A SHODDY first-half showing in which could go wrong did go wrong was replaced by a reassuring second half in which Scotland claimed their second bonus point in as many games. They are now back at the top of Pool B in the Rugby World Cup, having been temporarily replaced by South Africa on Saturday.

Aj MacGinty opened the scoring for the States with a straightforward second-minute penalty, but Stuart Hogg soon replied from just a few metres inside the American half. The US had the better of the first couple of scrums, turning over Scotland’s put-in then being awarded a free kick, but at the third time of asking the Scots pack held up a bit better and allowed Henry Pyrgos to retrieve clean ball.

With quarter of an hour played, a drive up the middle of the American half in which Mark Bennett was prominent ended with a penalty award in front of the posts, and this time Finn Russell knocked it over to give his team the lead. Hogg was just wide with another attempt from halfway after another good passage of running play, which ended with Grant Gilchrist being forced off with injury and replaced in the second row by Tim Swinson.

After a faltering start, Scotland had begun to build momentum, but as the second quarter began they were stunned by an American try. MacGinty kicked a penalty to touch on the edge of the Scots 22, and his forwards made ground with worrying ease before Titi Lamositele finished the move off. The stand-off converted to put his team 10-6 ahead.

Scotland were in more trouble minutes later when Seamus Kelly broke through the middle, but the centre was stopped at the third time of asking. Vern Cotter’s team should then have hit back when Hogg broke through down the left, but what would have been a scoring pass to Tim Visser was too low, and the winger failed to gather.

Russell was wide with a penalty six minutes before half-time, and Scotland ended the half on the back foot, conceding a penalty in stoppage time that allowed MacGinty to make the score at the interval 13-6.

Scotland had had the majority of possession, and more than enough ball to get the score that would have seen them regain the lead, but they were lacking in the patience they had shown to such good effect in attack against Japan.They were also up against opponents who, having lost their first game, needed a win to keep their qualification hopes alive. Those opponents had also had eight days to recover from that game, a defeat by Samoa, whereas Scotland had had only four since beating Japan.

Props Alasdair Dickinson and WP Nel were on for the start of the second half with the aim of stabilising the scrum. Scotland began that half with far more composure and purpose, and were back on the scoreboard within two minutes. Ryan Wilson made a half-break, the ball was recycled left, and Hogg drew the last man then this time found Visser in the clear. The winger ran in from ten metres out for an unconverted try.

That left Scotland two points behind at 11-13, but they were soon in the lead with another try. Russell slipped through the first line of defence, feinted a pass to his right but then span round to find Sean Maitland inside him. The winger finished the job from five metres out, and this time the stand-off converted.

Ten minutes into the half a MacGinty penalty made it 18-16 - a sign that the Eagles were far from finished. Josh Strauss came close to scoring again after a Swinson chargedown, but was held up a metre short. That third try was only delayed, however, as a move infield from a lineout, again with Strauss prominent, culminated in Nel forcing his way over. Squad captain Greig Laidlaw, just on for Pyrgos, added the two points.

Fraser Brown was also on by that point, replacing Wilson at openside. Cotter had put a lot of faith in the hooker’s ability to deputise in the No 7 position, though he had not planned to put it to the test as early as the second pool match, having originally selected John Hardie before a failed head-injury test ruled the flanker out.

Scotland took that 25-16 lead into the final quarter, and continued their search for the fourth try that would produce the bonus point. It came with quarter of an hour to spare when Matt Scott, not long off the bench, took a pass from the base of a ruck and slalomed past a couple of tiring defenders. Laidlaw’s conversion made it 32-16, and, just as they had done against Japan, Scotland had proven themselves to be fitter.

Duncan Weir made it five tries - again, just like against Japan - in the last two minutes. Laidlaw converted to complete what was ultimately a good win.

SCOTLAND: Tries: Visser, Maitland, Nel, Scott, Weir. Cons: Russell, Laidlaw 3. Pens: Hogg, Russell.

USA: Try: Lamositele. Con: MacGinty. Pens: MacGinty 3.

Scotland: S Hogg; S Maitland, M Bennett, P Horne (M Scott 53), T Visser; F Russell (D Weir 60), H Pyrgos (G Laidlaw 52); R Grant (A Dickinson 41), R Ford (K Bryce 78), J Welsh (WP Nel 41), R Gray, G Gilchrist (T Swinson 19), A Strokosch, R Wilson (F Brown 46), J Strauss.

USA: C Wyles; T Ngwenya, S Kelly, T Palamo, B Scully (F Niua 59); A MacGinty, M Petri (S Suniula 50); E Fry (O Kilifi 69), P Thiel (Z Fenoglio 64), T Lamositele (C Baumann 69), H Smith (C Dolan 43), G Peterson (D Barrett 50), A McFarland, A Durutalo (J Quill 59), S Manoa..

Referee: C Pollock (New Zealand). Attendance: 33, 521.