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11.01.2025Eagles
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Scotland vs USA 2025. Photo Scottish Rugby
Scotland vs USA 2025. Photo Scottish Rugby

Scotland produced a record-breaking performance against the USA on Saturday, setting a record for a winning margin against the Eagles, and also setting a record for their highest winning margin at their home ground of Murrayfield.

The USA, for their part, didn't play anywhere near well enough, were exposed at key moments, and lost 85-0.

The Scots almost scored in the opening minute but some desperate cover defense forced a forward pass. That was the good news. The bad news was they were monstered off the ball in the scrum, giving away a penalty. 

Scotland opted for a scrum for themselves, won it, ran an eightman pick, and scored on a pick-and-go just like that.

Moments later Erich Storti, countering off a kick, was tackled and lost the ball. Scotland took it to the house.

Right after that, a slow kick chasedown from Mitch Wilson and some poor decision-making by Toby Fricker meant that instead of kicking clear or running the ball back, the Eagles were dealing with a static ruck in their 22.

The result was they were blown off the ball, Scotland took it, and scored.

So now it was 21-0. You get the idea. By halftime it was 45-0.

 In the second half, the USA slowed the scoring for about 25 minutes. And during that time and late in the first half they had a few scoring chances. A maul was wrapped up by Scotland right on the tryline. Dom Besag forced a pass to Tommaso Boni that was forward, but the try was potentially there.

Boni lost the ball forward in a key scoring chance. And after Tavite Lopeti pulled off a behind-the-back pass to put Wilson down the sideline, the wing was of two minds as to whether he should put the foot down or look for support. He opted for a bit of both and the ball ended up on the deck.
 

Those types of chances were chances Scotland converted on.

The Eagles kicked way too much when they should have been taking the fight to Scotland. They were not strong enough in securing ball. They had runners isolated. They didn't fool Scotland all that much.

And yet they did have scoring chances.

So did Scotland. A lot of them, and their runners were powerful, their ball movement slick. Finaly score after a flood of late tries, 85-0.

For the USA, some of their reserves did not elevate the level of play, and that contributed to the scoreline.

And there are some serious questions about the so-called more savvy overseas-trained players who aren't executing basic things. The USA chickens of poor kick receipt and option-taking have come home to roost again.

The constant box kicking against good teams hasn't produced better field position or scoring chances.

So it's back to the training paddock and getting ready for Georgia. The Eagles must be better offensively. Yes, they gave up meters and line breaks, but those don't happen if you make the gainline and keep the ball.

 

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