Scotland thrashed Tonga in 56-0 rout at Murrayfield
Scotland delivered a comprehensive thrashing of Tonga at Murrayfield on Sunday, securing an emphatic 56-0 victory that showcased the visitors’ extraordinary lack of discipline throughout the match, reports BritPanorama.
The hosts capitalised ruthlessly on their opponents’ ill-discipline, running in eight tries while Tonga struggled to maintain a full complement of players on the pitch. The Pacific islanders’ afternoon was characterised by a succession of cards—four yellows and one red—that left them hopelessly undermanned against a clinical Scottish side.
This dominant performance provided a fitting conclusion to Scotland’s autumn international campaign, demonstrating their superiority against opponents who could not maintain the required discipline. The match turned decisively in the sixth minute when Tonga flanker Semisi Paea was penalised for a dangerous clear-out. Initially shown a yellow card, officials upgraded the punishment to a 20-minute red after review, ending Paea’s involvement in the contest.
Scotland exploited their numerical advantage mercilessly. Jamie Ritchie crossed first, followed by George Turner on his milestone 50th cap, and Max Williamson also touched down while Tonga was reduced to 14 players. The early tries established a platform for Scotland’s dominance, though the hosts needed patience before adding to their tally as Tonga’s defensive efforts temporarily stemmed the flow of points.
Tonga’s disciplinary woes continued throughout the second half. Winger Taniela Filimone received a yellow card in the 48th minute for a deliberate knock-on, followed ten minutes later by centre Fine Inisi for an identical offence. Despite their overwhelming advantage, Scotland required patience before extending their lead.
The breakthrough arrived on the hour when Duhan van der Merwe collected an offload and burst through the midfield defence to claim his 35th international try, surpassing teammate Darcy Graham to become Scotland’s all-time leading try scorer. Once van der Merwe’s milestone try opened the floodgates, Scotland’s superiority became overwhelming.
Ewan Ashman crossed twice in the closing stages, while scrum-half George Horne also claimed a brace to push the hosts beyond fifty points. The conversions proved equally clinical, with Fergus Burke successfully kicking five and Horne adding three more, including both from his own tries.
This shutout represented Scotland’s second consecutive clean sheet, following their victory over the United States earlier in the series. The two comprehensive wins bookended disappointing losses to New Zealand and Argentina, leaving Gregor Townsend’s side with a mixed record from their autumn fixtures. For Tonga, who had not played since August, their rustiness combined with catastrophic discipline made any competitive showing impossible.
It serves as a stark reminder that in rugby, discipline is as crucial as skill, and when it falters, the scoreboard often reflects that reality in unsettling ways.
