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Tommy Seymour: Scotland wing 'over the moon' after hat-trick

By Iona BallantyneBBC Scotland

Last updated on .From the section Scottish Rugbycomments20

Scotland wing Tommy Seymour admitted he was "over the moon" after putting "a challenging year" behind him with a hat-trick of tries against Fiji.

The Glasgow back, 30, ended an eight-Test, 20-month drought since his last international try in March 2017.

His treble also moved him into fourth place on Scotland's all-time list.

"I hadn't scored for a while for Scotland. You try not to focus on it, but it's something that I was looking forward to doing again," he said.

"I'm delighted to score again and just pleased for the boys that we were able to put away a really dangerous Fiji side who could have caused us a lot of problems."

Seymour scored 13 tries in his first 25 Tests, but only three in his next 19 after March 2016 until Saturday, when he became only the second Scotland player - after hooker George Turner against Canada this summer - to score a hat-trick since Chris Paterson's treble against Japan 14 years ago.

Hampered by injuries and having recently suffered a family bereavement, he has struggled to recapture the form that saw him selected for the 2017 British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand.

"Since this time last year, roughly around the autumn, there have been a couple of things that have gone on that have made it quite a challenging year for me," Seymour said.

"I'm not wanting to talk about them. But, after having a good pre-season with Glasgow and getting back involved with the national side, it's been great."

Seymour's hat-trick - taking him to 19 tries from his 45 Tests - also elevated him above club-mate Stuart Hogg into fourth on Scotland's all-time try-scoring list.

"He mentioned it in the changing room afterwards - that's a bonus. Brilliant," he said. "It's always nice getting one over on Hoggy because it's probably the only one I've got.

"It just adds fuel to the competition between the two of us. He's got a few years on me, so I'm guessing he might be able to outdo me over the long run."

Scotland now prepare for a huge Test next Saturday against an in-form South Africa side, a team that evokes special memories for Seymour.

"I won my first cap against them (in 2013). That sticks strong in the memory. You never forget your first cap," he added.

"I remember the bus journey back from training and being told that I was playing. We've played them a few times since, in the World Cup and a couple of other times.

"They are always unbelievable games against South Africa. They are in really hot form at the moment.

"We need to make sure we are ready for what will be a very fierce contest next week."

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20 comments

  • Comment posted by U16627255, at 08:40 12 Nov 2018

    I have to admit that I've been proven wrong about Seymour I kept saying he should be dropped for Kinghorn, McGuigan or Graham due to his form. Credit to him and Townsend for sticking with him he's our best winger when he's in form hopefully this opens the floodgates and he gets a couple v South Africa and there arrogant fans.

  • Comment posted by ljs, at 10:44 12 Nov 2018

    Proof that rugby fans go to see tries,

    NOT PENALITIES or grovelling about in the mud.

    Wales v Australia WAS REALLY BORING.

  • Comment posted by Fairlie Optimist, at 10:24 12 Nov 2018

    Tommy was always first XV in my opinion and scoring tries was never the only facet of his game. Very consistent under the high ball and rarely let us down when it mattered. A well deserved hatrick albeit against a fairly disorganised Fiji...lets keep the momentum going boys!!!!!! Scotland 24 - South Africa 21 : ))

  • Comment posted by cousinpaul, at 10:20 12 Nov 2018

    Love watching Scotland play. Really entertaining Rugby. Hopefully they put one over South Africa and Ireland beat NZ this weekend.

    And of course a big win for us over Japan.

  • Comment posted by tails1000, at 14:13 12 Nov 2018

    @13 - When Scotland last played Australia they also scored 8 tries.

  • Comment posted by sherbertlemon, at 10:10 12 Nov 2018

    Classic case of burnout post Lions... happens often enough. He's looked far sharper for Glasgow this season so good to see him get a few on Sat. Anyone who claims Seymour and Maitland aren't Scotlands best options out wide are deluded.

    For someone not blessed with any real world class quality (aerial ability maybe?!), his poaching instincts are excellent.

  • Comment posted by The Uncomfortable Truth, at 09:41 12 Nov 2018

    Confidence creates wins and wins create confidence. Over confidence is the worst thing of all. Keep the heid guys. No reason why we can't beat the Boks.

  • Comment posted by dodgyneeps, at 09:28 12 Nov 2018

    @1 Yes well said. IMHO we have a world class back 3 but with genuine competition for places...Roll on the Saffers!

  • Comment posted by Gordymeister, at 14:50 12 Nov 2018

    @13 8 tries against 14 man Australia in Edinburgh, 3 tries against 15 man Australia in Sydney, different how?!

  • Comment posted by footyfan94, at 14:21 12 Nov 2018

    Team for Saturday;

    1) Dell
    2) Brown (tough call with two hookers in such great form)
    3) Nel
    4) Gray
    5) Skinner
    6) Wilson
    7) Watson
    8) Strauss
    9) Laidlaw
    10) Russell
    11) Maitland
    12) Dunbar
    13) Jones
    14) Seymour
    15) Hogg

    Replacements; Allan, McInally, Berghan, Gilchrist, Ritchie, G.Horne, Hastings, Kinghorn

    Some really tough decisions to make.

  • Comment posted by Agoodbigun, at 13:56 12 Nov 2018

    @14 when he scores a try against Fiji, I ma sure the BBC will give it plenty of coverage!

  • Comment posted by Midas_child, at 09:35 12 Nov 2018

    Seymour is our best finisher now Visser has retired and even then it was close between the two. Maitland is by far and away the best thinker we have in the back 3. Good to see we do have some talent coming up to push them now in Kinghorn, Graham and possibly Hoyland once he's back fit.

    Hopefully now he's broken his duck Tommy can add a few more tries to his tally over the next couple of weeks

  • Comment posted by Santorini, at 11:09 12 Nov 2018

    A really great switch from the driving maul through the middle to down the flanks. There was even a "dummy" driving maul. Should have been a couple of scores more though..

  • Comment posted by U17052935, at 20:20 12 Nov 2018

    To 18 and 19. Help me out guys. You point out that Scotland scored a barrow load of tries against Oz in two games, but that isn't too impressive somehow!? How many tries must Scotland score on average to meet your exacting standards? We'll try and do better ; )

  • Comment posted by TeamCam, at 15:37 12 Nov 2018

    @18 technically it was 1 try against 15-man Aus in Edinburgh, followed by 7 against 14-man Aus!

  • Comment posted by philmus, at 11:11 12 Nov 2018

    2. Seymour is 30. Not impossible for an international back still to be playing at 34.

  • Comment posted by Oscaig, at 08:57 12 Nov 2018

    So good to see Tommy back to his predatory best in this match - when he's on this form he's deadly. Like @1 I would also have been tempted to think about Graham or Kinghorn. But excellent to have Mr Seymour hitting his pre-Lions heights again.

  • Comment posted by U17018963, at 08:50 12 Nov 2018

    Both wingers IIRC had decent line breaks and put a fair contribution in, not often said of wingers.

    Hopefully Seymour can continue a decent run of form into the WC which'll probably be his last as a player

  • Comment posted by Gaz, at 12:36 12 Nov 2018

    ljs - scotland scoring tries against 13 man Fiji isnt the same as playing against 15 australians.

  • Comment posted by applemanc, at 12:46 12 Nov 2018

    My son scored a hat-trick of tries for his U13 side . Why is this not covered by the bbc ???

    What is the point ?

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