Seymour claims hat-trick in Scots’ demolition job
With a bludgeon in one hand and a rapier in the other, Scotland scored 40 unanswered points in 40 minutes to dispatch a game but ultimately outclassed Fiji side at Murrayfield.
The bludgeon came in the form of an irresistible driving maul, which was so effective that at one stage Fiji had two forwards in the sin-bin for illegally stopping it. The rapier came in the form of Tommy Seymour as the wing scored three of Scotland’s eight tries to become the first Scotland player to claim a hat-trick since Chris Paterson against Japan in 2004.
But if the scoreline suggests this was a straightforward victory, it is misleading. For 40 minutes this was a slog, partly because of Scotland’s mistakes, but also because Fiji stymied them at every turn. With the clock going into the red at the end of the first half, Scotland were trailing 14-17 to a Fiji side which had scored two excellent tries. That Gregor Townsend’s team were able to so emphatically change the narrative was down to a tactical switch as they switched from cavalier to roundhead mode as their forwards ground Fiji down.
“Our forwards were the deciding factor. They did a tremendous job in tiring Fiji out. They held onto the ball and went to a driving game when we needed them to,” said captain Greig Laidlaw, whose tactical leadership and faultless kicking were key to Scotland’s win. “It was really pleasing to score that try just before half-time, which put us ahead at the break, and then we were really clinical in the second half. Our strategy was to squeeze them in the first half and then open up in the second half. ”
As in Cardiff, Scotland started slowly and allowed Fiji to put early points on the board. Finn Russell ceded possession with a poor up-and-under, and when Matt Fagerson was penalised at the resulting ruck, Ben Volavola kicked Fiji ahead with barely two minutes on the clock.
It could have been worse. Fiji then broke from their own 22, Semi Radradra handing off Alex Dunbar and haring downfield before feeding Metui Talebula. The wing kicked ahead and only some smart work by Stuart Hogg, who fell on the ball on his own line, prevented a try.
Volavola badly miscued a long-range penalty and then Russell threw a nolook pass in Fiji’s 22 that was intercepted by Niki Goneva.
Rattled, Scotland went back to basics and it immediately paid off, Allan Dell forcing his way over from close range after a lineout drive.
Scotland stretched their lead moments later with another close-range try from hooker Fraser Brown, sparing Peter Horne’s blushes after the centre butchered a certain try moments earlier when he foolishly tried to sidestep the last defender rather than pass to the unmarked Seymour for a certain try. Fiji’s first try owed as much to a Scotland error as to Fijian brilliance, but it was still beautifully taken.
Fraser Brown overthrew at a lineout on Scotland’s 22, Peceli Yato took off at pace towards the Scotland line and offloaded to Vili Mata, the Edinburgh No8 crashing through two tackles to force his way over.
The visitors’ second try came from the same combination of Fijian flair and Scottish mistakes. Scrum-half Frank Lomani made a break before being pulled down by Horne in the 22, and when the ball was recycled, lock Tevita Cavubati ghosted past Dell and fed Radradra for a try.
Faced with a resurgent Fiji, Scotland switched to working through the forwards and kicking to the corner when the visitors infringed. As the pressure ratcheted up, the Fijian forwards were gradually overwhelmed.
Brown forced his way over but the score was bizarrely chalked off for crossing, while referee Andrew Brace could – probably should – have awarded a penalty try.
But if Scotland were frustrated by their lineout driving maul being constantly collapsed with no penalty try, at least there was some sanction, with both Fiji second rows being yellow carded, Leone Nakarawa on 32 minutes and Cavubati four minutes later.
Although Fiji led 17-14 as the clock hit 40 minutes, the sin-binnings proved decisive. With two players off and the clock in the red, Scotland went for one last scrum, and Russell put Seymour into the corner with a long mis-pass. The wing has now scored in each of his past four Murrayfield appearances.
Moments after the break, and with Fiji still down to 13 men, a well-taken try in the corner from Sean Maitland extended Scotland’s lead to 11 points. The next try came from Seymour, who ran a beautiful line to crash onto a Laidlaw pop pass after Peter Horne’s half break set up a ruck on Fiji’s line. Five minutes later Seymour benefited from some deft running from Chris Harris to go over for a try which completed his hat-trick.
With the result now beyond doubt, Ritchie, who was consistently excellent (as was debutant second row Sam Skinner, who was named man of the match and ended on the blindside), drove home Scotland’s forward superiority when he drove over from close range for Scotland’s seventh try.
With seconds left Adam Hastings and Finn Russell, the latter playing at inside centre during Hastings’ 10-minute cameo, combined with some lovely interplay to put the replacement standoff over in the corner, with Russell’s touchline conversion bringing the crowd to their feet.