It’s four for Steyn as Scotland tyros shine
SCOTLAND’S young tyros were to the fore as they started a tough Autumn campaign with a fluent and at times very classy performance against a horribly depleted Tonga.
A fit again Kyle Steyn – whose career had stalled a little through injury – steamed in for four welltaken tries and must immediately come into the equation for the game against Australia on Sunday.
So too Rufus Mclean on the other wing while Gregor Townsend will file away a fluid attacking performance from Blair Kinghorn at fly-half. Scotland are well covered at ten with Finn Russell and Adam Hastings but Kinghorn is an interesting talent and who knows where his Test future may lie.
You can question the quality of the opposition – although not their ticker and effort – but equally there was no disguising the excellence and sheer elan of some of Scotland’s high speed attacking play.
Maclean, a standout in recent Scotland U20 sides, was the first to announce his presence with a quickfire brace in the first half. For the first he seized on a loose ball which bounced off Jamie Ritchie’s shoulder to burst pass two Tongan defenders and for his second he unleashed a devastating left step after being put in space by Kinghorn’s long pass.
Maclean has got plenty of x-factor and hopefully a knock he took when being taken out under a high ball in the second half is not too serious.
Three penalties from impressive full-back Jamie Faiva kept Tonga vaguely in touch but then they were hit by four tires in quick succession in the second quarter.
Three came in short order from the busy, bustling Steyn who shares many of McLean’s attributes. Steyn might be the son of one of president Mandela’s former bodyguards back in the day but he is not a project player. His mother is born and bred Scottish and Steyn made his way over three years ago to start playing for the Scotland Sevens squad which led to his full debut against France last year.
His first try came after quick hands down the right from a midfield scrum before South African Pierre Schoeman, who has just qualified via residency, interrupted proceedings with a short range effort.
Soon after Steyn arrowed across field, picking a great line to add a second, before he completed his hat-trick by connecting with a crossfield kick from Kinghorn following an exciting breakout by Mclean.
At 36-9 the game was over as a contest at halftime but Tonga, who will be bolstered for next week’s England game by the arrival of nine more experienced players from the French leagues tomorrow, dug really deep in the third quarter and kept Scotland honest with their rugged play up front and some trademark big hits.
George Turner rumbled over for a try in the 49th minute but for a while Tonga went toe to toe with the Scots.
Prop David Lolohea, one of their best players on the day, scored a deserved try before Scotland picked up the pace again in the 70th minute when Nick Haining forced his way over.
As full time approached the score got a little cruel with Ollie Kebble doing well to touch down under a pile of bodies while right at the death that man Steyn swooped in midfield to finish a splendid afternoon with a try under the posts.