Rugby World Cup 2023: Scotland rout Romania 84-0 to set up Ireland showdown

Scotland confirmed the showdown they crave with Ireland for a place in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals after routing hapless Romania 84-0 this morning (NZT).

Top-ranked Ireland lead Pool B but could possibly fail to reach the quarter-finals if they lose to Scotland next Saturday at Stade de France.

How many of the Scots who ran rings around the Romanians will face Ireland is debatable, though. Scotland rested 13 frontliners, who watched in comfort at Stade Pierre-Mauroy as their teammates racked up 12 converted tries, 11 of them converted by Ben Healy, who scored a try for a 27-point haul in his Rugby World Cup debut.

Slippery wing Darcy Graham became the first Scot to score four tries in a Rugby World Cup match. Graham has 12 tries in his last seven tests.

Scotland were one try short of their highest Rugby World Cup score in achieving their third-highest total ever.

The “B” team were warned they would run up a big score but were told to stick to the script, trust their structures, and give a team performance.

They ticked every box.

The Scots started the match stringing 11 phases together. Another nine phases finished with a Cameron Redpath break and perfect pop-up for former Lion Hamish Watson to score in his first test in almost two months.

And they were off.

Scotland had the bonus-point fourth try in the 34th minute, not as fast as South Africa took but as quick as it took Ireland in their 82-8 win.

Graham had a hat-trick by halftime, when Scotland led 42-0.

Romania were down to 13 men by then, after yellow cards to forwards Robert Irimescu and Florian Rosu. By the time Irimescu returned, Romania remained with 13 men as fullback Marius Simionescu was sin-binned.

Scotland scored three tries against 13 men, one try against 14, and eight tries against 15.

Line-ups

Scotland: Ollie Smith, Darcy Graham, Chris Harris, Cameron Redpath, Kyle Steyn, Ben Healy, Ali Price; Matt Fagerson, Hamish Watson, Luke Crosbie, Grant Gilchrist (captain), Sam Skinner, Javan Sebastain, Ewan Ashman, Jamie Bhatti. Reserves: Johnny Matthews, Rory Sutherland, W.P. Nel, Scott Cummings, Rory Darge, George Horne, Blair Kinghorn, Huw Jones.

Romania: Marius Simionescu, Sioeli Lama, Jason Tomane, Fonovai Tangimana, Taliauli Sikuea, Alin Conache, Gabriel Rupanu; Cristian Chirica (captain), Dragos Ser, Florian Rosu, Stefan Iancu, Adrian Motoc, Gheorghe Gajion, Robert Irimescu, Alexandru Savin. Reserves: Florin Bardasu, Iulian Hartig, Costel Burtila, Marius Iftimiciuc, Damian Stratila, Florin Surugiu, Tudor Boldor, Nicholas Onutu.

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