Scotland open Autumn Nations Series with commanding win over Fiji

Right winger Darcy Graham scored four of Scotland’s eight tries as they recorded a commanding 57-17 win against Fiji in the Autumn Nations Series at Murrayfield.

Huw Jones chipped in with a brace of tries, while Kyle Rowe and Duhan van der Merwe also opened their tournament accounts.

Scotland made their visitors pay for their poor discipline as both Frank Lomani and Apisalome Vota were sent to the sin-bin inside the opening 13 minutes. Rowe opened their account before Graham crossed twice inside four minutes as Scotland delighted the home crowd.

When Huw Jones scored a fourth try without response inside 20 minutes the hosts looked like running riot. However, Fiji turned momentum either side of half-time with Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, Meli Derenalagi and Tevita Ikanivere all crossing the whitewash.

Scotland regrouped, with Graham scoring two further efforts to put his side out of reach before being taken off for a head impact assessment.

Not deterred Van der Merwe regained his record of Scotland’s top try scorer on 29, one more than Graham, before Jones completed the win.

Scotland face world champions South Africa next Sunday and they could welcome back Finn Russell and Blair Kinghorn who were absent due to the fixture falling outside the international Test window.

Fiji will be licking their wounds as they travel to the Principality Stadium to face Wales, also next Sunday – with all the action live on TNT Sports and discovery+.

With Graham and Van der Merwe battling it out for the country’s top try scorer title, Scotland are in buoyant form ahead of hosting South Africa next weekend.

A packed Murrayfield will be in full voice and will be right behind their side who are full of confidence.

With Russell and Kinghorn also in contention, Scotland have selection decisions to make after hitting the ground running in this Autumn Nations campaign.

The right winger marked his return to international rugby with a standout performance and four tries against Fiji.

The livewire was perfectly in tune with kicker Adam Hastings as they ripped through the Fiji defence.

The 27-year-old has suffered several injuries which have kept him out of the Scotland jersey since the World Cup.

However, Graham is now back on song and could be key in Scotland’s success in this Autumn Nations.

Scotland: Rowe 8; Graham 9, Jones 8, S Tuipulotu 7, Van der Merwe 8, Hastings 8, Price 7, Schoeman 7, Ashman 7, Z Fagerson 7, Gilchrist 7, Cummings 7, M Fagerson 7, Darge 7. Replacements: Richardson 6, Sutherland 6, Rae 6, Williamson 6, Brown 6, Dobie 7, Jordan 7, McDowall 6.

Fiji: Ravula 8; Karawalevu 6, Vota 7, Tabuavou 7, Loganimasi 6; Muntz 6, Lomani 6, Hetet 6, Ikanivere 7, Tawake 7, Nasilasila 6, Rotuisolia 6, Derenalagi 6, Salawa 6, Canakaivata 6. Replacements: Dolokoto 6, Natave 6, Koroiduadua 6, Vocevoce 6, Miramira 7, Kuruvoli 7, Valetini 6, Nalaga 6

9’ –TRY! SCOTLAND 7 (ROWE) FIJI 0: Scotland quickly break along the line through Jones who finds Rowe who jinks back inside the defence to score the opening try under the posts. It’s converted by Hastings.

15’ – TRY! SCOTLAND 14 (GRAHAM) FIJI 0: Playing against 13 men, Graham plays a one-two on the wing with Ashman which deceives the defence and results in a second Scotland try. Hastings adds the conversion from a tight angle.

19’ –TRY! SCOTLAND 19 (GRAHAM) FIJI 0: Minutes after the re-start a quickly taken kick by Hastings results in Graham running down the wing from an on-side position to gain possession. He is tackled into touch but kicks the ball through and then regains the ball to score. Hastings misses the conversion this time from a tight angle.

21’ –TRY! SCOTLAND 26 (JONES) FIJI 0: Fiji are guilty of playing a slack pass along the line which Jones gratefully intercepts and runs under the posts for a converted score

33’ –TRY! SCOTLAND 26 FIJI 5 (RAVULA): After piling towards the Scotland line a change of tactic sees Fiji instead go wide and Loganimasi makes a run before finding team-mate Ravula who is helped over.

40+4’ –TRY! SCOTLAND 29 FIJI 10 (DERENALAGI): A high tackle allows Fiji a penalty option and they opt for a charge under the posts. The ball is played back out for Derenalagi who powers over the line under a challenge. The conversion is again wide.

49’ –TRY! SCOTLAND 29 FIJI 17 (IKANIVERE): A line-out by Ikanivere is played back into the hands of the number two who quickly darts down the line to score. This time Armstrong-Ravula can convert

53’ – TRY! SCOTLAND 36 (GRAHAM) FIJI 17: Scotland needed a response with Jordan finding Van der Merwe who is initially held up. However, Jones finds the run of Graham who finds Graham to score. Converted by Hastings

62’ –TRY! SCOTLAND 43 (GRAHAM) FIJI 17: A chip over the top for Hastings results in Jones pulling Scotland forward. From a ruck Dobie plays through Graham who slides through a gap.

The conversion by Hastings puts Scotland out of sight.
73’ – TRY! SCOTLAND 50 (VAN DER MERWE) FIJI 17: Hastings with a beautiful pass behind his back to Jones who feeds Van der Merwe through out wide. The conversion by Hastings is also good.

79’ – TRY! SCOTLAND 57 (JONES) FIJI 17: A driving maul by Scotland is played out wide to Hastings who kicks perfectly across field for Jones to tap the ball down. Hastings also kicks the conversion.

• Duhan Van der Merwe scored his 29th try for Scotland to hold the country’s scoring record – one more than Darcy Graham.
• Scotland conceded 11 penalties to Fiji’s 12.