The Fiji Water Flying Fijians started their Autumn Nations Series campaign with a heavy loss, suffering a stark 57-17 defeat against Scotland at Murrayfield. The match showcased a painful beginning for Fiji, marked by early mistakes and a lack of discipline that ultimately cost them dearly.
Scotland immediately captured the momentum, putting pressure on Fiji and resulting in an early yellow card for scrum-half Frank Lomani for a deliberate knock-on. The hosts initially thought they had scored in the eighth minute, but their try was disallowed due to a ruling that Pierre Schoeman obstructed Ponipate Loganimasi during the play.
Despite the setback, Scotland opened the scoring shortly after with a try from full-back Rowe, who finished a well-coordinated team move, followed by a conversion from Hastings. Fiji’s troubles mounted when they were temporarily reduced to 13 players after center Apisalome Vota received a yellow card due to repeated infringements. This allowed Scotland to capitalize, scoring three more tries while Vota was sidelined.
Graham, having recently scored four tries in a World Cup pool-stage win, found the try zone first in the 15th minute and quickly added another, showcasing his talent and excellent coordination with Hastings. Fiji struggled defensively, allowing Jones to intercept a pass for Scotland’s fourth try, extending their lead to 26-0.
Fiji was able to show some fight towards the end of the first half. When Scotland’s Ashman was sent to the sin bin, Fiji took advantage, with Armstrong-Ravula scoring a try. They added another try just before halftime, with Fiji trailing 29-10 at the break.
After the interval, Fiji continued to improve, with hooker Tevita Ikanivere scoring from a lineout, narrowing the score further. However, Scotland regained control, with Graham scoring twice more and Van der Merwe adding to the home side’s tally, culminating the match with a final score of 57-17.
In summary, while Fiji faced a challenging match against Scotland, their ability to rally and score twice in the latter stages of the first half offers a glimpse of potential resilience. Although the loss is disappointing, the team can regroup and focus on addressing discipline and strategy as they look to improve in the remaining matches of the series. Looking ahead, with adjustments and a strengthened mindset, the Flying Fijians have the opportunity to bounce back in subsequent games and demonstrate their fighting spirit.
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