Star Metro - Scotland thrash Tonga in Autumn Nations finale

But this eight-try rout is unlikely to ease the pressure on coach Gregor Townsend after successive November defeats by New Zealand and Argentina where Scotland twice squandered promising positions late on.

Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu was the only player to keep his place in the starting team as Townsend made 14 changes following last week's 33-24 loss at home to Argentina -- a match where the Scots led 21-0 heading into the final quarter.

On Sunday, they were 21-0 up at half-time thanks to tries from Jamie Ritchie, George Turner and Max Williamson.

But there was no repeat of the Dark Blues' collapse against the Pumas, with recalled wing Duhan van der Merwe regaining the outright record as Scotland's leading try-scorer -- he was level with Darcy Graham -- when he went over for his 35th Test touchdown just before the hour mark.

Replacement hooker Ewan Ashman added a fifth try 15 minutes from the finish before fellow substitute George Horne crossed twice.

There was still time for Horne to add his second try and Scotland's eighth shortly before the final whistle in a match where Tonga's cause was not helped by four yellow cards.

jdg/bsp

A.Bergeron--SMC