Barbarians remain on course

Scotland 15 Barbarians 24

With just two minutes played, weak home defending on the right flank allowed Australian wing Scott Staniforth to cruise in for the opening try at Murrayfield.

Argentinian stand-off Felipe Contepomi landed the conversion from an awkward angle. Scotland attempted to respond with an up-and-under by Chris Paterson aimed at wing James McLaren.

But the ball was snaffled by the Barbarians, who set up a counter-attack. From an offside penalty, they won their own lineout ball and drove towards the line.

The ball was expertly recycled for Darren Edwards to move around the narrow side for a simple touchdown. Contepomi narrowly missed the kick.

Scotland burst back into the contest in the 21st minute when McLaren dashed over. Paterson failed with the touchline conversion, but made amends by slotting a 40-metre penalty.

The Barbarians regained the initiative before the break with two more scores, from Ollie le Roux and French wing Aurelien Rougerie, with Contepomi goaling the former.

Scotland looked the more urgent outfit after the restart, but their finishing skills couldn’t match their promising build-up work.

Their persistence paid off in the 67th minute however, when Metcalfe powered over in the wake of a quickly-taken Mike Blair penalty.

Paterson bagged the extra points to close the gap to just nine.

The Scots secured plenty of possession in the frantic finale, but the well-drilled Baa-Baas defence held firm with ease.

Scotland scorers: Tries: G. Metcalfe, McLaren. Cons: Paterson. Pens: Paterson.

SCOTLAND: G. Metcalfe, Webster, Laney, Townsend, McLaren, Paterson, Blair, G. Kerr, Bulloch, Douglas, Murray, Hines, Leslie, Taylor, Petrie.

Barbarians scorers: Tries: Staniforth, Rougerie, Edwards, le Roux. Cons: Contepomi 2.

BARBARIANS: Jantjes, Staniforth, Barry, Gibson, Rougerie, Contepomi, Edwards, le Roux, Ibanez, Garvey, Galwey, Louw, Flavell, A. Venter, Phelan.

Referee: Nigel Whitehouse (Wales).