Portugal beaten but not disgraced by Scotland in rugby loss at Murrayfield

EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — Portugal conceded nine tries and wasn’t disgraced in a 59-21 loss at Scotland on Saturday in its latest meeting with a top-tier opponent in the wake of its breakthrough performance at last year’s Rugby World Cup.

It was looking ugly for Os Lobos when Scotland flew ahead 33-0 by the 38th minute at Murrayfield.

However, Portugal held its own in the second half and finished with three tries, one coming from scrumhalf Samuel Marques after the Scotland scrum went backward in front of its posts. Marques, 36 next month, came out of retirement for new coach Simon Mannix.

The Portuguese are getting more chances at the top level after a World Cup campaign in which they drew with Georgia and beat Fiji for their first ever win in the sport’s biggest tournament.

They played world champion South Africa in Bloemfontein in July, losing 64-21, and gained more experience against the Scots, who rebounded from a 32-15 loss to the Springboks last weekend.

In a Scots side of 14 changes, Arron Reed scored two of their tries, both through razor-sharp finishes down the left wing in the second half. Will Hurd, Stafford McDowall, Darcy Graham, Josh Bayliss, Jamie Bhatti and Jamie Dobie also went over, while there was a penalty try.

Graham’s try was a beauty as he sidestepped and darted through Portugal’s defensive line and it took him to 29 for Scotland, tying fellow winger Duhan van der Merwe’s national record.

Luka Begic, in first-half stoppage time, and Raffaele Storti were Portugal’s other try-scorers.

Freddy Douglas, 19, came on as a back-row replacement in the second half and became Scotland's youngest debutant for the men's team since 1963. It was his first professional match, too.

Scotland opened the autumn campaign by beating Fiji 57-17, while Portugal lost to the United States 21-17 last weekend.

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

Scotland's Ben Muncaster, left, is tackled during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Scotland and Portugal at the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Saturday Nov. 16, 2024. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

Scotland's Darcy Graham breaks free to score his side's fourth try of the game during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Scotland and Portugal at the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Saturday Nov. 16, 2024. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

Portugal's Samuel Marques clears the ball during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Scotland and Portugal at the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Saturday Nov. 16, 2024. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

Portugal's Antonio Rebelo de Andrade wins the ball in a lineout during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Scotland and Portugal at the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Saturday Nov. 16, 2024. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

Portugal's Antonio Rebelo de Andrade wins the ball in a lineout during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Scotland and Portugal at the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Saturday Nov. 16, 2024. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

Scotland's Tom Jordan, center, is tackled by Portugal's Tomas Appleton during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Scotland and Portugal at the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Saturday Nov. 16, 2024. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

Scotland's Arron Reed, right, passes the ball to team-mate Darcy Graham to score his side's fourth try of the game during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Scotland and Portugal at the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Saturday Nov. 16, 2024. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

Scotland score their third try of the game, via a penalty try during the Autumn Nations series rugby union match between Scotland and Portugal at the Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, in Edinburgh, Scotland, Saturday Nov. 16, 2024. (Jane Barlow/PA via AP)

NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of nurses in three hospital systems in New York City went on strike Monday after negotiations through the weekend failed to yield breakthroughs in their contract disputes.

The strike was taking place at The Mount Sinai Hospital and two of its satellite campuses, with picket lines forming. The other affected hospitals are NewYork-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

About 15,000 nurses are involved in the strike, according to New York State Nurses Association.

“After months of bargaining, management refused to make meaningful progress on core issues that nurses have been fighting for: safe staffing for patients, healthcare benefits for nurses, and workplace violence protections,” the union said in a statement issued Monday. “Management at the richest hospitals in New York City are threatening to discontinue or radically cut nurses’ health benefits.”

The strike, which comes during a severe flu season, could potentially force the hospitals to transfer patients, cancel procedures or divert ambulances. It could also put a strain on city hospitals not involved in the contract dispute, as patients avoid the medical centers hit by the strike.

The hospitals involved have been hiring temporary nurses to try and fill the labor gap during the walkout, and said in a statement during negotiations that they would “do whatever is necessary to minimize disruptions.” Montefiore posted a message assuring patients that appointments would be kept.

“NYSNA’s leaders continue to double down on their $3.6 billion in reckless demands, including nearly 40% wage increases, and their troubling proposals like demanding that a nurse not be terminated if found to be compromised by drugs or alcohol while on the job," Montefiore spokesperson Joe Solmonese said Monday after the strike had started. "We remain resolute in our commitment to providing safe and seamless care, regardless of how long the strike may last.”

New York-Presbyterian accused the union of staging a strike to “create disruption,” but said in a statement that it has taken steps to ensure patients receive the care they need.

"We’re ready to keep negotiating a fair and reasonable contract that reflects our respect for our nurses and the critical role they play, and also recognizes the challenging realities of today’s healthcare environment,” the statement said.

The work stoppage is occurring at multiple hospitals simultaneously, but each medical center is negotiating with the union independently. Several other hospitals across the city and in its suburbs reached deals in recent days to avert a possible strike.

The nurses’ demands vary by hospital, but the major issues include staffing levels and workplace safety. The union says hospitals have given nurses unmanageable workloads.

Nurses also want better security measures in the workplace, citing incidents like a an incident last week, when a man with a sharp object barricaded himself in a Brooklyn hospital room and was then killed by police.

The union also wants limitations on hospitals’ use of artificial intelligence.

The nonprofit hospitals involved in the negotiations say they’ve been working to improve staffing levels, but say the union’s demands overall are too costly.

Nurses voted to authorize the strike last month.

Both New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani had expressed concern about the possibility of the strike. As the strike deadline neared, Mamdani urged both sides to keep negotiating and reach a deal that “both honors our nurses and keeps our hospitals open.”

“Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable,” Mamdani said.

State Attorney General Letitia James voiced similar support, saying "nurses put their lives on the line every day to keep New Yorkers healthy. They should never be forced to choose between their own safety, their patients’ well-being, and a fair contract.”

The last major nursing strike in the city was only three years ago, in 2023. That work stoppage, at Mount Sinai and Montefiore, was short, lasting three days. It resulted in a deal raising pay 19% over three years at those hospitals.

It also led to promised staffing improvements, though the union and hospitals now disagree about how much progress has been made, or whether the hospitals are retreating from staffing guarantees.

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

FILE - A medical worker transports a patient at Mount Sinai Hospital, April 1, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)