Scotland overcome first-half scare to beat Fiji

EDINBURGH :Scotland overcame a first-half scare to beat Fiji 28-12 at Murrayfield on Saturday, outscoring their visitors by four tries to two in a tough, physical contest.

George Turner, Adam Hastings, Duhan van der Merwe and Ben White dotted down for the home team with Hastings adding two conversions and his replacement Blair Kinghorn the other pair.

Fiji’s points all came in an impressive first-half showing, from Setariki Tuicuvu and debutant lock Ratu Leone Rotuisolia with a solitary conversion from Vilimoni Botitu.

Scotland’s superior organisation and fitness proved decisive but they had to weather an early onslaught that suggested with more preparation Fiji might have come closer to an upset. They had just days to prepare after only assembling at the start of the week.

Scotland got off to a dominant start and scored their first try within seven minutes as the forwards drove hooker Turner over from a lineout maul.

Fiji were already down to 14 after Rotuisolia had earned a yellow card within 90 seconds of the start and the advantage allowed the Scottish pack an easy push over.

But Fiji then took command to the consternation of the home crowd and scored two tries in quick succession with a mix of physical power and impressive ball handling.

Winger Tuicuvu went over in the corner in the 14th minute before Rotuisolia drove over from right on the line nine minutes later as Fiji battered the gain line, breaking tackles and putting Scotland on the backfoot.

The tries handed the Pacific islanders a massive dollop of confidence and they continued to hammer away at the Scottish defence, going close to two more tries but were let down by basic mistakes at vital moments.

That ultimately proved costly as Scotland flyhalf Hastings slipped