STRUGGLING TO FIND SPARK
Scots do just enough as Fiji fizzle out but much better needed for All Blacks cracker
FIJI head coach Vern Cotter was worried beforehand this game would be a ‘training exercise’ for Scotland because his team was in such disarray with call-offs and injury.
That this game wasn’t was partly down to Cotter’s ability to get the best out of his limited squad but more about Scotland’s inability yet again to put together a full 80-minute display.
Based on this patchy performance, they have no chance of making history by beating New Zealand for the first time at BT Murrayfield next Sunday.
Not for the first time Scotland’s penalty count was far too high — six in the first 20 minutes alone — and they only started to dominate proceedings when the South Sea Islanders started to tire in the second half. That the fans started a Mexican wave after being left frustrated at some of Scotland’s sloppy play told its own story.
The first 40 minutes was a real mess from a Scotland point of view. They struggled to get going and took far too long to settle. They gave away so many penalties in a row that full-back Stuart Hogg was the fall guy and was shown a yellow card after referee Nic Berry lost patience with Scotland as a team.
To go in with a 14-12 half-time lead flattered the home side but at least they managed to keep the penalty count down and they got their act together in the second period. They stopped Fiji scoring a single point and went over for two converted tries of their own.
Winger Darcy Graham was given the man-of-the-match award by the game sponsors but the real star of the show was second row Ritchie Gray in his first start for Scotland in almost five years. He put in a lot of hard yards in open play and did well at the line-out. His experience in the engine room will be vital next weekend against the All Blacks.
There is a case for Scotland coach Gregor Townsend (right) to start replacement scrum-half Ben White, who energised Scotland when he came on, ahead of Ali Price against New Zealand.
He scored a fine try of his own and provided much quicker ball than the British and Irish Lion.
The atmosphere inside BT Murrayfield was a bit flat from the start with Fiji making the worst possible start after just 80 seconds. Second row Ratu Leone Rotuisolia was yellow-carded on his debut for not retreating ten yards after Scotland tried to take a quick tap penalty. That they didn’t fold because of that showed they have a newly-found steeliness under former Scotland coach Cotter.
They defended bravely as a team with winger Vinaya Habosi doing well to keep out Graham from scoring in the corner moments after they were down to 14 men.
The home side took a sixth-minute lead after the visitors were penalised for pulling down the maul. Adam Hastings kicked to the corner and George Turner’s throw-in was plucked from the sky by Grant Gilchrist. Turner tucked in behind the maul and, when the ball was smuggled back to him, he kept it close to dive over.
Fiji, who didn’t have a recognised kicker in their team — their main one lost his passport and arrived too late to get involved in team training — did have a chance to put their first points on the board but winger Setaraki Tuicuvu badly missed the first penalty attempt. The South Sea Islanders, once they were back up to 15 players, really started to dominate up front against a Scotland team gifting too many penalties. They took a deserved lead after the pack made holes in the home defence before releasing their back division. Centre Waisea Nayacalevu got in the line well and he played the vital pass to Tuicuvu, who went over for a try in the corner after shrugging off an attempted tackle by Hogg.
The visitors got their deserved second with a more direct approach involving the forwards. Levani Botia was held up just short but, on the second drive, Rotuisolia went over to score. Levani Bottita kicked the conversion.
Scotland had given up so many penalties that referee Berry lost patience and showed a yellow card to Hogg after his team made one infringement too many. The home side was forced into making a change after 30 minutes with hooker Turner having to go off injured. His replacement Ewan Ashman made an instant impact making some hard yards in attack.
The home side started to gain some momentum and got a vital second try two minutes before the break. The move went straight up the middle with the forwards rumbling forward before the ball came back to Hastings. The move looked like it was going to go right but he straightened it up to run in between the posts before getting up to put over the extras.
Hastings looked in the mood to run the show but had to come off just two minutes into the second half. Rotuisolia, who was having a fantastic game on his debut, hit him hard and fair to the extent he looked dazed and had to be replaced by Blair Kinghorn.
Eight minutes after the break the home side went further ahead in a move started off the base of the ruck from by Price. He brought his back division into play and a long pass that missed out Cam Redpath found its way to Duhan van der Merwe who barged his way between two defenders to score in the corner. Kinghorn, who had been poor with the boot in the loss to Australia, put over a confidence-boosting conversion.
Richie Gray made some yards as did replacement scrumhalf White before Ashman went over the line only to be held up before he could touch down. Gray was joined by brother Jonny ,who came on at 60 minutes for Gilchrist. Fiji were down to 14 men again when winger Habosi was yellow carded — he was lucky not to get a red — after his swinging arm contacted with Rory Sutherland’s head.
Murphy Walker made his Scotland debut for the last ten minutes just
before referee Berry warned the Fijians they would have another player yellow carded if they continued to concede penalty after penalty. White had made a difference at nine and he put a cross kick up for Graham that Vilimoni Botitu had to beat him in the air to stop him scoring.
With eight minutes left, Redpath thought he had his first international try but play was pulled back for a knock-on by Jack Dempsey.
In the same section of play, Fiji replacement Livai Natave was yellow carded for an infringement at the scrum.
From the put-in, White ran round the set-piece to score with ease under the posts. Kinghorn put over the extras. Graham was yellow carded two minutes from time just after he had been named man of the match before the final whistle blew to end a mediocre game.