Historic Victory Takes Scotland To Plate Final

Scotland 7s 19, Fiji 7s 14 Scotland endured one of the most exciting games of rugby sevens that many people will have ever seen. Taking on arguably the world’s most exciting sevens side, Scotland withstood the pressure of their opponents, Fiji, and the expectations of the home crowd, to progress to their first Plate final place in three years.Scotland 7s 19, Fiji 7s 14 Scotland endured one of the most exciting games of rugby sevens that many people will have ever seen. Taking on arguably the world’s most exciting sevens side, Scotland withstood the pressure of their opponents, Fiji, and the expectations of the home crowd, to progress to their first Plate final place in three years. Speaking after the game, Scotland 7s coach Stephen Gemmell said: That was unbelievable. We had it, then we lost it then we tried to lose it again, what a roller coaster ride. I’m finding it difficult to find the words to describe how I’m feeling. Credit to our guys. They really put out a statement about Scotland 7s. On the support his side received from the stands, Gemmell added: The crowd have been incredible. That beat the experience of beating South Africa last year and reminded me of the Calcutta Cup win when Duncan Hodge slid over in the wet conditions here at Murrayfield.Scotland made things difficult for themselves at the start as they jittered their way to their first score, Mike Adamson eventually finding the whitewash. Colin Gregor converting. It was up to Fiji to force their way through the Scotland defence and it was going to take a moment of individual brilliance to break it. Setefano Cakau showed his out and out pace to burn up the right wing and offload to Vereimi Nakuta who touched down. Liavi Satala converted as half-time approached. The second half didn’t start according to the script as Chris Fusaro struggled to hold onto the ball in the wet conditions. Despite the Fusaro fumble, Scotland persisted and were rewarded when Andrew Turnbull nipped through the defence, sidestepping the last defender, to put the Scots ahead in the closing minutes. Adamson converted. However, the game took one of many twists in the final minute of play. A cut move left Thompson helpless and Marika Vunibaka beat Laidlaw to the line despite the best efforts of replacement Ben Addison who gave chase right to the death. Satala converted. With the score tied at fulltime, rugby sevens goes into periods of five minutes to determine the winner. As many periods of five minutes are played until a winner is decided and the first team to score is victorious. With that in mind, Scotland were put through the mill not only physically, but mentally.   Tensions running high, Greig Laidlaw tried to seal the victory with a drop goal, but his attempt was both wide and short.   Fiji gathered Laidlaw’s attempt and stormed up-field, a move that saw Jim Thompson make the try-saving tackle of the year. With so much at stake, Thompson managed to catch his man and bring him to ground, forcing the ball to be dislodged before he could reach the try-line only a metre away. In the second period of extra time, Scotland were victorious, but Fiji weren’t going to give up without a fight. Mike Adamson was on his way to the line, before Fiji put in a carbon copy of Thompson’s try-saving tackle as Adamson was brought down on the same spot and the ball was dislodged. But Scotland then worked the ball right and Addison touched down for the vital score which clinched Scotland’s first win over Fiji in 16 encounters and the result that takes them through to the Plate final against South Africa. Scotland 7s:Scott Forrest, Colin Shaw, Chris Fusaro, Colin Gregor, Mike Adamson, Greig Laidlaw, Andrew Turnbull Substitutes: Jim Thompson for Gregor, Addison for Turnbull, Steve Lawrie for Shaw, Turbull for Thompson for Turnbull Fiji 7s: Sailosi Rabonaqica, Seremaia Burotu, Stefano Cakau, Viliame Maya, Emosi Vucago, Iliavi Satala, Vereimi Nakuta