Scotland v Fiji - Scottish Rugby

2022 Autumn Nations Series

5 Nov 2022 - 1:00 pm

BT Murrayfield

Full-Time

28 - 12

view scoring

Tries

Turner7′

Hastings39′

van der Merwe49′

White74′

14′Tuicuvu

23′Rotuisolia

Conversions

Hastings8′

Hastings41′

Kinghorn51′

Kinghorn74′

25′Botitu

Penalties

Drop Goals

78'

Last knockings as Fiji cough up another penalty

Scotland have won this now, and take the opportunity to kick into Fijian territory in search of a fifth try to put the gloss on victory..

74'

Try Scotland!

This time it will count! Ben White picks and scurries from the base of the scrum and finds an enormous gap to waltz through. It’s his second international try after a debut score in the Calcutta Cup; Kinghorn adds the extras to make it 28-12 with five minutes left on the clock.

80'

Scotland 28-12 Fiji

The final whistle is blown, Scotland having won their fist Autumn Nations Series match of the year with a professional 28-12, four-try performance.

Fiji enjoyed much of the first half and led by five points at one point. Tries from Ratu Leone Rotuisolia and Setareki Tuicuvu were countered by George Turner and Adam Hastings scores, both converted, for a 14-12 half-time lead.

As the rain started to become more relevant to the realism of running rugby, Scotland turned the screw with Duhan van der Merwe and Ben White adding further tries, again both converted but this time by Blair Kinghorn.

Scotland next host New Zealand on Sunday 13 November, kick-off 2:15pm. Join us!

72'

Scots go again

No sight of that yellow card, after Fiji foul once more, this time for standing up in the scrum. Scottish scrum five metres out – a familiar tale.

73'

Try Scotland – almost

Cam Redpath thinks he’s over for a first international try but the TMO has other ideas after consultation. Jack Dempsey has knocked on just before, and so the try is disallowed. Fiji receive that yellow as Livai Natave is ordered off the field as the mischief maker. We will start again with… a Scotland scrum, five metres out.

80'

Darcy yellow carded at the last

Comically, Darcy Graham has been given a yellow card for an illegal entry at a ruck. He leaves to an ovation from the BT Murrayfield crowd, and is named Player of the Match to boot.

Berry counsels Fiji

Nic Berry has a few words of guidance for Waisea Nayacalevu and his charges, suggesting that another penalty will result in a yellow card being produced. Scotland opt to scrum from barely six metres out, middle of the pitch. Prime positioning, this.

One more to the penalty count

Nic Berry is on a loop at the moment. This time the referee whistles Fiji for another transgression, Scotland attack from the line-out but this time the visitors earn respite when Jack Dempsey refuses to release on the deck. Fiji move 30m up the pitch as the rain threatens to properly rear its head.

65'

Fiji won’t go away

Jonny Gray penalised early for a high tackle and in the teeming rain, Fiji have an attacking line-out which they can’t keep possession from in the wet. Scottish scrum halfway inside their own territory, 15 minutes to go and still anyone’s game at BT Murrayfield.

Murphy Walker on for Scotland debut

Murphy Walker makes his international bow at BT Murrayfield, replacing Zander Fagerson for the winter of this match. Sione Tuipulotu is also on, for Chris Harris.

14:18

Baker’s dozen for Duhan

The moment Duhan van der Merwe grabbed a 13th Scotland try.

56'

Ashman held up over the line

Scotland really starting to go through the gears now. A galloping Richie Gray almost runs home from 25m out, but gets brought down. From the ruck, Ewan Ashman gets over the line but cannot dot the ball down, so play is brought back for a previous offside and Blair Kinghorn clips one into the stands for another attacking line-out.

Try Scotland!

Duhan van der Merwe gets his name on the board with a 13th international try to the delight of the BT Murrayfield faithful. Fiji can’t deal with the line-out and eventually the ball wings its way out to the big winger, pocketing the ball from Chris Harris’ looping pass. Kinghorn’s conversion is a beauty from the touchline. 21-12.

61'

Jonny Gray on for 70th cap; yellow for Habosi

Jonny Gray comes on for Grant Gilchrist to join his brother, Richie, in the second row, winning a 70th cap in the process. Play has stopped while referee Berry looks at a very questionable high tackle by Fiji’s Vinaya Habosi on Rory Sutherland. Deemed a yellow; could be described as fortunate. Fiji down to fourteen for ten.

48'

Penalty Scotland after collapsed maul

A nice position from which to attack for the hosts, who benefit from an illegal downing of a maul. Ashman to throw in a mere five metres out..

52'

Replacements for Scotland

Rory Sutherland, Jack Dempsey and Ben White are called for, in the stead of Pierre Schoeman, Hamish Watson and Ali Price.

40'

Tight at the break

That conversion by Adam Hastings signals the end of a first half packed with action – and lots of it brought about by an excellent Fijian performance. The visitors scored tries through Ratu Leone Rotuisolia and Setareki Tuicuvu, with one conversion from Vilimoni Botitu, with Scotland’s tries courtesy of George Turner and Adam Hastings, the latter on the stroke of half-time. It’s close and set up perfectly for a thrilling second half at BT Murrayfield.

41'

Second 40 is live

After a chance to regroup and refresh, Scotland and Fiji are back out on the BT Murrayfield turf, Vilimoni Botitu restarting proceedings in Edinburgh, the ball finding Darcy Graham who has a dart but nothing doing there. Scotland lead by a couple at 14-12.

42'

First penalty of the half goes to Fiji

A thudding tackle by Ratu Leone Rotuisolia on Adam Hastings means play is stopped, with Scotland’s 10 rightly being taken off for an HIA – Blair Kinghorn comes on in his place.

43'

Fiji knock on when close

Oh that’s so very nearly a third Fiji try. Flanker Levani Botia, who has played at centre, fumbles the final ball and Scotland not only win the resulting scrum, they force a penalty for not driving straight. The crowd then react to a blistering break from Blair Kinghorn, then Stuart Hogg, and then Darcy Graham, who is brought down inside the Fijian 22.

28'

Fijians earn scrum penalty

The Pacific Islanders are in the ascendancy without doubt, this time manipulating a scrum with brute force to win another (their eighth so far) penalty. And a ninth straight away for offside – the entire backline apparently. Scotland treading water right now as Fiji opt for the scrum rather than an easy three points.

31'

Turner replaced by Ashman at hooker

Ewan Ashman enters the fray to replace George Turner in the front row after the latter picked up an injury that has seen him taken off by Team Doctor James Robson. The game resumes with a Fiji scrum 5 metres from the Scottish try line.

33'

Scots turnover Fijian attacking ball

Some resolute defence sees Scotland withstand that onslaught, and Adam Hastings clears to halfway after a free-kick is given for a hand in the scrum by a white shirt. Stuart Hogg is back on, the crowd lifted as a result.

Try Scotland!

Scotland are back in the lead on the stroke of half-time! From that scrum, Ali Price picks and feeds Adam Hastings who feints a pass outside and ghosts under the posts to score. He converts his fifth international try and Scotland have grabbed an interval advantage.

21'

Scots offside, Fijians handily placed

Jamie Ritchie gets a friendly word from the ref, who just wants to highlight a relative flurry of recent penalties he’s had to award. Bruising, belligerent Fiji are on the hunt for a second try here..

36'

Merwe motoring

Scotland ramp up the atmosphere thanks to a scorching break that starts with a Pieree Schoeman turnover on halfway. The ball comes to Chris Harris, then Stuart Hogg, who just avoids a heavy collision before nipping the ball to Duhan van der Merwe. The winger pings his ears back and sprints up the left touchline, only to be brought down on the 22. Scotland sense points here but they can’t quite finish – play is brought back for Levani Botia not supporting his own weight at a ruck.

26'

Scotland escape dangerous attack

Fiji and running riot, and go so close to a third try when Vinaya Habosi bursts through. The ball isn’t recycled swiftly though and it’s Grant Gilchrist who dives on a spilled ball to relieve immediate Scottish scoreboard anxiety. We’ll restart with a scrum to the hosts midway inside their half.

19'

Fiji win penalty and clear

Doesn’t happen again for Scotland, with Fiji eventually awarded a penalty for what referee Berry calls a dangerous clearcut from Chris Harris. Bit of territorial ping pong going on now, with both sides trying to take early line-outs to keep momentum ticking.

Scots seek first points

Referee Berry again pings Fiji for collapsing a Scottish maul. The hosts have gone to the corner in anticipation of the five-point haul..

22'

Try Fiji

The former yellow card recipient, Ratu Leone Rotuisolia, is the gleeful try scorer which gives Fiji the lead at BT Murrayfield. New kicker, new result as number Vilimoni Botitu adds the extras to make it 12-7 to the visitors. Stuart Hogg is sin-binned for his team being consistently penalised.

13'

Try Fiji

Wow. They’re renowned for their flair and this has Fiji stamped all over it. The villain of the last penalty attempt, Setareki Tuicuvu, finishes off a sweeping backline move to dot down in the corner with not much room to spare. His conversion from the touchline is very poor at best, though, so it stays 7-5 to Scotland.

Try Scotland!

And those points indeed do come, through George Turner! The hooker is the architect of a rolling maul that was instantly destined for the whitewash. Adam Hastings slots a lovely conversion. 7-0.

17'

Darcy scampers

The game hasn’t actually had much broken open play yet, and it’s Darcy Graham who gets the crowd purring with a slaloming run into Fijian territory. Scotland lose the ball but eventually win a penalty for the opposition not rolling away – Hastings arrows one into the 22. Another rolling maul opportunity here..

12:56

The stage is set

Fiji down to 14 early doors

As early a yellow card as you’re ever likely to see, as referee Nic Berry deems the efforts of Ratu Leone Rotuisolia warrant a spell in the bin for a cynical halting of an attempted quick tap penalty.

12:30

Warmups are underway!

30 minutes to kick off ⌛

Fiji miss penalty attempt

Scotland 10 and 12 – that’s Adam Hastings and Cam Redpath – are adjudged to be offside and Fijian wing Setareki Tuicuvu steps up for what looks a straightforward penalty goal – he hooks it left though and Scotland drop-out from their 22.

11:50

Team Arrival

Your Scotland team are in the building….

Murphy Walker (18), who is set to make his Scotland debut today, leads the team into BT Murrayfield.

After the entertainment of the Fijian ‘Cibi’, the game is off and running as Stuart Hogg launches the ball into the, at present, dry BT Murrayfield skies.

Fiji gather and clear to Darcy Graham on halfway. This should be an incident-filled afternoon of international rugby..