Scotland Rugby results 2023: Gregor Townsend's side fall short at 2023 World Cup

Scotland were seen as dark horses at the Rugby World Cup in France but failed to reach the knockout stages.

After an impressive autumn 2022, which saw Argentina beaten and both the Wallabies and All Blacks pushed close, optimism was high heading into the Six Nations, with the prospect of an opening day Calcutta Cup clash against England stirring the blood north of the border.

Scotland turned up at Twickenham to score four fantastic tries as they won 29-23, with both of Duhan van der Merwe's efforts something to behold, and went one better the following week, crossing five times in a resounding 35-7 victory over Wales.

However, losses to France and Ireland in their next two games put Scotland out of title contention, with their late surge not enough in in Saint-Denis before Ireland pulled off a second-half comeback of their own to triumph 22-7 at Murrayfield.

THE TRY THAT SHOOK THE WORLD 🤯

Duhan van der Merwe's unbelievable score against England is your #GuinnessSixNations 𝐓𝐫𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩! @Scotlandteam | @duhanvdmerwe pic.twitter.com/tFe5Lvi12T

— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 30, 2023

With their last game against Italy a free hit, rotations made to the side paid dividends – none more so than Blair Kinghorn, who stepped into the fly-half breach and scored three tries and conversions apiece to give Scotland their third bonus-point victory of the tournament.

A third-placed Six Nations showing is certainly a strong platform to build on, and Scotland had oozed confidence in the build-up to the World Cup. Italy returned to Murrayfield and were duly dispatched 25-13, before one of the best performances in the Townsend era saw France beaten 25-21 in the Scottish capital.

Listen to that BT Murrayfield roar 📢#AsOne pic.twitter.com/2wMl4VhEvY

— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) March 18, 2023

Les Bleus quickly posted their revenge with a 30-27 victory in Saint-Etienne the following week, but needed a 79th minute Thomas Ramos penalty to do so. Scotland then hammered Georgia 33-6 in their final warm-up fixture.

But placed in what appeared to be the dictionary definition of a 'group of death' at the World Cup, Scotland fell short in their bid to finish above Ireland and South Africa in Pool B; their only victories coming against Tonga and Romania.

Scotland Rugby Union fixtures 2023

Scotland Rugby fixtures will be updated once new dates are announced.

Scotland Rugby Union results 2023

How did Scotland fare in the 2023 Six Nations?

Two bonus-point wins over England and Wales in their first two games had Scotland sitting pretty at the top of the Six Nations table, level with eventual champions Ireland. Scotland scored nine tries in their respective victories, playing some scintillating rugby in the process.

However, successive defeats to France and Ireland the following weeks scuppered their chances of a maiden Six Nations title, though they did record another bonus point with a 26-14 victory over Italy to close out the tournament; Blair Kinghorn stealing the show with a hat-trick.

Kinghorn could prove to be the ready-made replacement for stalwart fullback and Scotland's record try scorer Stuart Hogg, who announced his retirement at the end of the domestic season. With South Africa and Ireland both in Scotland's World Cup pool, even reaching the knockouts would be one hell of an achievement for Gregor Townsend's ever-improving side.

This list will be updated as Scotland's results over the course of the year are confirmed, including potential knockout matches at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

MORE: A full breakdown of the fixtures at Rugby World Cup 2023