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Scotland player ratings vs Tonga | Quilter Nations Series 2025
By Ian Cameron
Scotland player ratings: Gregor Townsend’s side were on a mission to right the wrongs of their dire loss to Argentina and it would seem that Tonga presented them a golden opportunity to do it. And so it transpired in this 56-0 encounter.
In truth, Tonga performed below the sum of their undoubtedly talented individual parts but Scotland could only play what was in front of them. Four yellow cards for the visitors ultimately made this borderline training ground stuff for Scotland, with a few Tongan rib-rattlers thrown in to keep them honest.
Here’s our Scotland player ratings:
1. Rory Sutherland – 6.5
A mixed outing. Showed good competition on the floor and worked hard in contact, but Tonga’s colossal front row asked serious questions of the scrum. Held up reasonably well given the sheer mass involved, though Scotland rarely got the upper hand. Carried with purpose but wasn’t hugely prominent after the break.
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2. George Turner – 7.5
Marked his 50th cap with a trademark close-range score and a lively shift around the field. Lineout ball was secure and he offered sharp contributions in the carry. Replaced on 47 minutes with the job largely done. A solid milestone performance.
3. Zander Fagerson – 8
One of Scotland’s busiest forwards. Carried repeatedly, linked neatly and looked comfortable with ball in hand. Scrum time was an arm wrestle against a Tongan unit weighing over 43 stone between the two props, but he survived it intact. A strong night’s work before being withdrawn early.
4. Alex Samuel – 6
A mountain of grunt work and not a lot else, which is more or less his brief. Hit rucks, tackled, disrupted and gave Scotland a tall target in the air. Never going to command the headlines but dependable enough.
5. Max Williamson – 8
Another excellent outing. Scored with a stretching Go-Go Gadget finish on 22 minutes and produced heavy-duty defensive work throughout. Very promising.
6. Andy Christie – 6.5
Provided strong go-forward in contact but his passing accuracy deserted him at times. A couple of sloppy moments stalled promising movements. Still, his physical effort was significant before he came off around the hour.
7. Jamie Ritchie – 8
Powered over from close range to score and delivered the sort of industrious, relentless shift Scotland have come to expect. His link play was sharp and he handled the tempo well. One of the better Scottish performers.
8. Magnus Bradbury – 8
A reminder of his value as a big carrying option. Punched dents repeatedly, though some of his second-half passing wandered into agricultural territory as Scotland coughed ball away. On the balance, a powerful and convincing display.
9. Ben White – 7
Started snappily and linked well early, but perhaps didn’t force the tempo enough when Scotland had near-endless possession. A decent contribution but lacking the incision Horne later brought.
10. Fergus Burke – 7.5
Kicked five from five, put runners into gaps and controlled the opening half with real composure. Hurt his ankle and still battled on, though one blind alley run on 65 minutes killed a promising attack. Overall, a very respectable outing.
11. Duhan van der Merwe – 8.5
Found all sorts of space down the edge and used it with a level of maturity. Offloaded instead of dying with the ball, played key roles in both Ritchie’s and Turner’s tries and was immense in the air. Scotland’s most dangerous weapon throughout and deservedly bagged the Scotland try scoring record.
12. Sione Tuipulotu – 6
Had a try chalked off for reasons that seemed theoretical at best. Carried directly but didn’t make huge headway and faded a touch before being replaced.
13. Ollie Smith – 8
A classy, subtle presence in midfield. Soft hands, clever angles and an excellent pass to Steyn in the build-up to George Horne’s score. Also absorbed a pile of heavy hits and kept functioning. Very promising.
14. Kyle Rowe – 7
Decent under the high ball and worked hard in backfield. Assisted Horne’s try with neat involvement and stayed alert throughout. Not spectacular, but tidy.
15. Tom Jordan – 8
Outstanding under the high ball, hitting his takes at full pace and slicing through defenders. His counterattack work gave Scotland momentum repeatedly. One of the breakthrough performances of the night.
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16. Ewan Ashman – 8.5
One of the world’s most effective carrying hookers and proved it again. Scored twice, brought real directness and lifted Scotland’s tempo. A statement cameo.
17. Nathan McBeth – 6
Did his job. Scrummaged solidly enough and added weight around the breakdown. Not much more needed.
18. Will Hurd – 6
Struggled a tad at scrum time and benefited from some officiating that didn’t reward Tonga’s marginal physical dominance. Worked hard in the loose.
19. Marshall Sykes – 6
Added 6’7 and 121 kilos of bulk, which was badly needed. Did the unglamorous stuff well.
20. Josh Bayliss – 6
Not a huge impact but nothing damaging either. Ran good support lines and defended tidily.
21. George Horne – 9
Electric. Scored twice, set up another and immediately injected the threat White hadn’t quite managed. Couldn’t have asked for any more.
22. Stafford McDowall – 5
Took two enormous shots almost instantly and never fully settled. A painful outing after a solid Autumn for the Glasgow Warrior.
23. Kyle Steyn – 7
Played a major role in Horne’s try with a brilliant surge upfield, then fumbled a similar ball moments later. A lively cameo regardless.
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