Scotland bench perform rescue act as Fiji provide reality check in Nations Championship fright
Murrayfield gets a Fijian makeover and islanders give Townsend’s side a scare
Scotland's much vaunted strength in depth was given a reality check as they came from behind to defeat Fiji at Murrayfield.
Gregor Townsend had kept some of his most experienced players on the bench and he needed them to overcome opponents who outscored the hosts by three tries to one in the first half but ran out of steam in the final quarter.
The scoreline of 33-17 flattered the Scots slightly but it was another bonus-point victory for Townsend’s side who ended the first half of their Nations Championship campaign in a positive manner. They have 11 points from their opening three games and have moved up to second place in the Northern Conference, a point behind France and one ahead of Ireland. They can sign off for the summer happy with their efforts and look forward to autumn games at Murrayfield against New Zealand, Australia and Japan.
It was a strange afternoon in which Fiji were the home team despite the match being played in Edinburgh and there was an impressive effort made to add a bit of Pacific flavour and colour to the occasion. The sunshine helped.
Most of the 55,215 seemed stunned
Fiji’s rugby culture was also well represented, particularly in the first half as they hit Scotland hard and scored three memorable tries. The vast majority of the 55,215 inside Murrayfield seemed a bit stunned at half-time by the way their team had been eclipsed.
Townsend had made 14 changes to the team that pushed South Africa close the week before and the coach had spoken positively about the depth of quality in his squad. But he also had the insurance policy of having players on the bench such as Pierre Schoeman, Zander Fagerson, Scott Cummings, Magnus Bradbury, Sione Tuipulotu and Jamie Dobie. They were to play a key part as Scotland won the second-half 26-0.
Schoeman had a huge impact, galvanising Scotland with some big carries and scoring the try that got them back into the game in the 53rd minute. Fellow subs Dobie (twice) and Cummings also crossed in the second half as Townsend’s side recovered from a tricky situation.
Led out by bare-chested warriors
They had trailed 17-7 at half-time, despite going ahead through an early Jonny Gray try, and Fiji were worthy of their lead, achieved thanks to touchdowns from Tevita Ikanivere, Selestino Ravutaumada and Elia Canakaivata. The latter was scored while they were down to 14 men.
Technically, it was Fiji’s home game and the teams came out together, each led by a bare-chested warrior.
The sense of companionship ended when the whistle sounded and Scotland’s players found themselves on the end of some monstrous hits. Ollie Smith was wearing a golden No 13 on the back of his jersey in memory of Scott Hastings but it offered no protection from the full-on tackling of his opposite number, Josua Tuisova, who is known as ‘the Bus’.
If the plan was for him to drive through the heart of the Scottish defence, it didn’t work, initially at least. Scotland were patient and methodical, going through the phases in the first 10 minutes which took them right up to the Fiji line.
They got nothing for their efforts but the first try came soon after. Tom Jordan, playing at full-back, took the ball close to the edge before slipping in Smith who ran a great line before offloading to George Horne. The scrum-half was shouldered to the ground but Scotland were able to recover and Gray powered over despite the attentions of Tuisova and Virimi Vakatawa who was making his Fiji debut after switching allegiance from France.
Yellow card for head on head
Horne converted but it turned sour for the Scots thereafter. They gave away a penalty at the restart which Fiji kicked to the corner and scored from the subsequent lineout drive, hooker and captain Ikanivere doing the necessary.
Worse was to follow three minutes later as Fiji attacked from their own 22 and Scotland had no answer as the ball was moved out to Selestino Ravutaumada who chipped ahead and outpaced Josh Bayliss for Fiji’s second try.
The islanders were reduced to 14 men when flanker Lekima Tagitagivalu came through a ruck and caught Horne, head on head. It didn’t seem to hinder them unduly and the third try followed six minutes before half-time. Scotland had completely switched off as Elia Canakaivata plucked the ball from a ruck and strolled over the line, diving theatrically in the act of scoring.
Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, who’d missed with his first two conversion attempts, landed this one and Fiji went in at the break with a 10-point lead.
Scotland had had plenty of entries into the Fijian red zone in the first half but not much to show for it and Townsend didn’t waste too much time in making changes. Bradbury, Dobie, Zander Fagerson and Schoeman all came on in the 47th minute and Cummings and Tuipulotu joined soon after. They had an immediate impact.
Stafford McDowall, captain for the day, made good ground and Schoeman took it on, giving the Fijians a taste of their own medicine as he ploughed through Ravutaumada before stretching out one-handed to score.
Duhan van der Merwe had been quiet during the opening 40 but was more involved in the second half. The big winger cut back inside and got to within a metre of the line before Schoeman and Bayliss took it on. Unfortunately, the ball squirmed from the Bath man’s grasp as he tried to ground it.
It was all Scotland now and Dobie succeeded where Bayliss hadn’t, just managing to get the ball down and move his team into the lead. He had replaced his Glasgow team-mate Horne at scrum-half which meant a change of kicker and Fergus Burke stepped up to land his second conversion.
Seb Stephen came on at hooker for his Scotland debut and Townsend’s team finished strongly with two tries in the final 10 minutes. Tuipulotu and Schoeman were leading by example and Cummings applied the finishing touch for the bonus-point try.
Dobie bagged his second in the 76th minute after van der Merwe had done well to win an aerial contest. Bayliss had the final assist but Dobie still had plenty to do as he plucked the ball off the floor to score Scotland’s fifth and final try.
Fiji v Scotland teams and scorers
Scorers: Fiji: Tries: Ikanivere, Ravutaumada, Canakaivata. Con: Armstrong-Ravula. Scotland: Tries: Gray, Schoeman, Dobie 2, Cummings. Cons: Horne, Burke 3.
Yellow card: Tagitagivalu (Fiji, 26min)
Fiji: I Armstrong-Ravula (S Rayasi 73); S Ravutaumada, V Vakatawa (I Rabitu 68), J Tuisova, J Wainiqolo; C Muntz, F Lomani (S Wye 33); E Mawi (L Natave 48), T Ikanivere (S Matavesi 73), M Doge (P Ravai 48), I Nasilasila, T Mayanavanua (M Vocevoce 61), P Gus Sowakula, L Tagitagivalu (K Salawa 50-60), E Canakaivata.
Scotland: T Jordan; D Graham (S Tuipulotu 55); O Smith, S McDowall, D van der Merwe; F Burke, G Horne (J Dobie 48-62, 71); R Sutherland (P Schoeman 48), G Hiddleston (S Stephen 66), D Rae (Z Fagerson 48), J Gray (S Cummings 50), M Williamson (M Bradbury 48), J Bayliss, F Douglas, G Brown (L McConnell 57).
Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Attendance: 55,215.
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