Gregor Townsend addresses Scotland performance against Fiji and why he wasn't worried at half-time

Gregor Townsend hailed the impact of his bench as Scotland beat Fiji to move into second place in the Nations Championship’s Northern Hemisphere table.

A much-changed Scots team trailed 17-7 at half-time at Murrayfield but came back strongly after the break, scoring 26 unanswered points to win 33-17. Their four second-half tries were all scored by replacements, with Pierre Schoeman, Jamie Dobie (two) and Scott Cummings crossing.

It means Townsend’s side ended their summer campaign with 11 points, having beaten Argentina and Fiji and secured a four-try bonus point in the defeat by South Africa.

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend during the 33-17 victory over Fiji at Murrayfield. | SNS Group / SRU

Townsend had made 14 changes to the team that lost to the Springboks at Loftus Versfeld last week and although Scotland took the lead with a converted try by Jonny Gray, Fiji hit back through tries from Tevita Ikanivere, Selestino Ravutaumada and Elia Canakaivata.

It was only when the replacements came on early in the second half that Scotland were able to regain the initiative and Townsend praised them.

“They were very good,” said the coach. “And I think as well they lifted the players that were on the field. They added in terms of the carrying and the effort. But I felt those guys that went 80 minutes dug deep. There were a couple of cramping issues. But I saw Freddy Douglas, Ollie Smith, Stafford [McDowall] putting in huge effort near the end, which was really needed. It shows we've got good depth.

“We made 14 changes this week and we've gone up against a really good Test side who played their best rugby of the campaign. That's a team that beat us last year. But also knowing that we've got players that can make a difference on the bench is reassuring.”

READ MORE: How the Scotland players rated against Fiji

Townsend said he wasn’t concerned at half-time.

“I don't think you allow yourself to have those emotions,” he said. “I said to the team at half-time, this is a great test for us. We want tests of not just how we change things tactically or stick with what we're doing. We want tests where we have to come back. It's easy in hindsight when you win, but that's what I felt at half-time.

“There was a period in that final 10-15 minutes that was probably the best we've defended over the last three weeks. Defensive set after defensive set, coming up with line speed, coming up with big tackles, forcing Fiji into touch against one of the most dangerous attacking sides in the world. The team responded really well on the back of a long season, a long tour. We'll get a lot of benefits from that and evidence for the players that they can find ways to win even when their backs are against the wall.”

As expected, it was an extremely physical match and some of the changes Scotland made were enforced. Gray suffered a head injury and failed his HIA, Darcy Graham took a blow to his side and Gregor Brown was cramping up.