Scotland 42-0 Romania

7 Sept - 20 Oct, 2007

Rugby World Cup Blog | 606
Official World Cup website

Scotland (21) 42
Tries: Hogg 3, R Lamont 2, Paterson
Cons: Paterson 6

Romania (0) 0

A solid Scottish display set up a convincing win over Romania in a one-sided contest at Murrayfield.

Tries from Chris Paterson, Allister Hogg and Rory Lamont put the Scots into a comfortable lead at the break.

The Scots maintained their performance in the second half with two further scores from Hogg and one from Lamont

An impressive kicking display from Chris Paterson saw him collect maximum points from his conversions.

Scotland made four changes to the side which beat Portugal in St Etienne.

Paterson started on the wing and Gavin Kerr replaced the injured Allan Jacobsen at prop. Ross Ford and Jim Hamilton replaced Scott Lawson and Scott Murray at hooker and lock respectively.

Romania named an unchanged side to the one which lost only 24-18 to Italy in their opening Pool C match.

Paterson got Scotland off to a dream start as he touched down in the corner after only a minute after the Scots took advantage of a slack Romanian lineout.

The stand-in winger duly converted his try to hand the Scots a 7-0 advantage.

The Scots adopted tactics similar to those used so successfully in their World Cup warm-up match with Ireland, nullifying the threat from the heavy Romanian forwards.

A drive from Hogg almost crossed the line, but led only to a Scotland penalty.

Scotland kicked for the corner, and from the resulting lineout Scotland drove over the line with Hogg claiming his seventh international try.

Paterson again placed his kick between the posts as Scotland moved into a comfortable lead.

The remainder of the first half brought more Scottish pressure, and Lamont slid in from wide following a slick attacking move which Paterson duly converted.

The Romanians made an unexpected change at halftime, bringing off their talismanic hooker Tincu to be replaced by Razvan Mavrodin

Mike Blair was unfortunate not to add another try shortly after the restart, but his lunge fell short of the line.

The Scottish fans did not have to wait long to celebrate however, as Taylor charged down a Romanian ball allowing Hogg to burst forward and claim a bonus point for his team with Scotland's fourth try, which Paterson again converted.

Webster released Hogg after a spell of Scottish pressure in front of the posts and the flanker crossed the line for his third try of the match.

Paterson's kicking was again sound as he made his fifth conversion of the evening.

As the game entered it's final phase, Rory Lamont's blistering angled run took him past the Romanian defence to touch down under the posts, allowing Paterson to claim his sixth conversion.

Romania never really threatened and Scotland held on for a comfortable win.

Scotland : R. Lamont, S. Lamont, Webster, Dewey, Paterson, Parks, Blair, Kerr, Ford, E. Murray, Hines, Hamilton, White, Hogg, Taylor. Replacements : S. Lawson, Smith, MacLeod, Brown, Cusiter, Southwell, Walker.

Romania : Dumitras, Fercu, Gal, Gontineac, Brezoianu, Dimofte, Sirbu, Toderasc, Tincu, B. Balan, Socol, Petre, Corodeanu, Manta, Tonita. Replacements : Florea, Mavrodin, Ratiu, Tudori, Calafeteanu, Tofan, Vlaicu.

Referee : Nigel Owens (WRFU)

Source: BBC Sport