Duhan lethal once more however data being devalued by woeful opponents

Again in the summertime, Duhan van der Merwe broke Scotland’s all-time try-scoring report in a 31-19 victory over Uruguay in Montevideo.

Nonetheless solely 29 years previous and with loads of miles left within the tank, Van der Merwe received’t simply beat the earlier data set by the likes of Ian Smith, Tony Stanger and Stuart Hogg. He’ll obliterate them.

The identical may be mentioned of Darcy Graham. On his first look for the reason that World Cup final 12 months, Graham marked his return to the Scotland crew with 4 tries at Murrayfield final night time.

Transferring on to twenty-eight tries for his nation, he sits only one in need of Van der Merwe’s mark of 29. Evidently, the little fella seems intent on making up for misplaced time.

But, on this rout of a second-string Fiji aspect, a few of whom seemed like they hadn’t performed skilled rugby earlier than, it was arduous to not query the legitimacy of those numbers being put up by Scotland’s wingers.

Van der Merwe and Graham truly sat stage on 28 at one level final night time, earlier than Scotland’s massive powerhouse winger belatedly obtained in on the act and moved one clear.

They’re each excellent skills, of that there isn’t a query. On their day, by way of their uncooked ending prowess, there isn’t a extra deadly pair of wingers in world rugby than the Darcy and Duhan double act.

However at what level do these try-scoring data turn into devalued by the standard of opposition you might be enjoying towards?

This was little greater than a coaching train for Scotland towards a Fiji crew composed largely of home gamers from membership aspect Fijian Drua.

Kyle Rowe expenses by means of the Fijian defence to open the floodgates at Murrayfield

Relentless strive scorers Van der Merwe and Graham get pleasure from a chat after the demolition of Fiji

You marvel what the likes of Stanger would have manufactured from it, a Grand Slam-winning hero who scored the majority of his tries in a really completely different panorama.

That’s to not say Stanger and the likes didn’t play towards poor groups again within the day. A few of his tries got here towards such nations as Samoa and Zimbabwe.

However he didn’t play towards this stage of opposition anyplace close to as steadily as this group of Scotland gamers.

For context, within the World Cup final 12 months, Graham scored 4 tries in an 84-0 rout of Romania. Then got here one other 4 final night time.

This isn’t a stick to which to beat him or Van der Merwe. It’s not their fault that Fiji had been so poor. Finally, Scotland can solely play what’s in entrance of them.

Rory Darge breaks by means of the Fiji ranks on a dismal night for the outmatched guests

However, with Portugal nonetheless to come back on this Autumn Take a look at sequence, there’s each likelihood that Graham and Van der Merwe may assist Scotland rack up one other cricket rating.

This was a kind of video games the place the gang turn into completely disengaged. It wasn’t correct Take a look at rugby.

At one level within the second half, there was a Mexican wave which did extra laps of Murrayfield than Lewis Hamilton would possibly do within the common apply session at Silverstone.

Not often is {that a} signal of a compelling contest. It was an evening when Scotland’s try-scoring report was prolonged additional by Van der Merwe, with Graham now in scorching pursuit.

For all they’re excellent skills, it does really feel like these data turn into considerably devalued when enjoying towards such woeful opposition.