Scotland coach Gregor Townsend hailed Duhan van der Merwe’s “actually particular” hat-trick after the winger rewrote the report books in a Six Nations win over England on Saturday.
By no means earlier than within the 153-year historical past of rugby union’s oldest worldwide fixture had a Scotland participant scored three tries in a single sport.
However Van der Merwe modified all that at Murrayfield, with the Edinburgh flyer’s treble serving to Scotland overturn an early 10-0 deficit as they loved a fourth successive win over England, one thing they hadn’t achieved in all video games since 1972 and final managed within the championship means again within the late nineteenth Century.
HIGHLIGHTS: Lethal Duhan douses England
“He was nice at present,” stated Townsend of Van der Merwe, who ended the match one in need of Stuart Hogg’s all-time Scotland report of 27 tries.
“He simply noticed alternatives and went for it. I’ll be winding him up later to say they had been simply run-ins however a few the run-ins had been from fairly far to be truthful, it was actually particular.”
England went forward by way of recalled full-back George Furbank’s attempt to a George Ford penalty as they dominated territory and possession within the opening phases.
However Scotland got here away with factors from all their first three visits to England’s 22 to guide 17-13 at half-time.
“We didn’t have a lot ball and we weren’t in England’s half fairly often within the first quarter-hour however we unlocked the defence and Duhan was there to assist and to complete it,” stated Townsend.
Scotland’s win, nicely orchestrated by co-captain Finn Russell, who kicked their remaining 15 factors, meant they rebounded from an agonising loss to France and put themselves again in Six Nations title rivalry with two wins from three video games following a tense 27-26 success away to Wales within the first spherical.
Russell, requested how he felt about being concerned within the first Scotland crew since 1896 to report 4 consecutive championship wins over England, replied: “I didn’t know that till two minutes in the past. It’s nice for us to be the crew to attain that.”
For Townsend, retaining the Calcutta Cup was an enormous feat in itself given how a lot wins over England matter to Scotland supporters.
“That is huge,” insisted the previous Scotland playmaker.
“It’s a one-off. We’re taking part in for a trophy at present and it’s a trophy that’s actually vital to us.”
Defeat ended England’s hopes of a Grand Slam, with Six Nations champions Eire, their subsequent opponents at Twickenham on March 9, now the one crew able to a clear sweep after a 31-7 win over Wales in Dublin earlier on Saturday.
Having arguably performed too little rugby in slim wins over Italy and Wales within the opening two rounds, England maybe tried to play an excessive amount of towards a Scotland aspect robust on the counter-attack.
“Whenever you make that variety of dealing with errors at this degree, it’s very troublesome to win, particularly towards a crew of Scotland’s high quality,” stated England coach Steve Borthwick.
“Finally we made it too simple for Scotland to attain however they had been very medical. It’s an enormous lesson for our crew as we develop.”
However England skipper Jamie George, taking part in regardless of the loss of life of his mom final week, stated it was one they might be taught in time for the go to of Eire, who look a category above their Six Nations rivals.
“The very fact we’re again at Twickenham massively excites me,” stated the hooker.
“We need to make it a tough place for opposition to come back to.
“Eire are an awesome crew, we all know that. However we’re going to be a really powerful crew to beat at Twickenham.”
© Agence France-Presse
Picture: David Rogers/Getty Photos
