Match Report: Fiji 29-14 Scotland

There was a flying start from Scotland, stemming from Fiji bringing the ball into their own 22 to clear their lines and conceding a lineout from where the ball was cleared.

From there, the visitors went through multiple gruelling phases, encountering the expected brutal defence from the South Sea Island sandbags in their way.

After an offside penalty, they kicked to touch and scored a clever try. From the resulting maul, Tom Jordan fed Darcy Graham, whose flat ball allowed Kyle Rowe to hit at pace and scythe through the last Fijian defenders to go over for the game’s opening try. Fergus Burke, Scotland cap 1235, added the extras on debut (0-7, 43 mins).

The hosts unsurprisingly offered a riposte, themselves drawing a couple of offside penalties, and another for interfering at an attacking maul. Desperation led to a fourth penalty and referee Ben O’Keeffe’s patience expired, Ewan Ashman the recipient of a yellow card for not releasing when Fiji were camped on the Scottish line.

Any yet, in the face of such attrition, Scotland held out magnificently. A barrage of Fijian probes for the line was repelled, with the play ending in some terrific cover defence with Cameron Redpath and Burke halting hulking wing Jiuta Wainiqolo from going in at the corner.

When Scotland won a penalty at the next breakdown, the scene painted the picture of just how much effort had gone into over 20 defensive sets, with bodies in dark blue strewn across the floor in sapping conditions.

Fiji were as profligate as they were powerful, the sheer belligerence of Josua Tuisova countered in one example with the most basic of midfield knock-ons by centre partner Sireli Maqala as Scotland dug into their energy reserves early in the match.

After the barnstorming Wainiqolo carried for 50m, Fiji spilled once more when set, eventually getting on the scoreboard through Caleb Muntz after a penalty advantage was brought back (3-7, 21 mins).

Having soaked up the pressure for what seemed an eternity, Scotland got some field position when Kyle Steyn took a superb high ball, leading to a penalty that was kicked to touch, but came to nothing – indeed, Fiji’s breathtaking, 7s-esque counter-attack almost led to a try, only for captain Rory Darge to produce a telling cover tackle on Kalaveti Ravouvou.

When Maqala spilled from the next phase with the line begging, play was brought back by referee O’Keeffe to look at a potential piece of foul play by Darcy Graham, who on review was shown to have impeded his opponent just as he was about to gain control of the ball. Yellow card, but no penalty try on account of Elliot Millar Mills being in a position to cover.

The pressure had to tell and so it proved when, from the resulting lineout maul, captain Tevita Ikanivere went over to give Fiji the lead. Muntz skewed his conversion wide right (8-7, 36 mins).

And it was a quickfire double for Fiji on the stroke of half-time with a typically sumptuous score. From another attacking lineout, Muntz’s looping ball found Salesi Rayasi, who easily put in Ravouvou, with Muntz converting (15-7, 40 mins).

Half-time: Fiji 15-7 Scotland

Although Fiji earned the second-half’s first territory after the kick-off was knocked on, Scotland started the stronger of the sides, forcing Viliame Mata into a fumble from which point came a bolt from the dark blue.

Winning a penalty from that knock-on scrum, the Scots made ground in a flash, Ewan Ashman punching a hole to go to within five metres. From the quick ruck turnaround, Tom Jordan sailed over from close range with Burke converting once more (15-14, 44 mins).

Burke’s excellent 50:22 could have brought more joy, but Fiji won a penalty on the deck to mop up the danger. If their open play was becoming more consistent, the hosts’ set piece was faltering, with two overthrows offering respite for a Scottish defence that was continuing to keep the elements, and willing opposition, at bay.

A raft of replacements, including a first Scotland cap for George Turner since the 2024 Guinness Six Nations, took to the field before the hour mark as Scotland sought to replenish their reserves.

But it was Fiji who struck, and again in some style, when the mesmeric Wainiqolo took advantage of a slick inside ball to slalom through and over for his side’s second try. Muntz converted to make the difference eight (22-14, 58 mins).

And they almost scored a minute later when Tuisova bullied his way up to the line from distance, Scotland perhaps spared the concession of another try by a Fijian neck roll on the ground.

But the try did come soon after, and at a cost. Referee O’Keefe decided with his team that Darcy Graham was offside for an intercept, in doing so stopping a certain try. A second yellow card meant a 20-minute red for Scotland, who would have to see out the remainder with 14 men (29-14, 66 mins).

Despite that blow, Scotland displayed the sort of grit that was on show in last weekend’s win over New Zealand Māori and went close through Josh Bayliss as they held all of the late territory, but Fiji showed defensive desire to protect their lead and see out a famous win.

Full-time: Fiji 29-14 Scotland

Fiji: Salesi Rayasi, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Sireli Maqala, Josua Tuisova, Jiuta Wainiqolo; Caleb Muntz, Simione Kuruvoli; Eroni Mawi, Tevita Ikanivere ©, Isoa Nasilasila, Temo Mayanavanua, Lukima Tagitagivalu, Elia Canakaivata, Viliame Mata.

Replacements: Sam Matavesi, Haereiti Hetet, Samuela Tawake, Mesake Vocevoce, Albert Tuisue, Sam Wye, Isaiah Armstrong Ravula, Vilimoni Botitu.

Scotland: Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Warriors), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby), Cameron Redpath (Bath Rugby), Tom Jordan (Bristol Bears); Fergus Burke (Saracens), Jamie Dobie (Glasgow Warriors); Rory Sutherland (Glasgow Warriors), Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh Rugby), Elliot Millar Mills (Northampton Saints), Marshall Sykes, Grant Gilchrist (both Edinburgh Rugby), Rory Darge ©, Matt Fagerson (both Glasgow Warriors). ]

Replacements: George Turner (Harlequins) (for Ashman 57 mins), Alec Hepburn (Scarlets) (for Sutherland, 57 mins), Will Hurd (Leicester Tigers) (for Millar Mills, 57 mins), Max Williamson (Glasgow Warriors) (for Sykes, 54 mins), Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby) (for Ritchie, 22 mins), George Horne (for Dobie, 57 mins), Adam Hastings (for Burke, 71 mins), Ollie Smith (for Redpath, 54 mins), (all Glasgow Warriors).

Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
Assistant Referee 1: Jordan Way (RA)
Assistant Referee 2: Matt Kellahan (RA)
TMO: Richard Kelly (NZR)