustling enthusiasm to grab his hat-trick inside an hour.

Horne’s brother, Pete, playing at centre, was the ideal foil for Hastings, providing a smart kicking game of his own.

Hastings showed his class with two early tries, and by the time George Horne set off like a torpedo to intercept the pass from a 5m Russian lineout the bagpipes were really blaring.

Horne secured the full five points after a supremely well-balanced slaloming break by Graham.

The Scotland set-piece was unrelentingly solid, and the early first-half energy among the Russian side ebbed away as the match wore on.

Scores by George Turner, Tommy Seymour, the impressive John Barclay and Stuart McInally ensured momentum was maintained, and that Scotland headed to their final Pool A game in a frame of mind far removed from their post-Ireland blues.

Townsend said: “What the players have done since the Ireland game is all you can ask of them.

“To beat Samoa 34-0 and then to deliver a performance like that against Russia, who have improved a lot during this tournament and been tough to break down, does give you encouragement that the players are ready to play their best game against Japan.”