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
Except for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
33 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
33 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
33 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
33 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
33 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
33 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
33 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to comments