Scotland vs Fiji LIVE rugby: Final score and result from autumn international
Gregor Townsend’s side were looking to bounce back at Murrayfield from a narrow defeat to Australia last week
Scotland overcame a first-half scare to beat Fiji 28-12 at Murrayfield on Saturday, outscoring their visitors by four tries to two in a tough, physical contest.
George Turner, Adam Hastings, Duhan van der Merwe and Ben White dotted down for the home team with Hastings adding two conversions and his replacement Blair Kinghorn the other pair.
Fiji’s points all came in an impressive first-half showing, from Setariki Tuicuvu and debutant lock Ratu Leone Rotuisolia with a solitary conversion from Vilimoni Botitu.
Scotland’s superior organisation and fitness proved decisive but they had to weather an early onslaught that suggested with more preparation Fiji might have come closer to an upset. They had just days to prepare after only assembling at the start of the week.
Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
The stirring sound of the Principality Stadium in full voice, “Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau” bouncing around the great Cardiff amphitheatre. Rio Dyer and Sam Costelow add their voice to a senior Welsh national anthem for the first time as they prepare to make their test rugby bows.
Anthems
With the tributes concluded with a round of warm, loving applause, into the anthems, starting with “God Defend New Zealand”. Aaron Smith looks high up into the stands - a proud day for the scrum-half, passing his former half-back partner Dan Carter as the most capped All Black back. Sean Fitzpatrick, whose father was part of the last New Zealand side to be beaten by Wales, is among those watching on the stands.
Wales vs New Zealand
Ahead of kick off, tributes to two Welsh greats - Phil Bennett and Eddie Butler, who have both sadly passed since Wales last played in Cardiff. Butler’s brilliant deep purr soundtracks the video package, with memories of the pair on and off the field - two dearly missed figures.
Out come the teams
The Principality Stadium, with roof closed, looks to be absolutely bouncing for Wales’ November 2022 debut - can the home side produce a first win over the All Blacks since 1953? Justin Tipuric’s long locks are warmed by the flames and the fireworks as he leads his Welsh side out.
Team News - New Zealand
The All Blacks narrowly escaped Tokyo with a win last week, continuing a strange, middling year for Ian Foster’s side. They travelled to Europe shorn of their captain – Sam Cane has fractured his cheekbone – while Brodie Retallick’s sending off leaves Foster without another forward pillar.
Sam Whitelock captains the side in the second row, toiling away in the engine room with Scott Barrett, who starts alongside both of his brothers. Jordie continues his evolution into an international inside centre, while Beauden is at full-back with Will Jordan another ruled out for the rest of November. Aaron Smith surpasses Dan Carter as New Zealand’s most capped international back.
New Zealand: B Barrett; S Reece, R Ioane, J Barrett, C Clarke; R Mo’unga, A Smith; E de Groot, C Taylor, T Lomax; S Whitelock (capt.), S Barrett; S Frizell, D Papali’i, A Savea.
Replacements: S Taukei’aho, O Tu’ungafasi, F Newell, T Vaa’i, A Ioane; B Weber, D Havili, A Lienert-Brown.
Team News - Wales
A new captain for Wales, with Justin Tipuric taking the reins with no Dan Biggar. The skipper is positioned on the blindside, combining with fellow snaffler Tommy Reffell in a disruptive back row in a pack that also includes Ken Owens – the hooker has endured a tough eleven months but adds no shortage of steel and experience on his return.
Rio Dyer is in at the deep end on debut on the wing, with Wayne Pivac talking up the 22-year-old’s “confidence” in the week, while Leigh Halfpenny is a late withdrawal after his hamstring issue. Gareth Anscombe moves back from fly-half to full-back, Rhys Priestland is promoted to the starting side, and Sam Costelow awaits a first cap from the bench.
Wales: Anscombe; Rees-Zammit, North, Tompkins, Dyer; Priestland, T Williams; Thomas, Owens, Francis, Rowlands, Beard, Tipuric (capt.), Reffell, Faletau.
Replacements: Elias, Smith, Lewis, Jones, Tshiunza, Hardy, Costelow, Watkin.
On to Wales vs New Zealand
It is a properly hectic afternoon of rugby - we’ll have a load more reaction to Scotland’s win across the rest of the weekend, but kick off is swiftly approaching in Cardiff.
F/T! SCOTLAND 28-12 FIJI
Far from perfect for Scotland, but a solid enough win, recovering from a sloppy opening half hour to tighten up defensively and eventually take control. They will have more complete performances, and never quite put Fiji to bed, but they have their first win of the autumn.
“It was massive - the boys stepped up really well and dealt with the pressure,” Darcy Graham tells Amazon Prime. “Fiji threw everything at us, we knew how dangerous they were, so we kind of weathered the storm out and got them in the second half. We stuck to what we talked about all week.”
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