Subs save Scots' blushes
Sean Maitland scored the 100th try of the World Cup to help Scotland make it two wins from two.
Maitland, who hails from New Zealand, was one of three foreign-born players to score tries for the victors, Dutch-born wing Tim Visser and South African-born prop WP Nel being the others.
Centre Matt Scott and Duncan Weir also got tries as Scotland grabbed their second successive bonus point win to move on to 10 points. They are three clear of South Africa who they play in Newcastle on Saturday, October 3.
All the tries came in the second-half after the Americans had led 13-6 at half-time.
AJ MacGinty gave the Americans a good start with a penalty in the third minute but an infringement by Titi Lamositele allowed fullback Stuart Hogg to level in the seventh minute.
Scottish flyhalf Finn Russell put the Scots into a 6-3 lead on 10 minutes with a penalty.
Hogg missed with another penalty attempt and within minutes the Americans had stormed down the pitch. From a well worked passing move from a lineout Lamositele burrowed over with MacGinty adding the conversion for a 10-6 lead.
Scotland blew a chance to score a try of their own as Hogg ruined a blistering solo run. He sent a poor pass to the wide open Visser, prompting coach Vern Cotter to turn away from the pitch in frustration.
Scotland were slightly off their game as Russell went wide with another penalty attempt and a succession of earth-shattering tackles by the Americans – one by Seamus Kelly and another by Takudzwa Ngwenya – had the Scots rattled further.
The Americans ended the half firmly in control as an impressive 15 phase move provoked the Scots into an infringement. MacGinty slotted the penalty over for a 13-6 lead at the break.
Cotter must have given a dressing down at the break as the Scots immediately hit back. Hogg's pass this time to Visser was inch perfect and the wing ran it in for a try – the 99th in the tournament. Russell missed the conversion to leave the USA still 13-11 to the good.
The century of tries came when a well-worked move by the Scots ended with Russell feeding Maitland who thundered over and Russell adding the extras for an 18-13 lead.
MacGinty took the States to within two points with a penalty but only a stunning tackle by Shalom Suniula on Tim Swinson yards from the line prevented a third Scottish try.
However, there was no stopping the Scots' surge and Nel was next to get a pat on the head from his team-mates for their third try meaning the USA have now conceded 6 000 points in Test matches since 1912.
Greig Laidlaw, who replaced scrumhalf and captain for the day Henry Pyrgos, converted for 25-16. There were nervous faces though in the Scottish coaching gantry when Russell was removed from the action with what seemed to be a foot injury.
It did not stop the Scottish juggernaut, however, and Scott went over – to ensure the bonus point – with Greig Laidlaw adding the conversion for a 32-16 lead.
Laidlaw made no mistake with his final conversion of the day either after Duncan Weir celebrated his first World Cup appearance with a try at the death.
Man of the Match: Takudzwa Ngwenya and Seamus Kelly were massive threats from the back while the USA's pack of forwards worked extremely hard to completely outplay their opponents in the first half. For Scotland, Stuart Hogg looked dangerous and a constant threat while prop Ryan Grant held his own under the constant pressure. Our award goes to Josh Strauss who was absolutely everywhere, put in some ferocious hits and had his hand in almost every attack.
Moment of the match: Titi Lamositele's try was just reward for USA's first half dominance but the moment that sparked the Scots into life came in the 42nd second when Tim Visser grabbed his side's first try after excellent work by No.8 Josh Strauss.
Villain of the match: Nothing worth mentioning.
Scorers:
For Scotland:
Tries: Visser, Maitland, Nel, Scott, Weir
Cons: Russell, Laidlaw 3
Pens: Hogg, Russell
For USA:
Try: Lamositele
Con: MacGinty
Pens: MacGinty 3
Teams:
Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Peter Horne, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Henry Pyrgos (captain), 8 Josh Strauss, 7 Ryan Wilson, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Jon Welsh, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Ryan Grant.
Replacements: 16 Kevin Bryce, 17 Alasdair Dickinson, 18 Willem Nel, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Fraser Brown, 21 Greig Laidlaw, 22 Duncan Weir, 23 Matt Scott.
United States: 15 Chris Wyles (captain), 14 Takudzwa Ngwenya, 13 Seamus Kelly, 12 Thretton Palamo, 11 Blaine Scully, 10 AJ MacGinty, 9 Mike Petri, 8 Samu Manoa, 7 Andrew Durutalo, 6 Al McFarland, 5 Greg Peterson, 4 Hayden Smith, 3 Titi Lamositele, 2 Phil Thiel, 1 Eric Fry.
Replacements: 16 Zach Fenoglio, 17 Oli Kilifi, 18 Chris Baumann, 19 Cameron Dolan, 20 John Quill, 21 Danny Barrett, 22 Shalom Suniula, 23 Folau Niua.
Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: John Lacey (Ireland), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
