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.
Scotland 7-5 Fiji, 18 minutes
Hammered! That is some hit from Vinaya Habosi, Duhan van der Merwe’s charge slowed somewhat by Waisea Nayacalevu at his ankles and then more definitely by a brick wall of a shoulder from the Fiji wing.
Scotland earn a breakdown penalty.
Scotland 7-5 Fiji, 16 minutes
This is excellent from Fiji. A Frank Lomani box kick goes more up than out but Viliame Mata taps it back Fiji’s way, and Vinaya Habosi subsequently makes a hole in Darcy Graham’s back after the Scotland wing claims Kini Murimurivalu’s long kick.
Graham holds on and makes a break up the right soon after, but Adam Hastings misdirects his kick into space, allowing Fiji to get back and clear.
TRY! Scotland 7-5 FIJI (Setareki Tuicuvu try, 14 minutes)
Fiji strike! Ruthless from Fiji, softening up the Scottish defence with punchy close-in carries and then exploiting the space out wide.
After the forwards make dents in the middle, Frank Lomani swiftly swings the ball wides, the hands sharp and the running lines straight, granting Setareki Tuicuvu a hard charge for the corner, with little hope of halting him. His effort from the tee is, again, rather less pretty, but if Scotland needed a reminder of what Fiji can do...
Scotland 7-0 Fiji, 12 minutes
Another offside penalty against Scotland - loose again, with several of the defensive line up too soon. Fiji kick for touch just outside the home 22, restored to a full complement with the return of Ratu Leone Rotuisolia.
Missed penalty! Scotland 7-0 Fiji, 11 minutes
Eek. Not the start that Setareki Tuicuvu would have liked from the tee, tugging it to the left. Three points go by.
Just a minute or so left on the yellow card.
Scotland 7-0 Fiji, 9 minutes
A deep restart from Fiji, with Adam Hastings’ clearance giving the visitors their first attacking lineout ball. Shorn of a lock, it doesn’t quite function as hope, with Kalaveti Ravouvou forced to retrieve his broom and sweep up at the tail.
Advantage coming - can Fiji make anything of it? They cannot, but an offside penalty 35 metres out in front of goal should grant them their first chance at points.
Setareki Tuicuvu, often at full-back but on the wing today, is Fiji’s nominated goal-kicker.
TRY! SCOTLAND 7-0 Fiji (George Turner try, 7 minutes)
Slowly it gets-a-moving and George Turner is over! Turner’s throw is good, the set-up sound, and Scotland’s collected mass gradually advance. Ali Price lends his slightly slender frame to ensure the hard work of the burly blokes is rewarded, giving Turner the final nudge he needs to open the scoring.
Over go the extras from Adam Hastings.
Scotland 0-0 Fiji, 5 minutes
Better at the maul from Scotland, and advantage coming. Freedom, then, with which to explore the wider channels, but Fiji handle Stuart Hogg and force Chris Harris into a hurried grubber - which goes all of three metres. Back for the penalty; back into that right-hand corner for, presumably, a rumble for the line.
Scotland 0-0 Fiji, 4 minutes
Vinaya Habosi steps in on the flank with Albert Tuisue pushed up to fill the Fijian second row. A hard charge from Waisea Nayacalevu gives Kini Murimurivalu enough space to clear with his left peg, which is normally cultured, but here rather hacks at the ball. Scotland lineout inside the Fiji 22.
Scotland 0-0 Fiji, 2 minutes
A tidy enough lineout from Scotland, but the maul doesn’t quite form as hoped, so wider they will have to go. As they sweep back to the right, space begins to open on the edge for Darcy Graham, but Frank Lomani snares an ankle. Graham’s infield offload ends up in Fijian hands, and appears to travel forward, too - Fiji scrum five out from their own line.
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