Scotland will be confident of putting an end to the USA Eagle’s six match-winning run when they lock horns in Houston on Sunday, Shaun Goosen reports.
USA v Scotland
17 June 02h00
BBVA Compass Stadium
To Win
USA 13/2
Draw 22/1
Scotland 1/6
Handicap
USA (+10.5) 9/10
Scotland (-10.5) 9/10
Gregor Townsend’s charges were impressive in their 48-10 victory over Canada in Edmonton last week. Despite fielding a host of inexperienced players with four players making their debuts, Scotland stuck to their structures and managed to outscore their hosts by seven tries to one.
Complacency is often an issue for tier-one nations when taking on minnows in effective “friendly” internationals, but the Scots deserve credit for taking nothing for granted and digging deep to secure a good result.
In particular, replacement hooker George Turner was exceptional on the day. The Glasgow Warrior became the first Scotland to score a hattrick in 11 years, in what was just his third international. His is a performance certainly worth noting as the competition for places heats up in anticipation of next year’s World Cup.
The experience that Turner and the like will gain this June will be invaluable as Townsend and his coaching staff look to build depth in the lead up to their arrival in Japan. Scotland have always lacked quality off their bench, and Townsend’s decision to name a squad of second-stringers this June is one that may be vindicated in both the short and long term.
Following that solid showing in Edmonton, Scotland will feel confident of one-upping a confident Eagles outfit at home this weekend. The Americans won all five of their matches (including a 29-10 win over Canada) on the way to winning the 2018 Americas Rugby Championship, and they will certainly pose a far greater threat to the Celts than was the case last week.
Coming off the back of a 62-13 thrashing of Russia, Gary Gold’s men will look to upset their European counterparts and extend their winning run to seven Tests. Gold is a wily competitor. Scotland can’t afford to drop the intensity this week.
Verdict: Scotland (-10.5) 9/10
In what will be a very trying Test, I’m backing Scotland to take the W. The Eagles will come far closer than their North American brothers did a week ago, but it won’t be enough to hold the sixth-ranked Scots.
Written by Shaun Goosen for Hollywoodbets
