Gregor Townsend admitted he “can’t wait” for an additional crack at New Zealand subsequent weekend after his Scotland aspect kicked off their autumn collection with an emphatic 85-0 victory over the USA.
The Scots ran in 13 tries – seven within the first half and 6 after the break – to rack up their biggest-ever victory at Murrayfield.
Duhan van der Merwe scored a double on his fiftieth cap, whereas Darcy Graham grabbed a hat-trick to maneuver stage together with his Edinburgh colleague on the prime of Scotland’s all-time scoring charts on 34 tries.
Jamie Dobie additionally notched a treble, whereas Dylan Richardson, George Horne, Stafford McDowall, Kyle Rowe and Ollie Smith went over the road because the Scots limbered up for the All Blacks by swatting their American guests apart.
“Clearly we had extra ball than we most likely would get usually in opposition to a prime 10 staff,” stated head coach Townsend.
“I thought the effort was outstanding. Of course next week will be a different opposition, one of the top teams in the world, but what we worked on in training, we got that out on the pitch so it’s a good start to the campaign.
“Everybody’s aware of the step up next week. We obviously know New Zealand are going to test us in different ways than the USA weren’t in a position to do.”
Scotland have by no means crushed the All Blacks however they ran them shut in every of their earlier two conferences below Townsend in 2017 and 2022.
“I can’t wait, really,” stated Townsend of subsequent Saturday’s match. “We don’t get to play them that always and we’ve solely performed them twice in my time they usually had been each nice events, excellent video games.
“We all know now we have to be near our greatest to win, however that’s what we’ll be engaged on in coaching this week. I did really feel that by way of how the squad ready, even within the pouring rain on Wednesday, you might inform that there’s an edge, that there’s extra management popping out from our gamers.
“The gamers are driving loads of what we’re doing in coaching, in order that’ll need to occur subsequent week and we’ll need to have the gamers driving our efficiency in these 80 minutes.”
Townsend additionally revealed that he expects Glasgow forwards Zander Fagerson and Rory Darge and Northampton prop Elliot Millar Mills to be match after their current damage points.
“Zander skilled final week, he did all that was requested of him,” stated Townsend. “He did stay rugby on Wednesday and he was an enormous a part of that.
“Rory had a extremely good session on Friday and I used to be watching him carefully, so I believe he’s going to be handed to coach absolutely subsequent week. And Elliot Millar Mills appears like he’ll be handed match to coach subsequent week too, so I’m hoping that now we have a full squad to pick out from once we do it on Sunday or Monday night time.”
