Scotland

The pressure was on Gregor Townsend’s side after losing their first game to South Africa and then seeing Ireland defeat the Boks on Saturday, a scenario that left them with no margin for error and in need of big victories from their remaining fixtures.

The Scots kept their composure, however, and showed their attacking quality to get themselves a foothold in the top-heavy pool B by recording a 45-17 win over Tonga, with their seven tries all scored by different players.

Flyhalf Russell helped to set up four tries, including both Steyn scores, in a 35-7 win at Murrayfield on Saturday (Sunday NZ time) to leave Warren Gatland winless in his second coming as Wales coach.

It was the first time Gatland had lost to Wales in a Six Nations coaching career stretching back to 2007.

It was a record loss to Scotland for Wales, who have now lost 11 of their last 14 matches.

Scotland last won two games in a row in 1996 when the tournament was still the Five Nations before Italy joined the enclave.

Van der Merwe plundered his decisive second try in the 74th minute as Scotland came from behind to record a 29-23 victory in their Guinness Six Nations opener.

The marauding Lions wing had already brought Twickenham to its feet with a stunning first-half score that began in his own half and saw five would-be tacklers beaten by his speed, strength and footwork.

While a magnificent solo score, it exposed a failing in England’s defence that was a recurring theme in the afternoon’s main indicator of a team playing under a new regime for the first time.

Scotland twice led in the first half with a try by Huw Jones and a spectacular 60-metre effort by Van der Merwe but England hit back with two for recalled winger Max Malins then edged 13-12 ahead at halftime with a penalty by Owen Farrell.

Reuters reports tries for Ellis Genge and Ben White and a penalty apiece kept it as a one-point game until Van der Merwe finished off a lovely move three minutes from the end.

Covid restrictions caused substantial losses at Trump resorts in Ayrshire and Aberdeenshire with both companies reducing staff.

Trump Turnberry saw turnover more than halved and it recorded a loss of more than £3m in 2020.

The other course and resort at Balmedie also reported a loss, of £1.3m.

Donald Trump's mother came from the Isle of Lewis, and the former US president is said to have spoken fondly of his Scottish ancestry.

Loose-forward Hamish Watson also crossed for a try, and flyhalf Finn Russell slotted one penalty and a conversion as the Scots kept up their winning run against Australia with a third successive victory.

Australia, who were beaten at the breakdown and in the scrum, managed a single try through loose-forward Rob Leota as prop Allan Alaalatoa also received a contested yellow card.

Russell landed the winning penalty after 69 minutes as the visitors were penalised at the scrum yet again, much to the delight of the home fans in the 65,700 crowd.

Rufus McLean, another wing, crossed for two tries in the opening 15 minutes, while prop Pierre Schoeman also marked his first cap with a first-half try.

There were second-half tries from George Turner and substitutes Nick Haining and Oli Kebble as Scotland romped to victory in its first match in front of a crowd at Murrayfield in 19 months.

Steyn was starting for the first time for the Dark Blues and became the first Scotland player to score four tries in a match since Gavin Hastings against Ivory Coast at the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

Hyères prop Loni Uhila and Australian-based hooker Maile Ngauamo will make their test debut in the front row alongside David Lolohea.

Northland lock Setofano Funaki will earn his first cap for the 'Ikale Tahi alongside the experienced Leva Fifita while Grenoble flanker Tanginoa Halaifonua is part of an all French-based loose forward trio with Fotu Lokotui and Valentino Mapapalangi.

Tonga sevens international Vaea Vaea will make his full international debut in midfield, alongside the returning Malietoa Hingano, while Atunaisa Manu will earn his first cap on the right wing.

The Six Nations testing oversight group reviewed the outbreak on Monday (Tuesday NZT) which has revealed positive tests by 10 players and three staff members. The group said it will reconvene on Wednesday (Thursday NZT) to decide whether the match will go ahead on Sunday in Paris. If not, it will likely be postponed for a week.

Scotland warned later on Monday (Tuesday NZT) that a delay could affect the availability of its own players.

Figures released by National Records of Scotland showed that the virus had been mentioned on the death certificate of 5,135 people by last Sunday.

This included 278 people who had died in the previous week.

Scotland announced its first confirmed coronavirus death - an elderly patient in Lothian with underlying health conditions - on 14 March

The 278 Covid-linked deaths recorded in Scotland in the week from 9 to 15 November was an increase of 71 from the previous week.