The Fiji Water Flying Fijians experienced a challenging start to their Autumn Nations Series campaign, suffering a significant 57-17 defeat against Scotland at Murrayfield. This match highlighted issues in both discipline and performance that ultimately led to their loss.
Fiji’s troubles began early in the game, with scrum-half Frank Lomani receiving a yellow card just four minutes in for a deliberate knock-on. This set the tone as Scotland immediately capitalized on their numerical advantage. Although Scotland’s Ewan Ashman had a try disallowed shortly afterward due to a foul in the buildup, the home side soon scored through full-back Rowe, who finished a well-orchestrated move with a try that Hastings converted.
Fiji’s woes continued as they faced a moment of vulnerability, temporarily reduced to 13 men when Apisalome Vota also received a yellow card for persistent infringements. During this difficult period, Scotland’s Graham scored twice to increase the score to 26-0.
However, Fiji showed resilience towards the end of the first half, scoring two tries through Armstrong-Ravula and Derenalagi, closing the gap to 29-10 by halftime. The second half saw Fiji battling back with a try from Ikanivere, narrowing the score further. Yet, Scotland responded robustly, with Graham notching two more tries to secure their dominant victory.
Despite the disappointing result, this match can serve as a learning experience for the Flying Fijians. Their ability to rally and score towards the end of the first half demonstrates their potential and fighting spirit. Moving forward, focusing on discipline and early match composure could turn the tide in future fixtures. There is hope that the squad can build on these experiences and improve their performance in upcoming matches.
Leave a comment