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Scotland secured an emphatic victory against Portugal at Murrayfield on Saturday, showcasing a dominant performance that culminated in a 59-21 triumph. This match, which saw Scotland run in nine tries, was a display of their attacking prowess and resilience after their previous weekend’s defeat to world champions South Africa. Head coach Gregor Townsend made significant changes to the squad, introducing 14 new players to the starting lineup against the 15th-ranked Portuguese side.
The game started with an early surge from Scotland, highlighted by Leicester prop Will Hurd crossing the try line to open the scoring. Stafford McDowall, the captain for the day, quickly added a second try, setting the tone for what would be a high-scoring encounter. Portugal's defense began to falter as they conceded a penalty try in the 27th minute when second-rower Duarte Torgal was shown a yellow card for collapsing a maul. Taking advantage of the temporary numerical superiority, Scotland capitalized with two more tries, deepening the visitors' struggle.
A standout moment came in the 34th minute when winger Darcy Graham scored his 29th international try, matching Duhan van der Merwe's record. Graham's agile movement allowed him to slice through the Portuguese defense effortlessly, showcasing his speed and skill. Soon after, Josh Bayliss added Scotland’s fifth try, further asserting their control.
Portugal, however, did not remain scoreless in the first half. Hooker Luka Begic scored off a maul in the dying moments of the half, bringing the score to 31-7 at halftime. Scotland continued to dominate early in the second half, with Jamie Bhatti muscling his way over for another try just four minutes in. Nevertheless, Portugal demonstrated resilience as scrum-half Samuel Marques responded with a try in the 55th minute, which he converted himself.
Arron Reed then widened Scotland’s lead with two tries in quick succession, reaffirming the home side's dominance. The game also featured a significant milestone when 19-year-old Freddy Douglas made his debut, becoming Scotland’s youngest debutant since 1963, despite having no prior competitive club appearances.
Portugal's efforts were rewarded again when winger Raffaele Storti capitalized on an opportunity on the right wing to score. However, Scotland had the last word when substitute Jamie Dobie added a final try in the 73rd minute, completing the comprehensive 59-21 victory.
This match not only highlighted Scotland's depth and skill across their squad but also underscored the tenacity of a Portuguese team that, despite the scoreline, showed moments of determined play. The performance will give coach Gregor Townsend much to reflect on as Scotland continues to build momentum ahead of future challenges.
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