Rugby World Cup: Darcy Graham scores four tries as Scotland set up mouth-watering shootout with Ireland

Scotland recorded their second highest win at a World Cup in Romania, finishing just five points behind the 89–0 win they enjoyed against Ivory Coast in 1995; next Saturday night they face No. 1 Ireland in a World Cup shootout

Darcy Graham moved from sixth to joint second on Scotland’s all-time try-scorers list with four touchdowns in a resounding 84-0 win over Romania, setting up a mouthwatering World Cup shootout with Ireland next weekend.

The Scots scored six tries in each half in Lille to inflict another demoralizing defeat on their opponents, who were similarly outclassed by both Ireland and South Africa in their opening two Pool B games.

Graham, who started the evening with 20 international tries, did the most damage to the Eastern European minnows as his hat-trick in the first half and another after the break put him ahead of both Duhan van der Merwe and Chris Paterson and increased up to 24.

The prolific Edinburgh wing is now level with Tony Stanger and Ian Smith, and just three clear of record holder and compatriot Stuart Hogg, who recently ended his career at 27.

The Scots were so confident of getting the result they wanted at Stade Pierre Mauroy that they made thirteen changes from the squad that started against Tonga the previous Sunday, retaining most of their top players for the match against Ireland in Paris, which they had to win with a bonus point or by denying their opponents one to reach the quarter-finals.

There was no danger that the decision to field so many fringe men would cause a backlash from the moment Hamish Watson got the Scots going with the first try of the match in the eighth minute.

The experienced Edinburgh winger – who has lost the number seven jersey to emerging Rory Darge this year – marked his return to the starting line-up by jumping to the right after Cam Redpath was released into his path when he was thwarted on his own. towards the line.

Ali Price – like Watson, another 2021 British and Irish Lions squad member who has become a fringe player for the national team this year – was given the second in the 17th minute after being played in by Graham.

Just four minutes later it was Graham’s turn to get on the scoresheet as he touched down after a brilliant individual run to move level with his Edinburgh teammate Van der Merwe, one of those given the night off.

Romania – who were already struggling – completely imploded in the last ten minutes of the first half when they had three players sinned and had to concede another three tries.

Hooker Robert Irimescu was booked for a high tackle on Ben Healy and just a few minutes later they were reduced to 13 when back-rower Florian Rosu was booked for collapsing a maul.

Scotland took full advantage when Graham scored his second of the evening to move ahead of Van der Merwe and level with Paterson.

Matt Fagerson forced his way into the fifth, but only after Ollie Smith had fallen victim to a nasty high tackle in the run-up from Marius Simionescu, who became the third Romanian to be at fault before half-time.

There was still time before the break for Graham to complete his hat-trick as the Edinburgh wing moved ahead of Paterson to move into fourth on his own. All six first-half tries were converted by Healy as the Scots drew level at 42-0 at half-time.

The scores kept coming after the break, with Chris Harris, Smith, Healy, Johnny Matthews (shortly after coming on for his debut) and Darge all hitting the ground.

Graham then raced to his fourth of the night as the Scots recorded their second-highest win at a World Cup, falling just five points behind the 89-0 win they achieved against Ivory Coast in 1995.