Duhan van der Merwe scored his 28th international try to become Scotland’s top all-time time try scorer in a 31-19 victory over Uruguay.
Van der Merwe, who was rested for the previous clash against Chile, crossed in the 26th minute in Montevideo to achieve the historic feat and usurp Stuart Hogg at the top of the list.
The South Africa-born winger only made his international debut in October 2020 and was winning his 41st cap as Gregor Townsend’s side bounced back from an unlikely Uruguay comeback to round off their tour of the Americas with a victory.
Van der Merwe’s try followed earlier scores by Ewan Ashman and Luke Crosbie and put Scotland 19-0 ahead. But the home side claimed the next 19 points to threaten a major upset despite being without a number of key players who had been competing at the sevens event in the Olympics.
Scotland’s strength in depth told, though, as replacements Patrick Harrison and Pierre Schoeman crossed in the final quarter of the match.
There was a late change to Townsend’s team with Scott Cummings dropping out with a foot injury. Gregor Brown came in and Ewan Johnson was promoted into the 23-man squad, which was entirely composed of Glasgow and Edinburgh players given the game fell outside the international calendar.
Uruguay had the early pressure and their forwards drove within metres of the try line before failing to make the most of two penalties, one which they kicked to the corner and another which Felipe Etcheverry kicked wide of the posts. It would not be the last time Scotland were grateful for the Uruguayan fly-half’s wayward kicking.
Van der Merwe was rested for the game against Chile last weekend
The momentum shifted with an incredible kick from Ben Healy, who found touch near Uruguay’s 22-metre line from deep within his own.
Scotland soon won a penalty and Ashman forced himself over for his fourth try of the tour in the 12th minute after the hooker followed up his own lineout to drive over at the back of a maul.
There was a scrappy spell of kicking before Matt Fagerson’s interception put Scotland on the front foot, and he ultimately fed Crosbie to cross for his first Scotland try after Diego Arbelo had been shown a yellow card for halting George Horne illegally after a kick-and-go penalty.
Van der Merwe was handed his memorable score thanks to an unselfish pass from Kyle Rowe. At 29, the Edinburgh winger could go on to set a final tally that will be very difficult to surpass.
Uruguay then threatened a comeback to trump the historic moment: scrum-half Santiago Alvarez got them off the mark after intercepting Healy’s pass in front of the posts, and Etcheverry then went over from close range before taking his tally to nine points.
The stand-off somehow hit the post with a straightforward kick early in the second half after Brown was penalised for a high tackle but his deft kick forward led to the maul which saw Manuel Diana go over just after the hour mark.
Etcheverry was well wide with the conversion attempt that could have put the hosts ahead, and the introduction of Adam Hastings and Jamie Dobie in the half-back positions brought some urgency to the visitors.
Harrison went over from a maul and Schoeman crossed inside four minutes before another substitute, Kyle Steyn, saw a late try disallowed.
Townsend: It’s an amazing achievement in a short space of time
Scotland boss Townsend was delighted for Van der Merwe and believes there is a lot more to come from the powerful winger.
After Scotland held off a strong Uruguay comeback to win 31-19, Townsend said: “It probably wasn’t as free-flowing a game as we’ve had on tour and he didn’t get as many touches but he finished his try well.
“We’re all delighted for him and it’s an amazing achievement in such a short space of time and now he can kick on and score more tries in the future.”
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend (Photo by Craig Williamson/SNS Group)
“It was a real challenge for us,” Townsend added. “Uruguay came with a lot of physicality and they were winning penalties and put us under pressure.
“But I felt the team responded well in the first half and then responded well again in the second half. But the bits between we were put under pressure and Uruguay deserved their points on the board.
“Look, this has been our biggest test and that’s one of the reasons we came here – to see how this team reacts when they’re under pressure, and they came through, so we’re very proud of them.”
