Ewan Ashman grabs first-half hat-trick as Scotland see off USA

Ewan Ashman scored a first-half hat-trick as Scotland made it two victories from two on their Americas tour, easing past the USA 42-7 at Audi Field in Washington DC.

Wing Duhan van der Merwe opened the visitors’ try account in the sixth minute before hooker Ashman’s treble sent Gregor Townsend’s troops in 28-7 ahead at the interval.

The second half dipped in quality as both teams struggled in the wet weather, with George Horne and Matt Fagerson claiming a further two crossings for Scotland.

Former Italy international centre Tommaso Boni scored the USA’s only try of the game with 32 minutes on the clock, as they came off second best to the Six Nations outfit.

As mentioned, Van der Merwe was quick off the mark to equal Stuart Hogg’s record of 27 tries for Scotland, timing his run to take Adam Hastings’ popped pass and coasting over.

Hastings converted and added the extras for each of Ashman’s treble ― all of which came at the back of rolling mauls from lineouts as they opened a healthy lead at the break.

The USA grabbed a try of their own in the midst of Ashman’s scoring spell, centre Boni going over despite prop David Ainu’u being in the sin bin for a breakdown offence just moments after the hosts had been warned for repeat infringements.

Bristol fly-half AJ MacGinty converted, but was off target with two penalty attempts.

Scotland stretched their advantage 10 minutes into the second half, scrum-half Horne racing in after getting on the end of Kyle Rowe’s break. Hastings added the conversion.

Stubborn home defence and increasing scrappiness in the testing conditions halted the scoring until Fagerson touched down six minutes from time at the back of a dominant Scottish scrum, Ross Thompson completing the scoring with the conversion.

The teams

USA:  15 Luke Carty, 14 Conner Mooneyham, 13 Tavite Lopeti, 12 Tommaso Boni, 11 Nate Augspurger, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 JP Smith, 8 Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, 7 Paddy Ryan, 6 Sam Golla, 5 Greg Peterson, 4 Viliami Helu, 3 David Ainu’u, 2 Dylan Fawsitt, 1 Jack Iscaro
Replacements:  16 Kapeli Pifeleti, 17 Jake Turnbull, 18 Paul Mullen, 19 Saia Uhila, 20 Ben Bonasso, 21 Ethan McVeigh, 22 Bryce Campbell, 23 Mitch Wilson

Scotland:  15 Kyle Rowe, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (cc), 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 George Horne, 8 Matt Fagerson, 7 Rory Darge (cc), 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Alex Craig, 3 Murphy Walker, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements:  16 Robbie Smith, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Luke Crosbie, 21 Jamie Dobie, 22 Ross Thompson, 23 Matt Currie

Referee:  Jordan Way
Assistant Referees:  Adam Leal, Robin Kaluzniak
TMO:  Chris Assmus

16-try All Blacks make light work of USA in Washington

A rampant New Zealand racked up 16 tries as they demolished the USA 104-14 in a one-sided meeting at FedExField in Washington DC on Saturday.

Luke Jacobson (2), Ethan de Groot, Will Jordan (3), Damian McKenzie, Richie Mo’unga, Angus Ta’avao (2), Quinn Tupaea, Dalton Papalii, Anton Lienert-Brown, Beauden Barrett, Dane Coles and TJ Perenara all crossed the whitewash, with Mo’unga and McKenzie adding 18 and six points off the kicking tee respectively.

In reply for the Eagles, Nate Augspurger and Ryan Matyas went over to give USA fans a small amount of cheer in an otherwise embarrassing game for the hosts.

It was one-way traffic from the outset as New Zealand got the scoreboard ticking inside a minute, running the kick-off back as George Bridge and Finlay Christie helped set up Jacobson to race over.  Mo’unga added the extras and it would be the first conversion of many as USA were about to feel the full force of the All Blacks.

Further crossings from loosehead prop De Groot and wing Jordan, who regathered his own chip kick to score, moved New Zealand into a 19-0 advantage with just 11 minutes gone.  And the procession continued as they went from deep again, this time a nice interchange ending with McKenzie scoring as USA’s woes continued.

26 points to the good there was no letting up from Ian Foster’s charges as on 20 minutes their ability to keep the ball alive allowed Jordan to find Jacobson for his second try of the match, converted by Mo’unga, before the fly-half got in on the try-scoring act five minutes later as he fought his way over to make it a 40-0 lead.

New Zealand were far from finished in the opening period as further crossings came when Jordan added his own brace on 30 minutes before having a hand in setting up Ta’avao for a run-in under the posts.  With Mo’unga’s kick that made it 52-0 and then a minute before the interval Tupaea’s score added another to the tally.

However, it was to be USA who ended the half the stronger when scrum-half Augspurger sprinted over from 40 metres out, lifting the fans’ mood in the ground.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, the All Blacks started the second stanza as they began the first, with Ta’avao adding his second with barely a minute on the clock.

New Zealand would cross again seven minutes later through Papalii, converted by Mo’unga, which made it 73-7 before USA responded well through wing Matyas.

But that was to be the hosts’ final offering in the game as the clinical All Blacks turned the screw as the contest moved into its final half-hour, replacement Lienert-Brown getting his name on the board on 54 minutes before Barrett raced over from long-range, with the visitors’ bench already offering a significant impact.

With 10 minutes remaining the free-scoring Jordan would complete his hat-trick and there was still time for two further scores in the closing minutes, hooker Coles cutting back off the right wing to make it 97-14 before Braydon Ennor’s run down the left led to Perenara going over, McKenzie adding the final two points.

Ronan Kelleher scores four as Ireland hammer USA

Ronan Kelleher claimed a record-equalling four tries and debutant Robert Baloucoune conjured a stunning solo score as an experimental Ireland team romped to a 71-10 win over the United States.

Leinster hooker Kelleher became the first Irishman since Denis Hickie in August 2003 to ground four times in one match, with Brian Robinson and Keith Wood the only other men to achieve the feat in the green jersey.

Ulster wing Baloucoune, one of eight Test newcomers to feature for Andy Farrell’s men on Saturday evening, set the hosts on course to a comfortable 10-try Dublin success after bursting clear with a mesmerising run from halfway.

Provincial team-mate and fellow debutant Nick Timoney was also on the scoresheet at the Aviva Stadium, along with Stuart McCloskey, Hugo Keenan, Gavin Coombes and Finlay Bealham, while Joey Carbery, Harry Byrne and Will Addison kicked 13, six and two points respectively.

The overawed USA faded fast from a promising start and a first-half penalty from Ireland-born number 10 Luke Carty and a late converted Michael Baska try were scant consolation.

A gruelling experience for Gary Gold’s visitors was compounded by a 54th-minute red card for flanker Riekert Hattingh for ploughing his shoulder into Kelleher’s chin.

With a seven-man contingent on British and Irish Lions duty and captain Johnny Sexton among those rested for the summer series, head coach Farrell had been eager to grow competition looking forward to next season.

He made eight personnel changes to the team which began last weekend’s entertaining 39-31 victory over Japan.

Tom O’Toole and James Hume joined fellow Ulstermen Baloucoune and Timoney in making international bows, while Craig Casey, Ryan Baird and Coombes were afforded first Test starts before Paul Boyle, Caolin Blade, Fineen Wycherley and Byrne made debuts from the bench.

A crowd of 6,000 ― Ireland’s highest attendance since the outbreak of coronavirus ― were treated to some free-flowing rugby which bordered on exhibition stuff in an increasingly one-sided encounter.

Ireland initially struggled to get out of their own 22 in the opening stages but led 3-0 following their first foray forward courtesy of a Carbery penalty.

In contrast, the USA repeatedly turned down opportunities to kick for the posts in favour of testing the hosts’ defence from a series of line-outs, albeit without capitalising on their early dominance.

That profligacy was swiftly pushed as Baloucoune stylishly announced himself on the international stage.

The pacey former sevens player collected a simple pass from Carbery just inside his own half, stretched his legs to weave away from a host of opposition players and then gleefully dived over in the right corner.

Carbery added the extras before the visitors changed tack as Carty ― an ex-Connacht academy player ― opted to take the points from his next penalty opportunity to briefly reduce the arrears to 10-3.

Following their stuttering start, Ireland were beginning to build some momentum and duly put daylight between the sides on the scoreboard thanks to two almost-identical tries.

Kelleher powered over from a maul, before Timoney produced a carbon copy just three minutes later, with Carbery maintaining his 100 per cent record with the boot.

The USA ― beaten 43-29 by England at Twickenham last weekend ― were fast looking like a tired tier two side out of their depth and Ireland led 31-3 after just half an hour.

Andrew Conway broke the line with a clever kick and chase to release Keenan, who duly teed up the onrushing Kelleher to claim his second score of the evening and leave Carbery with a straightforward conversion.

Conway was withdrawn from a head injury assessment at the break to be replaced by Addison, who returned for his first Ireland appearance in almost two years following an injury-ravaged period of his career.

Ireland almost increased their stranglehold on the match within 30 seconds of the restart.

Caelan Doris charged down an attempted clearance from Ruben De Haas to burst clear but the American scrum-half recovered with a superb try-saving intervention.

There was little time to enjoy the reprieve as star man Kelleher again capitalised on another rolling maul to complete his hat-trick.

The Ireland number two was making just his fourth Ireland start and, after briefly being floored by the challenge which caused Hattingh’s premature departure, swiftly recovered to ground his fourth score of a fruitful outing before being denied the chance to inflict further damage as he and Carbery were immediately removed for well-earned rests.

Centre McCloskey added to the USA’s misery by touching down and then producing a perfectly-weighted kick for Keenan to zoom clear and score minutes later.

Farrell’s men were not done there.

Having been denied what looked to be legitimate grounding by French referee, Mathieu Raynal, Coombes continued the dismantling with his maiden international try before Bealham burrowed over to complete the scoring.

USA made the scoreline slightly more respectful in between those tries thanks to a score from replacement Baska, which was converted by Will Magie, but they were comprehensively outclassed on an occasion to forget.

Disjointed England see off gallant USA

Joe Cokanasiga toasted his first Test in 22 months with a smart brace as England overcame the USA 43-29 at Twickenham.

England were missing their British and Irish Lions contingent but Eddie Jones’ men did enough to overcome the visitors, despite a frustrating second half.

Marcus Smith capped an assured debut at fly-half with a try, with Sam Underhill, Ollie Lawrence, Jamie Blamire and Harry Randall also crossing for the hosts.

Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz, Cam Dolan, Hanco Germishuys and Christian Dyer forced scores for the spirited USA however, in a match that broke up considerably after the break.

Bath wing Cokanasiga’s last international appearance had come against the USA at the 2019 World Cup, where he suffered a serious knee injury.

After battling back to fitness and form this season, though, the Fiji-born powerhouse marked his Test return with two well-taken scores.

Max Malins suffered an arm injury and was sporting a sling on the bench in the second half, while Lawrence was forced out due to a head knock.

Head coach Jones had only opted to put two backs on England’s bench, forcing Wasps half-backs Jacob Umaga and Dan Robson to operate out of position.

Fly-half Umaga had to fill in at centre, while scrum-half Robson deputised on the wing.

Lions tours hand England coaches one chance every four years to cast the Test selection net to otherwise impossible widths.

But by declining to select a specialist back three replacement, and with injuries to Malins and Lawrence, Jones was unable to see either Umaga or Robson in their natural positions.

The talented Wasps duo will hope for a chance to impress in their regular berths in next weekend’s Test against Canada.

The visitors took an unlikely lead through Luke Carty’s well-struck penalty, when Joe Heyes was pinged at a scrum.

England’s riposte was immediate, however, Malins fielding the restart before feeding Underhill who powered into the corner.

Smith hooked the conversion, in his only off-kilter moment of a fine first half.

Malins picked up his shoulder problem in the act of creating the score though, and was forced out of the clash.

Umaga slotted into the centres with Lawrence out to the wing.

And Worcester powerhouse Lawrence quickly stormed into the corner, courtesy of Freddie Steward’s well-timed scoring pass.

Cokanasiga then bagged his first try, latching onto Steward’s neat grubber after Randall’s pacy break.

The Bath wing doubled his tally on the half-hour, benefiting from Smith’s delayed pass as the USA defence crumbled.

Lawrence and USA full-back Marcel Brache were then forced out of the contest after a nasty-looking accidental clash of heads.

That pressed replacement scrum-half Robson into action on the wing.

The hosts were in total control with their 26-3 half-time lead, however.

Flanker Fa’anana-Schultz capped a well-constructed driven maul to hand the USA first blood in the second half.

That dummy. That step. That finish.

Absolutely fantastic @hazrandall9 🔥 pic.twitter.com/MnYPjorAZG

— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) July 4, 2021

Carty missed the conversion, but the visitors had immediately cut England’s lead to 26-8.

Newcastle hooker Blamire made a quick introduction to Test rugby to put England back on the front foot, forcing a charge down and then completing a smart score.

Number eight Dolan forced a charge down of his own, however, for the USA’s second try.

Randall was left exposed with no forward guarding his box kick, and Dolan pounced for a soft try from England’s perspective.

Carty’s conversion cut England’s lead to 31-15.

Smith tiptoed in for England’s sixth try, relieving growing tension as the hosts had slipped off the pace.

The Harlequins fly-half missed the conversion, leaving England ahead 36-15.

Randall stepped home for England’s seventh score, with Smith converting from under the posts.

Germishuys powered in for the USA’s third score as England continued to struggle to contain the visitors’ tight game.

Carty slotted a fine touchline conversion, with England leading 43-22.

And the USA powered in again at the death, with Dyer racing in the visitors’ fourth score.

Ireland slams the US Eagles

Ulster winger Tommy Bowe scored a debut try as Ireland gradually ground down the US Eagles at Lansdowne Road on Saturday, claiming six of their seven tries in a pulsating second-half to end the game winners by 55-6.

Bowe's provincial colleague David Humphreys also added 20 points from his nine successes with the boot to break through the 500-points mark in international rugby.

Starting the day on 491, he converted efforts from Bowe and man of the match Eric Miller in the first-half and Geordan Murphy (two), Marcus Horan, Frankie Sheahan and Peter Stringer tries in the second-half.

The Americans, only seven points down at the interval, scored just two penalties from the boot of fly-half Mike Hercus, but tired nearing the hour-mark due to a four-month lay-off.

Having made nine changes to last Saturday's line-up, Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan watched his side go through the motions in the first-half, failing to hit the heights of their 17-12 defeat of South Africa in squally Dublin conditions.

A shoddy scrum and a series of knock-ons when on the attack saw an error-strewn first 40 minutes dominated by Scottish referee Rob Dickson's whistle.

Even the marked absence of the Americans' famed physicality and the sin-binning of flanker Brian Surgener on 27 minutes failed to see Ireland push clear ― with Hercus nonetheless managing a second penalty for the Eagles when down to 14 men.

Miller was central to Ireland's first points after six minutes, taking up an initial drive from debutante Denis Leamy drew an offside and offered Humphreys his first shot at the posts.

With Tom Billups' visitors not breaking into Irish territory until the 10th minute, Ireland were given a degree of latitude with both Paul O'Connell and the recalled Kevin Maggs prominent ball carriers.

Hercus failed to punish Leamy's high tackle after 13 minutes, missing his first penalty attempt to the left but the former Australia Under-21 did level with a second 30-metre effort four minutes later.

Humphreys smartly replied for 6-3 two minutes later, followed quickly by Hercus' wayward drop goal attempt, set up by burly centre Salesi Sika.

Then Bowe's collect from Hercus on the left touchline after 24 minutes finally opened up a stout American rearguard action.

With Murphy, returned to his favoured fullback position, used twice in subsequent drives, centre Shane Horgan eventually put Miller in past Treviso lock Gerhard Klerck ― one of only four European-based professionals in the Eagles side ― at the right corner.

Humphreys converted to push Ireland 13-3 clear but even with Surgener off the field for persistent offside, the visitors fronted up.

Brian O'Driscoll's neat chip and charge down the right flank saw David Fee retreating but crucially more unforced errors from the Irish attack with hands in the ruck coughed up great field position on the half-hour.

O'Driscoll fielded Humphreys' skip pass five minutes before the break but his pass to the right evaded Horgan's grasp.

Just 13-6 up at the break, an expansive Ireland opened the second-half with a try after 50 seconds through Murphy.  The Leicester Tiger danced easily around Francois Viljoen to set the try-fest rolling.

O'Driscoll set Murphy up again for a right-wing dash around Sika to the line after 55 minutes and three minutes later 20-year-old Bowe crowned his first start with a try ― darting past Al Lakomskis for the left corner.

Close-range drives from Munster duo Horan and Sheahan ― both notching their second international tries on rare starts ― tallied up the Irish points and substitute Stringer sniped over on the right in injury time to put a gloss on the scoreline.

Man of the match:  Left wing Tommy Bowe for his debut try that helped to ignite the Irish Backs for a second-half assault on the Americans line.

Moment of the match:  The start of the second-half when Ireland came out firing after a poor first-half that was dull and lacked imagination.

Villain of the match:  US flanker Brian Surgener for his yellow card in the 27th minute for persistent off-sides that was killing the game at rucks and mauls.

The scorers:

For Ireland:
Tries:  Sheahan, Bowe, Miller, Murphy 2, Horan, Stringer
Cons:  Humphreys 7
Pens:  Humphreys 2

For USA:  Hercus 2

The teams:

Ireland:  15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (captain), 12 Kevin Maggs, 11 Tommy Bowe, 10 David Humphreys, 9 Guy Easterby, 8 Eric Miller, 7 Denis Leamy, 6 Simon Easterby, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Donccha O'Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Frankie Sheahan, 1 Marcus Horan.
Replacements:  16 Shane Byrne, 17 Simon Best, 18 Leo Cullen, 19 Anthony Foley, 20 Peter Stringer, 21 Ronan O'Gara, 22 Girvan Dempsey.

USA:  15 Francois Viljoen, 14 Al Lakomskis, 13 Paul Emerick, 12 Salesi Sika, 11 David Fee, 10 Mike Hercus, 9 Mose Timoteo, 8 Kort Schubert (captain), 7 Tony Petruzzella, 6 Brian Surgener, 5 Gerhard Klerck, 4 Alec Parker, 3 Jacob Waasdorp, 2 Matt Wyatt, 1 Mike MacDonald.
Replacements:  16 Mike Hobson, 17 Chris Osentowski, 18 Jurie Gouws, 19 Fifita Mo'unga, 20 David Williams, 21 Matt Sherman, 22 Albert Tuipulotu.

Referee:  Rob Dickson (Scotland)