Scotland ease past Fiji
Scotland opened their autumn campaign with a steady but unspectacular 23-10 victory over Fiji at Murrayfield.
By Rachel Griffiths
Last Updated: 14/11/09 6:05pm
Scotland opened their autumn campaign with a steady but unspectacular 23-10 victory over Fiji at Murrayfield.
Tries from Johnnie Beattie, a dubious second from Graeme Morrison and 13 points from Phil Godman amounted to a solid win that means the home side leapfrog their opponents into ninth place in the world rankings.
The result also marked a concrete start for Andy Robinson's reign as Scotland head coach, with the former flanker returning to the Test stage three years after his disastrous turn as England boss.
The visitors were without several star names after failing to secure their release but were promising in the beginning, getting within five metres of the Scotland line in the 10th minute before knocking on.
First blood
The home side drew the first blood, though, with Godman's angled 15th minute penalty propelling them into the lead.
Godman failed to build on his success three minutes later from a more central position, with his effort hitting the inside of the post.
Scotland recovered to score the opening try 22 minutes in when Chris Cusiter, making his first start as captain, capitalised on a wayward line-out to surge clear and pass to Beattie, who just managed to slide over the line for his second Test try.
Fiji's Josefa Domolailai was injured as one of the two men trying to stop Beattie and was stretchered off and replaced by Samu Bola.
Scotland almost crossed the line again when Rory Lamont broke through only to be held up on the line, though Godman compensated just before the half-hour with his second penalty.
The Edinburgh fly-half kicked another three points soon after but Fiji hit back just a minute before the break with a try from Vereniki Goneva that Nicky Little converted.
The tourists, who removed loosehead Alefoso Yalayalatabua at the break in favour of Graham Dewes, blew a great chance to close the gap by three more points at the start of the second half after Scotland failed to roll away.
Instead Scotland regained the initiative and were rewarded when Cusiter chose to go for a scrum when a close-range penalty was awarded.
The decision paid off as Morrison scored his third Test try, even if it had appeared to be a forward Sean Lamont pass.
Godman added the extras but Fiji responded with a Little penalty after Alasdair Strokosch was pulled up for a high tackle.
Changes
Robinson began to ring the changes as the match grew older - Kyle Traynor won his first cap in place of Allan Jacobsen, Chris Paterson came on for Rory Lamont, and Cusiter was replaced by co-captain Mike Blair.
Strokosch soon followed for Jason White before both sides replaced their hookers for the final 11 minutes.
Paterson managed to shank a penalty before Blair was injured making a tackle on Napolioni Nalaga with three minutes remaining and had to be helped from the field.
Fiji increased the pressure in the closing moments but Scotland's defence held firm, bringing home the first win of the new Robinson era.
