Scotland A vs Chile player ratings | 2022 Tour
Scotland’s summer tour of South America got off to a winning start as Gregor Townsend’s ‘A’ side breezed past Chile with a 45-5 victory in Santiago.
Scotland fielded a side that combined the youth of Ollie Smith and Ben Muncaster with experienced heads like Scott Cummings and Matt Fagerson, and they were too strong for the home side in this non-cap fixture.
Damien Hoyland marked his return to the Scotland fold with a hat-trick, while George Horne also crossed twice.
Scotland will have been frustrated with the chances they passed up and their inability to really drive home a 28-point half-time advantage.
Nevertheless, it was a welcome hit-out before a three-game series against Argentina, which will be a significant step up for the tourists. Here’s a look at how the Scotland players performed.
15. Ollie Smith – 7
Some excellent touches from the young Glasgow man, including great footwork to break through Chile forwards from his own 22.
14. Damien Hoyland – 8
A well-taken hat-trick on his first Scotland appearance since the 2017 summer tour.
13. Matt Currie – 7
The young Edinburgh centre is one to watch for the future. Will have learned a lot and showed some nice touches, including a powerful carry in the run-up to Horne’s first try.
12. Sione Tuipulotu – 7
One of Scotland’s mainstays this year, his heft and dynamism put the home side on the back foot. Some nice touches at first receiever to give Thompson space behind.
11. Rufus McLean – 7
Denied a first half score by a knock-on from Horne, he got his try eventually late on. His counter attack also set up Hoyland’s hat-trick score.
10. Ross Thompson – 7
His last outing was Glasgow’s pulverising by Leinster. This was always likely to be a very different test, but he controlled the game well and picked holes in the home defence.
9. George Horne – 8
Hasn’t started for Scotland since win over Russia at 2019 Rugby World Cup. Needs to kick on now and took his opportunity with two first-half tries.
1. Jamie Bhatti – 7
The most experienced Scottish forward with 21 Test caps, he helped put the hosts under real set-piece pressure. Quieter than Sebastian with ball in hand and will be disappointed he didn’t score let in the first half.
2. Dave Cherry – 6.5
A couple of explosive breaks from the back of dominant mauls and the lineout functioned well, but a quiet outing for the Edinburgh hooker.
3. Javan Sebastian – 7.5
Scotland need depth at tighthead and the Scarlets man took his chance here. Put limited opposition under huge scrum pressure and got through a power of work.
4. Jamie Hodgson – 6
Added his weight to the set-piece and showed one lovely touch to free Thompson early on. Conceded three soft penalties.
5. Scott Cummings – 8
Back from injury to get game-time before the Test series against Argentina. Always looks to take the ball at pace, which made stopping him a real challenge for the Chileans. Also ran a lineout that didn’t falter. Offload put Hoyland away for his treble.
6. Ben Muncaster – 7
Deserved this opportunity after an outstanding season for Edinburgh. Physical with ball in hand and powerful on defence. Should’ve passed to put McLean away with two minutes to go.
7. Luke Crosbie – 7
A typically industrious showing from the captain. Put George Horne away with a well-timed pass after finding a soft Chilean shoulder.
8. Matt Fagerson – 7.5
Back from injury ahead of the Argentina series, the Glasgow man put in a solid shift. His footwork into contact regularly bought him a couple of metres against a Chile side struggling to compete physically.
Replacements:
16. Johnny Matthews – 6
Replaced Cherry for the final half hour. Did well when he found himself in the wide expanses. Set-piece functioned well.
17. Pierre Schoeman – 6
On for Bhatti for the closing stages, the Edinburgh man added his weight to the defensive effort as the home side threatened to cross late on.
18. Murphy Walker – 6
Not even a regular for his club but given this opportunity to make a step up. Set-piece dominance didn’t drop when he came on. Another one with plenty to offer in the future.
19. Glen Young – 6.5
The man from the Jed-Forest club where Greig Laidlaw’s career began made a big hit with his first involvement. Added a vital covering effort as Chile thought they’d broken through.
20. Magnus Bradbury – 6.5
Put through a huge gap by Kinghorn, but penalised for failing to release before he got back on his feet. Will have been frustrated not to contribute more.
21. Ali Price – 6.5
A couple of vital tackles as he attempted to deny the hosts a deserved try late on, but put his side under pressure by trying to run a penalty from deep. A lovely try with the final play.
22. Blair Kinghorn – 6
Put McLean over and found a huge hole for Bradbury to run into in his cameo.
23. Mark Bennett – 6
An excellent break to put Price away his most noteworthy effort of a short cameo.
Comments on RugbyPass
Brayden Iose and Peter Lakai are very exciting Super Rugby players but are too short and too light to ever be a Test 8 vs South Africa, France, Ireland, and England, Lakai could potentially be a Test player at 7 if he is allowed to focus on 7 for Hurricanes.
5 Go to commentsPencils “Thomas du Toit” into possible 2027 Bok squad.
1 Go to commentsDon’t see why Harrison makes the bench. Jones can play at 10 if needed, and there is a good case for starting her there to begin with if testing combinations. That would leave room for Sing on the bench
1 Go to commentsWhat a load of old bull!
1 Go to commentsOf the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.
29 Go to commentsIrish Rugby CEO be texting Andy Farrell “Andy, i found our next Kiwi Irishman”
5 Go to commentsI certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
5 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to comments