Scotland outlasts Uruguay 31-19 to cap unbeaten rugby tour of Americas

MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay (AP) — Scotland completed a four-game sweep of its Americas rugby tour by pulling away from Uruguay late to win 31-19 on Saturday.

Winger Duhan van der Merwe became Scotland’s sole record try-scorer as they led 19-0.

But Uruguay, embarrassed by Argentina 79-5 last weekend, rallied to make it 19-all going into the last quarter. Los Teros should have led but flyhalf Felipe Etcheverry missed three goalkicks in front of the posts; one hit the post.

Scotland’s replacements made the late difference as front-rowers Patrick Harrison and Pierre Schoeman crossed four minutes apart to give them breathing room on the scoreboard.

The Scots beat Canada 73-12 in Ottawa, the United States 42-7 in Washington, and Chile 52-11 in Santiago — and debuted a dozen players along the way — and were expected to be too strong for an expectedly demoralised Uruguay in their first meeting in 25 years.

But Scotland fired only sporadically while Los Teros, when they tidied up a soft defense, pounced on the visitor’s errors.

Hooker Ewan Ashman scored his fourth try of the tour from a lineout maul to start Scotland, then flanker Luke Crosbie crossed untouched.

Flyhalf Ben Healy converted both but not Van der Merwe’s try. Kyle Rowe came off his wing and could have scored in the left corner but gifted the try to Van der Merwe, who left behind Stuart Hogg with his Scotland record 28th try in his 41st test.

Scotland’s 19-0 lead after 26 minutes evaporated quickly. Uruguay scrumhalf Santiago Alvarez scored from intercepting Healy, and Etcheverry went over after a tapped penalty. He converted both and they trailed only 19-14 at halftime.

Etcheverry hit the post to start the half and couldn’t convert a try by Manuel Diana as they levelled.

Scotland hit back quick with tries to Harrison from a lineout maul and Schoeman after an Adam Hastings crosskick to Huw Jones.

Another replacement, wing Kyle Steyn, thought he scored between the posts in the 80th but it was ruled out for obstruction.

“(Uruguay) made it tough for us at the breakdown which made our attack struggle to flow,” Scotland captain Rory Darge told broadcaster ESPN. “We’re delighted to have ground it out in the end in a fairly ugly fashion. The bench came on and made a huge difference.”

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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby