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.
Yellow card! Darcy Graham is sent to the sin bin! Scotland 28-12 Fiji, 79 minutes
A loose pass is delectably scooped up by Waisea Nayacalevu velvety hands, and Fiji have a rare chance to counter. Darcy Graham, named Player of the Match by the commentary team, denies them it, spearing in at the side at the ruck.
Nic Berry briefly directs his card into the face of a perplexed Ben White, but is soon informed of his error, and the right man is sent to the sin bin - to applause from the crowd.
Scotland 28-12 Fiji, 77 minutes
A curiously short penalty advantage from Nic Berry after the Scottish scrum had again been rewarded for their drive. Fiji, then, are allowed to continue after a sharp ruck pilfer.
Vinaya Habosi carries three Scottish tacklers with him, just about managing to smuggle the ball back after Berry calls the maul, but a side entry from a Fijian clearer gives Scotland a penalty.
Scotland 28-12 Fiji, 76 minutes
A tenth handling error of the day ends Fiji’s latest extravagant attacking dance. Vilimoni Botitu’s calf appears to have twinged - he receives some treatment as the two sets of forwards take a breather and ready themselves for a scrum just inside the Scotland 22.
TRY! SCOTLAND 28-12 Fiji (Ben White try, 74 minutes)
Ben White will never have an easier score!
Sharp from the scrum-half - Fiji put Vinaya Habosi on to the flank of their scrum to restore it to eight men. Habosi, intent on pushing, fails to get off the side as White sweeps around the back of a stable Scottish set-piece, and the makeshift blindside inadvertendly trips Viliame Mata, too.
All of that leaves a great chunk of open green pasture for White to run through, with barely a Fijian body in sight as he scores Scotland’s fourth try.
Scotland 21-12 Fiji, 73 minutes
Eroni Mawi rejoins affairs to ensure Fiji have sufficient qualified front-rowers on the pitch as Scotland opt to scrum again.
No try! Scotland 21-12 Fiji, 73 minutes
Scotland sweep the ball to the left and Cameron Redpath has his first international try!
Or does he? Nic Berry calls upstairs to his TMO for a check, but Brett Cronan has already spotted a knock on by Jack Dempsey at the base of a rapidly advancing Scottish scrum. The try is chalked off, but Fiji are going to drop to 14 men.
Not a great day to be a Fijian debutant - Livai Natave heads for the sin bin.
Scotland 21-12 Fiji, 72 minutes
And now Sam Matavesi stands up under pressure - Berry adds a scrum-specific warning to his previous order for disciplinary improvement.
Matavesi is then withdrawn; Tevita Ikainvere will hope to stabilise the centre of the Fijian front row.
Scotland 21-12 Fiji, 71 minutes
The Fijian scrum is splintered. Penalty coming, again.
Ben White chips across for Darcy Graham, who leaps above Vilimoni Botitu...but can’t quite clasp it to score.
Back for the penalty. Nic Berry does not draw his card for now - it’s a scrum penalty, he says, but Fiji are made aware of the impending sanction again.
Scotland 21-12 Fiji, 70 minutes
Walker’s first involvement is a good’un, a firm carry to make two metres. Jonny Gray also carries stiffly, and Sam Matavesi flops off his feet before developing a better jackaling position, and is rightly pinged.
Nic Berry warns Waisea Nayacalevu that the next penalty against his side will prompt a reach to his pocket for a card. Scotland fancy a scrum in the shadow of the Fijian posts.
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