Scotland vs Romania LIVE: Rugby World Cup result and reaction as Darcy Graham stars in thrashing
Gregor Townsend’s must take a bonus-point to set up a decider against Ireland next week
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Darcy Graham climbed from sixth to joint-second on Scotland’s all-time try-scorer list with four touchdowns in a resounding 84-0 victory over Romania which sets up a mouth-watering Rugby World Cup shootout with Ireland next weekend.
The Scots ran in six tries in each half in Lille to inflict another demoralising defeat on their opponents, who were similarly outclassed by both Ireland and South Africa in their first two matches in Pool B.
Graham, who started the evening on 20 international tries, wreaked the most damage on the eastern European minnows as his first-half hat-trick and another after the break took him ahead of both Duhan van der Merwe and Chris Paterson and up to 24.
The prolific Edinburgh wing is now level with Tony Stanger and Ian Smith, and just three shy of record-holder and fellow Hawick native Stuart Hogg, who recently ended his career on 27.
The Scots were so confident of getting the result they required at Stade Pierre Mauroy that they made 13 changes from the side that started against Tonga the previous Sunday, preserving most of their A-listers for the Ireland match in Paris which they must win with a bonus point or by denying their opponents one in order to reach the quarter-finals.
Follow live reaction from Scotland vs Romania below and get all the Rugby World Cup odds here
64’ – Scotland 63-0 Romania
Scotland’s turn to do some defending here!
Romania continue with pick-and-go’s and short passes to the forwards, but it is eventually held up by a resolute Scotland defence.
Romania have a penalty and kick to touch.
58’ – TRY! Scotland 63-0 Romania
Another one, this time from esteemed kicker Healy.
Scotland are having fun now. Fagerson makes a break through another uneven defensive line, before Healy does the same. On the offload, the ball just goes forward.
But Scotland come again, with sustained possession over the halfway. It’s a good team try, with Graham dodging one before shipping it to Healy, He continues, steps inside and goes over under the posts before converting.
There’s still over a quarter of the game to go.
52’ – TRY! Scotland 56-0 Romania
A strange try, as it comes from a Romanian break. They kick Smith picks up unchallenged.
The follow-up chase is badly splintered and Smith easily runs through it. He’s taken down just before the line but is smart enough to recover, get back to feet and finish.
Healy converts AGAIN. 56-0, and we have a rout.
50’ – Scotland 49-0 Romania
Bhatti is again denied a try as he clearly falls short, but Scotland work the ball to the opposite end easily.
However, Romania do well to defend and Scotland are penalised for holding on.
45’ – TRY! Scotland 49-0 Romania
Another try after Redpath collects a cross-field kick from Healy and offloads it to Harris, who has the try his performance deserved. A little too easy that one.
Healy converts and it’s seven out of seven.
41’ – Scotland 42-0 Romania
Kick-off!
The second half is underway and it begins with a knock-on from Fagerson.
HALF-TIME: Scotland 42-0 Romania
Those tries put Darcy Graham on fourth on Scotland’s list of all-time top try scorers, with 23 tries in 38 caps.
Former full-back Stuart Hogg, who retired earlier this year, currently holds the record, with 27 in his 100 caps.
HALF-TIME: Scotland 42-0 Romania
Romania weren’t as poor as the scoreline suggests, but those yellow cards were really telling in the last few minutes of that half.
Some poor tackles at the end, and they paid the price.
Scotland, on the other hand, are flying here. Graham has been the pick of the bunch, but Ashman and Bhatti have seemingly been everywhere and Price, Harris and Healy have done some terrific work.
39’ – TRY! Scotland 42-0 Romania
Darcy Graham has a first-half hat-trick!
Chris Harris breaks the gain-line with a nice hand-off, and then ships it to Ali Price, who was supporting well. He quickly offloads to Graham, who has acres of space as he goes over.
Another Healy conversion and we go into half-time at 42-0.
38’ – TRY! Scotland 35-0 Romania
Scotland continue to work it well across the field, and Smith is on the receiving end of a heavy challenge from Simionescu near the line.
It’s shipped to Matt Fagerson, who goes over unchallenged. Healy converts easily.
Simionescu’s challenge is reviewed by TMO, and he’s yellow carded. It was clearly high.
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