RWC results and highlights: Sc

FUKUROI, JAPAN – OCTOBER 09: John Barclay of Scotland celebrates with team mates Duncan Taylor and Henry Pyrgos after scoring his sides eighth try during the Rugby World Cup 2019 Group A game between Scotland and Russia at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa on October 9, 2019 in Fukuroi, Shizuoka, Japan. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)

RWC results and highlights: Scotland 61-0 Russia – as it happened

Scrum-half George Horne bagged a hat-trick Wednesday as Scotland secured a vital bonus point in a 61-0 win against minnows Russia that sets up a Pool A showdown with hosts Japan for a place in the quarter-finals.

RWC results and highlights: Sc

FUKUROI, JAPAN – OCTOBER 09: John Barclay of Scotland celebrates with team mates Duncan Taylor and Henry Pyrgos after scoring his sides eighth try during the Rugby World Cup 2019 Group A game between Scotland and Russia at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa on October 9, 2019 in Fukuroi, Shizuoka, Japan. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)

Scotland will play Japan for a spot in the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals after a 26-point haul from Adam Hastings helped them to a nine-try, 61-0 thrashing of Russia on Wednesday.

A Scottish side boasting 14 changes from the team that beat Samoa 34-0 last week easily outgunned a Russian side ranked 20th in the world and which had suffered three defeats in their three previous Pool A games (Japan 30-10, Samoa 34-9, Ireland 35-0).

Scotland coach Gregor Townsend had no option but to rest the likes of big guns Greig Laidlaw, Finn Russell, Stuart Hogg, Blade Thompson and Johnny Gray, with only a four-day turnover before the game against Japan in Yokohama on Sunday.

Townsend’s bet on a largely second-string side producing enough to seal the win paid off, however, with Hastings — son of legendary former captain Gavin — running the show with aplomb at Shizuoka’s Ecopa Stadium.

The result leaves Scotland on 10 points in Pool A while unbeaten hosts Japan have 14 and Ireland — who play Samoa in Fukuoka on Saturday — 11. Only the two top sides will advance to the knock-out phase.

Rugby World Cup 2019 recap and highlights: Scotland vs Russia

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Additional reporting by AFP/World Rugby.