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Gregor Townsend adds caveat to the Scotland top tryscorer subplot

By PA
Darcy Graham - PA

Gregor Townsend is revelling in the ongoing battle between Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe at the top of Scotland’s all-time try-scoring list after the prolific pair crossed the whitewash five times between them in Saturday’s 57-17 rout of Fiji.

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Graham, 27, marked his first international appearance in 13 months after a spate of injuries by scoring four times to briefly move level on 28 with his fellow Edinburgh wing as the national team’s record scorer.

But 29-year-old Van der Merwe – who overtook Stuart Hogg on this year’s summer tour of the Americas – soon reasserted himself at the top of the charts with a 72nd-minute score of his own, shortly after Graham left the field following a head injury.

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“It’s fantastic that we’re living this history,” said head coach Townsend. “You’ve got two players that have still got a lot of rugby ahead of them that are setting try-scoring records.

“I think Ian Smith from 1925 had held that for so many years, but now we’re seeing it broken every game or every other game that those two are playing.

Darcy Graham
Darcy Graham dots down for another try against Fiji – PA

“They’re not driving each other on and trying to look for tries, they’re doing the right thing for their team. And their tries are often scored by the work of other people too.”

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Graham’s man-of-the-match display came on his first Scotland appearance since the World Cup defeat by Ireland in October 2023.

“Darcy was outstanding,” said Townsend. “He scores different types of tries. So yes, it was not only great to see him back, but even better to see him scoring tries.

“I thought in the last game he played for Edinburgh against Cardiff that was close to his best form. Not playing last week allowed him to have a really good week of training, being fresh, and today was another level up, which was very pleasing.”

Townsend confirmed that Graham failed an on-field HIA, casting doubt over whether he will be available for next Sunday’s Test against South Africa at Murrayfield.

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Duhan van der Merwe
Duhan van der Merwe – PA

“I think he failed that HIA one, so we’ll now have to wait and see HIA two,” said the head coach. “That’s why he didn’t come back on the field. If he passes that, then he’ll have an HIA three in two days’ time.”

Full-back Kyle Rowe, who scored Scotland’s first try on a day when centre Huw Jones got a double, went off at the end of the first half with a hamstring injury and is expected to miss next weekend’s clash with the two-time reigning World Cup winners.

“Kyle’s obviously upset because he’ll be thinking that he might be missing the next few weeks,” said Townsend. “He’s felt his hamstring, so he’ll know his own body.

“We hope it won’t be anything serious, but you don’t know until you get scan results. It’s a real shame as I think he’s been playing excellently all year, all calendar year.”

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Spew_81 1 hour ago
Broken hand or not, Richie Mo'unga is still New Zealand's best 10

His family was financially secure before future in going to Japan. Now they will only have to work if they feel like it :)


It’s not like the amateur era, he would made about four million staying in New Zealand in the 2024-2027 cycle. He ultimately chose a few million extra going to Japan. Easy to understand if was still going to get the cold shoulder from the coaches. But Roberston poised to make Mo’unga the corner stone. It was Mo’unga’s chance to end the debate as to who was the best 10 in New Zealand.


Yes, it’s possible to get a career ending injury at any time playing rugby. But that doesn’t often happen. Even most really bad injuries only take one season to recover from (yes there are outliers, but that’s rare). Even if he lost a season, he would still bring home four million.


He could’ve been the difference between an All Black team that is second (probably lucky to be second) and an All Black team that is number one. Also, the current high earners only can earn highly because the New Zealand rugby system made them as good as they are. Beneficiaries of that system should look to give back to the system and to the fans. Yes, it’s a risk for the individual, but it’s a risk many took before him. New Zealand rugby is a fragile thing. The NZRU can barely make money most years. The sponsors won’t pay the same for a mid-ranked team as they will for team that is number one.


We’ve discussed this before and I know you see it the other way :)

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S
Spew_81 1 hour ago
Broken hand or not, Richie Mo'unga is still New Zealand's best 10

The coaches who like those ideas ( e.g. non specialist/positionless/play what’s in front of you rugby) are often successful innovators e.g. Hansen, W Smith, E Jones etc.


I think they get it in their head that they have to be constantly innovating to stay on top. Sometimes the best thing is just to focus on the basics/current pattern.


To a degree I think that that type of coach gets bored - unless they are trying to break the mold. But also, their success to that point and personality type won’t allow them to drop the new idea and admit they were wrong.


Much like when the All Blacks were going to have a ‘flat backline’ in the Henry era. They were adamant that it was going to work, eventually. They were prepared to lose a few tests to achieve it. After the 2009 season (losing 0-3 to the Springboks) they were more than willing to give up 20 meters to offset the 'rush defense’. They generally go that 20 meters back and more on top. It was to Henry’s credit be changed how the backline worked e.g. abandoned the ‘flat backline’ and dropped the power wings for three fullback/right wings.


With the benefit of 20/20 hindsight: a Cruden(10)/B Barrett(15) combo might’ve been better for the 2016-2019 cycle; and a Mo’unga(10)/B Barrett(15) combo might’ve been better for the 2016-2019 cycle. Then maybe Mo’unga(10)/Jordan (15) [with McKenzie at reserve 9] for the 2020-2023 cycle.


I went off the deep end a bit the end of the comment, see who reads that far down :)

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