Fiji 17-33 Scotland: Scots take time to bring down Fijians

By Bryn Palmer

Fiji ………………………………….17pts

Tries: Ikanivere 15, Ravutaumada 18, Canakaivata 33

Conversion: Armstrong-Ravula 34

Scotland ……………………… 33pts

Tries: Gray 13, Schoeman 53, Dobie 60, 76; Cummings 73

Conversions: Horne 13; Burke 54, 60, 73

A much-needed injection of energy and power from the bench ultimately saw Scotland subdue a vastly improved Fiji to end a productive few weeks with a bonus-point victory at Murrayfield.

But it took until the hour for Gregor Townsend‘s side to nudge themselves back in front and before adding some gloss with two late tries after turning round 10 points adrift.

The Flying Fijians, who conceded 73 points to England last week, showed admirable defensive resolve to repel Scotland on a host of first-half opportunities, with centre Josua Tuisova putting in a series of juddering hits.

They also showed a ruthless streak to score three tries from each of their visits to the Scots’ 22, despite falling behind in the 13th minute when Ollie Smith’s midfield break set the platform and veteran lock Jonny Gray muscled his way over.

Wasted

Fiji hit straight back when Gregor Brown, starting at No.8, was penalised and Fiji went to the corner.

Lock Temo Mayanavanua pouched the lineout and captain Tevita Ikanivere finished off a driving maul.

The second was straight out of the South Sea Islanders’ playbook, catching Scotland cold with a devastating counter-attack.

After springing Tuisova down the right flank, the centre released wing Selestino Ravutaumada, who chipped ahead and beat Josh Bayliss to the bounce before motoring away.

Scotland had wasted a series of promising situations after kicking several penalties to the corner, but failed to crank their driving maul into gear, even when the Fijians were reduced to 14 men when flanker Lekima Tagitagivalu came straight through a ruck.

Hooker Gregor Hiddleston, who had another impressive outing, was held short from the first attempt and Bayliss denied on the second, while Tom Jordan fumbled a Fergus Burke pass with two men outside him as the Scots’ frustration grew.

Full stretch: Pierre Schoeman scores Scotland’s second try to start the fightback

PICTURES: Alamy

Momentum

Fiji made them pay when another Ravutaumada foray down the right led to their third try, No.8 Elia Canakaivata breezing through a huge gap at the side of a ruck to swan-dive over.

Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, who had pulled his first two conversion attempts, landed his third to give Fiji a 17-7 lead from only 35 per cent possession and 22 per cent territory.

But the arrival of Lions trio Pierre Schoeman, Zander Fagerson and Scott Cummings, plus Magnus Bradbury and scrum-half Jamie Dobie, early in the second period helped turn the tide Scotland’s way.

Schoeman powered over in the 54th minute to lift the mood although Bayliss had the ball dislodged from his grasp over the line as he attempted to follow suit minutes later.

But the momentum had shifted and Dobie sniped over on the hour to put Scotland back in front, with regular captain Sione Tuipulotu also now on to provide further punch and direction.

Duhan van der Merwe escaped down the left flank only to be forced into touch, but the decisive blow arrived when Cummings bundled over to bring up the bonus point.

Dobie gave the scoreline a more flattering lock when Van der Merwe claimed a high kick and fed Bayliss, whose superb pick-up and offload sent the scrum-half over for his second.

At the double: Jamie Dobie celebrates his second try of the afternoon