SCOTLAND scored five tries in another second-half show at the Rugby World Cup to beat the United States 39-16 and move into first place in Pool B on Sunday.

    In other Sunday matches, wingers Keith Earls and Tommy Bowe each touched down twice for a much-changed Ireland side, which continued its serene progress by overpowering Romania 44-10; a second-string Australia ran in 11 tries to hammer Uruguay 65-3 at Villa Park and ease to the top of Pool A ahead of their crunch encounters with England and Wales.

    “It was a banana skin that we dodged today,” Scotland coach Vern Cotter said.

    Using a swarming defense and a strong scrum, the Eagles were on course for only their fourth — and easily most stunning — World Cup win after taking a 13-6 lead at halftime on prop Titi Lamositele’s try.

    After a four-day turnaround from the 45-10 win over Japan, Scotland was being pushed around up front, its passing was off and its discipline poor.

    Just like the Japan game, there was an immediate cutting edge to Scotland’s play as wingers Tim Visser and Sean Maitland, hooker WP Nel, and center Matt Scott scored tries in a 23-minute spell to clinch the bonus point by the 65th. Duncan Weir crossed for the fifth try on virtually the last play of the game as the Americans faded.

    “Something that comes into play is a lot of these guys playing don’t have the grind of a professional season, playing week in, week out,” U.S. coach Mike Tolkin said. “For some of our guys, it’s a real challenge and it’s something we have to overcome.”

    That will take years, not weeks. So the Eagles are staring at no wins at a World Cup for the fourth time in seven editions. They now have a 10-day break before playing a rejuvenated South Africa at the Olympic Stadium.

    By then, Scotland — sitting top of the pool with a maximum 10 points — may have sealed its spot in the quarterfinals, but that will require a victory over the Springboks in six days. There are fitness concerns over lock Grant Gilchrist and flyhalf Finn Russell, who went off injured against the Americans

    Given the relatively short journey south from Scotland, it was like a home game for Cotter’s side. The sound of kilted bagpipers before kickoff would have made the Scots feel even more at home.

    (SD-Agencies)