BY JOE SANTAMARIA
Chile…………………………………………………11
Tries: Escobar 50
Penalties: Videla 11, Salas 27
Scotland……………………………………………52
Tries: Bayliss 22, Rowe 29, 65; Dobie 34, 45; Currie 58, Richardson 73, Steyn 79
Conversions: Healy 23, 30, 36; Hastings 59, 66, 80
Scotland overcame a defiant Chile side to triumph 52-11 in Santiago on the penultimate stop of their summer tour.
Having lost their four World Cup matches by a combined score of 215-27, fans might have expected Chile to provide little resistance.
That wasn’t the way it panned out though, as the home side stood firm against waves of Scotland attacks and even led 3-0 after twenty minutes.
It took great footwork and power from impressive backrower Josh Bayliss to get Scotland on the scoreboard and settle the nerves.
The visitors had to work far harder for their scores than they did against Canada and the USA as the hosts repeatedly repelled their rolling mauls to the delight of the home supporters.
As the half went on, the penalty count began to stack up against Chile, offering Scotland easy access to their 22. A further three points from the boot of Santiago Videla narrowed the gap to a single point but it didn’t last long.
Sione Tuipulotu’s pass to Kyle Rowe looked as though it had drifted forward but the referee did not consult the TMO and Scotland began to pull away. Jamie Dobie grabbed a third try for Scotland and they led 21-6 at the break.
The second half was dominated by the visitors and Dobie quickly scored his second try of the game.
However, roared on by the home crowd, replacement hooker Diego Escobar burst over the line from close range for his side’s only try. It was a rare moment for the record 25,000 supporters at the Estadio Nacional to cherish and they certainly made the most of it.
A bulldozing carry from Tuipulotu drew groans from the crowd and left his opposite number Videla unable to continue. Scotland began to find spaces opening up in the wide channels as Chile’s defence began to tire.
Their plight was not helped by the appearance of some big names from Scotland’s bench, with the introduction of fly-half Adam Hastings particularly influential.
The visitors added further tries, including a stunning solo burst from Edinburgh centre Matt Currie. Chile remained industrious throughout but did not look like adding to their tally.
Both sides will take plenty from the game, especially in the first when Townsend will have learned a lot about which of his players are able to handle the pressure of test match rugby when things aren’t going your way.
Scotland head to Uruguay to complete their summer tour while Chile take a well-earned break after one of the most famous days of rugby in their history.
Chile: Warnken; Game, D Saavedra, S Videla, Garafulic; Salas, Berti; Carrasco, Bohme, Dittus, C Saavedra, Eissmann, Sigren (c), Martínez, A Escobar
Replacements: D Escobar, Lues, Gurruchaga, Pedrero, Milesi, Torrealba, B Videla, Larenas
Scotland: Rowe; Dobie, Steyn, Tuipulotu (cc), Reed; Healy, Warr; McBeth, Richardson, Hurd, Craig, Johnson, Brown, Ritchie (cc), Bayliss
Replacements: Harrison, Schoeman, Sebastian, Williamson, Darge, Hastings, McDowall, Currie
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