Scotland: Unbeaten on tour
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Scotland's Dutch-born winger Tim Visser scored two tries on debut as the tourists beat Fiji 37-25 on Saturday.
Visser's second try in the 77th minute clinched Scotland's win after Fiji had come from 27-11 down in the 45th minute to trail by only two points, 27-25, with 15 minutes remaining.
Fly-half Greig Laidlaw scored a try, kicked four conversions and three penalties to keep Scotland in front, ensuring they avoided a repeat of their 51-26 loss to Fiji in Suva in 1998.
Scotland overcame hot and humid conditions at Lautoka's Churchill Park and a display of typical backline brilliance from Fiji to post a second win on their southern hemisphere tour after beating Australia 9-6.
In six meetings between the teams, Scotland has won on five occasions and Fiji only once.
Scotland was able to control the match through strong set-piece play and an accurate kicking game guided by Laidlaw. Fiji showed vulnerability under the high ball and was pressured at scrums, conceding a penalty try from a scrum collapse in the 23rd minute.
The penalty try and tries to Visser and Laidlaw allowed Scotland to take a 24-11 lead to half-time and the tourists expanded that to 27-11 with a Laidlaw penalty in the 45th minute.
Fiji rushed back into the match through the middle of the second half with tries to Waisea Nayacalevu in the 48th minute and Metuisela Talebula in the 65th. Fly-half Jonetani Raululu converted Talebua's try on debut to cut the lead to 27-25 as the hosts looked like overwhelming the Scots.
Laidlaw eked out the lead to 30-25 by kicking his fourth penalty, then the fast and powerful Visser touched down for the second time to ensure Scotland escaped with a win.
Scotland next plays Samoa in Apia while Fiji faces Tonga next Saturday in the final match of the Pacific Nations Cup.
The scorers:
For Fiji:
Tries: Domolailai, Nayacalevu, Talebula
Cons: Ralulu 2
Pens: Ralulu 2
For Scotland:
Tries: Laidlaw, Visser 2, Penalty try
Cons: Laidlaw 4
Pens: Laidlaw 3
Fiji: 15 Isimeli Koniferedi, 14 Waisea Nayacalevu, 13 Wereniki Goneva, 12 Aloisio Buto, 11 Watisoni Votu, 10 Jonetai Ralulu, 9 Nikola Matawalu, 8 Netani Talei, 7 Malakai Ravulo, 6 Iliese Ratuva, 5 Leone Nakarawa, 4 Apisai Naikatini, 3 Setefano Somoca, 2 Viliame Veikoso, 1 Jeremaia Yanuyanutawa.
Replacements: 16 Tuatpati Talemaitoga, 17 Waisea Daveta/Graham Dewes, 18 Josefa Domolailai, 19 Kelepi Ketedromo, 20 Nemia Kenatale, 21 Kameli Ratuvou, 22 Metuisela Talebula.
Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Max Evans, 13 Nick De Luca, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Greig Laidlaw, 9 Mike Blair, 8 John Barclay, 7 Ross Rennie, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Richie Gray, 4 Alastair Kellock, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Ross Ford (c), 1 Ryan Grant.
Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Geoff Cross, 18 Tom Ryder, 19 Richie Vernon, 20 Chris Cusiter, 21 Duncan Weir, 22 Sean Lamont.
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Comments
luvleinster says...
@5Lock4ward
Whats your source for this?? cos i cant find it anywhere so unless you can produce a proper source - and that does not include rugby forums - then stop spreading these rumors like a bloody women gossiping!! the man is a kiwi with Fijian heritage, not a Fijian
Posted 09:09 22nd June 2012
rakavi187 says...
excellent game from the brave Scots considering the heat, but I take my hats off to both teams. Finally got to see Visser live here in the islands and he should really be proud of his perfomance.
@ celticspirit .."Unite, Highlanders and Islanders against the mighty and arrogant of the global game. :)"...definitely agree with that.
Posted 23:15 17th June 2012
melkdave says...
Well a good victory for Scotland in challanging conditions.But now the big game is on the horizon,Samoa the 8th ranked team atm, and no dought about them being a tier 1 nation imo.Scotland really need to win this match to climb the IRB rankings ,and hopefully not be in the tier3 draw for the next RWC.It will also give them a massive boost for the aurtum internationals ,knowing they can win consistantly.Scotland like England are only just starting a new cycle ,with new coaches and young players .Lets hope that they continue to develope ,and like England and Wales can really challange the big SH teams in the comming years
Posted 20:19 17th June 2012
porridge_time says...
Two from two, both wins from contrasting conditions.
Posted 10:09 17th June 2012
5Lock4ward says...
So Isa Nacewa claimed he would have represented Fiji at the RWC had it not been for his wife being pregnant. What's his excuse now?
Posted 21:07 16th June 2012
celticspirit says...
Good result, much needed, even though it seems we can only beat other countries' 2nd teams nowadays... Let's hope Samoa also field their B-team then.
@Tagi83: Also glad Scotland made their way over to the islands this time, but don't give them too much credit just yet for a one-off visit because they only booked that trip because none of the (former) Tri-Nations teams would have them because they prefer Wales, Ireland and England. So we really are in the same place in a way. Unite, Highlanders and Islanders against the mighty and arrogant of the global game. :)
Posted 14:47 16th June 2012
kybone says...
Good result for Scotland not a great one. I don't think that this was a first xv for Fiji. But tough playing conditions that the Scots won't be used to. Better get ready for next week and make sure they don't end the tour in disappointing fasion because the Samoa game will be a real step up i feel even though it won't be their frist xv either.
Posted 13:40 16th June 2012
suilven says...
@stugur Scotland were not "terrible in defence", Fiji are very hard to stop once one of their backs gets going with the ball. And I think what happened after the whistle was just Scotland being sporting, as always!
@Hayj05 Tim Visser was great & not just running & scoring, - he did this massive tackle which pushed a Fijian guy back about 4m, just when we needed it. ( I think that's defending ;) ) Also, just for a change to the usual way of things, did a high tackle on a Fijian-who then milked it, I mean lay injured for so long, his own medic guy made him get up!
God knows how the Scots managed to be so cool in 30 deg at 2 in the afternoon- everyone knows our bones actually dissolve at that heat!
Posted 13:16 16th June 2012
atg77 says...
Good win Scotland and great tries MacVisser!!! The heat obviously became a major factor in the end, good to see that composure. We're going to have to step up several notches as Samoa will be a whole new proposition next week.They will be a much stronger side.
Posted 11:45 16th June 2012
scot_rsa says...
usrugbyfan - thanks very much for that, looks good. Scotland games just don't seem to get the same coverage especially in Fiji!
Posted 11:05 16th June 2012
hayj05 says...
Didn't see the game. I know Visser scored two tries but how did he play guys?
Well done Scotland.
Posted 10:53 16th June 2012
usrugbyfan says...
scot_rsa, try this place. I can usually get good streaming from here: http://www.thefirstrow.eu/
Posted 10:34 16th June 2012
stugur says...
Enjoyable to watch, scotland terrible in defence, a complete reversal from the Wallaby game.
Not sure what happened after the whistle, looks like all the players (Scot and Fiji) stood in a circle, gave a prayer, had a combined team talk and then all walked off together, presumably to the pub.
All looked very friendly.
Well done all involved.
Posted 10:23 16th June 2012
tagi83 says...
Well Done Scotland!!.....Thanks for being Brave and coming down to the islands...Australia and NZ are closer to us and dont bother coming.....waz a good game to watch.....come back sooon!
Posted 08:11 16th June 2012
scot_rsa says...
Well done Scotland, sounds like a disciplined performance. Wish I could find a channel that would at least give highlights apart from ESPN. Anyway, three out of three must be the target, great stuff.
Posted 07:57 16th June 2012