Duhan van der Merwe Leads Scotland to Victory Over USA

Duhan van der Merwe scored early to equal Stuart Hogg’s record for most tries by a Scotland player as Scotland continued their successful summer tour with a comfortable victory over the USA in Washington DC, making it two wins from two matches. Hooker Ewan Ashman then shone with a first-half hat-trick, powered by Scotland’s dominant maul. Tommaso Boni scored for the hosts, capitalizing on Matt Fagerson’s error.

In the second half, George Horne and Matt Fagerson added more tries, propelling Scotland past the 40-point mark. This win builds on their previous triumph against Canada. Scotland now prepares for upcoming tests against Chile and Uruguay in South America on July 20th and 27th, respectively. Gregor Townsend made significant changes from their last match, recalling experienced players to avoid a repeat of their 2018 loss to the US.

Scotland asserted control early with Duhan van der Merwe’s opening try setting the tone. Ashman’s prowess in the maul added to Scotland’s lead, despite a brief comeback by the US after a sin-bin and a Scottish handling error. Substitutions in the second half disrupted Scotland’s rhythm, but they managed to score through Kyle Rowe and another strong pack effort led by Fagerson.

Despite challenges in the energy-sapping conditions, Scotland showcased their strength and depth in the squad. Both teams’ line-ups featured changes, emphasizing tactical adjustments for the match. Referee Jordan Way oversaw the game which highlighted Scotland’s efficiency in execution and depth in their squad rotation strategy.