It's big, it's always big at the Rugby World Cup.
Scotland trounced Romania 84 to zip as their seemingly inevitable win was met with no hiccups as Gregor Townsend and Co breezed past a hearty Romanian side.
Darcy Graham dazzled with four of the 12 tries but plenty of the start XV and replacements showed they all want to be a part of the now massive encounter with Ireland next weekend.
On conversion duty, Ben Healy kicked in twelve straight and also popped up with a try with the previously uncapped Johnny Matthews scoring too on a night full of feel-good stories for Scotland.
Scotland now have to produce their best performance of the professional era to beat Ireland by eight or more while preventing the world No.1s from gaining a bonus point if they‘re to progress from Pool B into the knock-out stages.
Scotland tries: Watson, Price, D Graham x4, Fagerson, Harris, Smith, Healy, Matthews, Darge
Key Events
FULL-TIME Scotland 84-0 Romania
Rampant. Clinical. Inevitable.
A week from now against Ireland will be sensational.
12 tries for Scotland tonight. 12 conversions too.
What a performance to keep the momentum rolling this week and the confidence will be sky high!
Scotland 68-0 Romania
Johnny Matthews!
He was only called up a few days ago. What a story.
Uncapped before today too. Magic.
Scotland 63-0 Romania
A Healy double as he converts with ease right down the centre.
Nine tries now and nine conversions for Scotland.
Scotland 61-0 Romania
Ben Healy was fed up with scoring all his points with his boot so he scores a try.
Lovely wee duke to beat his man and run it in.
Scotland 54-0 Romania
After Romania thought they were about to break through, Scotland counter at speed.
Smart play near the line to release and pick it up to then advance over the line from Ollie Smith.
Scotland 47-0 Romania
Chris Harris flies over right in the corner for Scotland's first try of the second half.
Easy days.
Romania discipline
Amidst that late first-half try, Romania's Marius Simionescu was shown a yellow.
That's three already for them. Ill discipline is costing them, amongst other things.
Say cheeeeeeese
Ali Price can't stop smiling after that finish#RWC2023 | #SCOvROM pic.twitter.com/FR4c9SbQnF
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) September 30, 2023
HALF-TIME Scotland 42-0 Romania
Well. That wasn't too shabby, eh?
Just keep this up now. It's all about momentum building and confidence growing.
Maybe even eyeing the 100 mark, who knows...
Scotland 40-0 Romania
Darcy Graham bags a first-half hattrick.
Another swift break through the middle with Chris Harris feeding Ali Price, and then to Graham.
Scotland 33-0 Romania
No live texting tonight at this rate...I feel like a vidiprinter at this point.
Matt Fagerson with another Scotland try.
Scotland 28-0 Romania
Ben Healy, as expected, shows great composure to angle it in from out wide.
Rampant to say the least from Scotland.
Scotland 26-0 Romania
There it is. Try bonus point secured.
Another Darcy Graham contribution as he again moves like lightning to dart over,
Romania faltering
Romania are now down to just 13 as Florian Rosu is now sent to the sin bin.
Hold your breath time
Do we have a Scotland try?
We're now awaiting a call on if the ball was grounded...
Bunker bound
Robert Irimescu is sent to the bunker as we await a decision on potentially upgrading his yellow to a red.
He appeared to go from low to high with his challenge.
Scotland continuing to dominate
Everyone caught their breath?
Jason Tomane ventured into Scotland's 22 but that was soon ended by some excellent defensive action from Chris Harris who won a penalty.
We nearly have another Scotland try too but Ollie Smith can't quite grab the ball as he tumbles over the line.
One away from the oh-so-precious bonus point.
Scotland 19-0 Romania
Darcy Graham are you kidding me?!
That's up there with try of the tournament so far.
A cute little pass back to the 14 sets up haring right through the middle of the pitch, he keeps it direct with players facing him down too.
It's rounded off with a little swivel as he rockets it home for the try.
