The Scotland players’ performances at Murrayfield received a perfect score. Scotland easily defeated Fiji 57-17 at Murrayfield on Saturday night to begin their Autumn Nations Series campaign. Huw Jones scored a double and winger Darcy Graham scored four tries in front of a packed house at the Edinburgh venue. Duhan van der Merwe and Kyle Rowe also contributed, and his try kept him one spot ahead of Graham on 29 for his nation in the all-time scoring record. Referee Craig Evans established the rule early on, and the Scots took advantage of the Fijian visitors’ early lack of discipline as they were reduced to 13 men because they had committed too many penalties.
The victory over the Pacific Islanders will thrill head coach Gregor Townsend as focus shifts to the capital for next weekend’s matchup with world champions South Africa. Each player’s performance against Fiji is assigned a score out of 10.
Pierre Schoeman
Prevented an Ashman try by impeding a Fijian tackler. Scrummaged well enough. 6 | SNS Group / SRU
Ewan Ashman
Good tosses during the lineout. clung to the maul’s edge to score an unsuccessful attempt. helped Graham, but was reprimanded for being unsteady on his feet and given a yellow card. Perhaps lucky to avoid a red card, he then received a severe dressing down for a high tackle in the maul. Dylan Richardson, who was walking a tightrope, took his spot shortly after. 5 | Social Network Group
Fagerson Zander
played even though, for personal reasons, he was a late doubt. Another person, in spite of intense Fijian pressure at times, was sufficiently firm. In its stead was D’Arcy Rae. 6 | SNS Group
Grant Gilchrist
A typical performance laced with power and effort. Kept the Scotland pack in check. Replaced on hour mark with South Africa game in mind. 6 | SNS Group / SRU
Cummings Scott
Very much like Gilchrist, decent but unimpressive. changed on the hour mark. 6 | SRU / SNS Group
Darge Rory
There was some persistent work in the breakdown against a lot of Fijian big lads. 7 | SRU / SNS Group
Fagerson,Matt
As usual, he was strong and steady and produced a crucial run to set up a Graham try. 7 | SRU / SNS Group
Dempsey Jack
Halfway through the first half, there was a good lineout theft. required medical attention following a lung-bursting run. Fortunately, he nearly made a try as he attempted to control a Fiji kick with his foot. 6 | SRU / SNS Group
Ali Price
An unfussy performance at No 9 on his return to the Scotland team, but escaped sanction for head-on tackle. Made way for Jamie Dobie. 6 | SNS Group
Adam Hastings
First home game since the two-year-old match against Fiji. Graham scored his second try with a crossfield kick, and Van der Merwe was set up by a lovely throw to Jones. missed the tee just once while kicking 17 points. Good display. 8 | SNS Organisation
Duhan van der Merwe
had a tap tackle and the referee’s whistle stop a couple of runs. Despite not seeing much of the ball, he managed to score and finished with 29 tries, which kept him as Scotland’s top tryscorer. 7 | SNS Group
Huw Jones
Before Van der Merwe’s last-minute score completed the scoring, an interception try was made on minute 21 after reading Armstrong-Ravula’s sloppy pass. Amazing. 8 | SRU / SNS Group
Sione Tuipulotu
Despite playing on a backline that had both strong and poor defence, he had a strong first game as captain. 6 | SNS Group
Darcy Graham
It took him fifteen minutes to make his first attempt. Added second by demonstrating cunning to kick the ball on under duress. Ikanivere sold him a sore dummy for a try in the second half, but he bounced back fast to score his hat-trick and then a fourth. With 28, he is now tied with Van der Merwe as Scotland’s second-leading try scorer. Amazing ending performance. 9 | SNS Group Sales of Photos
Kyle Rowe
Great dancing feet to score opening try – his first at Murrayfield in Scotland colours. Game cut short just before half time as he limped off injured. 7 | SNS Group
Replacement
On his debut, Tom Jordan (pictured) saved a try with a superb tackle. Dylan Richardson, D’Arcy Rae, and Rory Sutherland in the front row, as well as fellow forwards Gregor Brown and Max Willamson, Jamie Dobie, and Stafford McDowall, all made an appearance from the bench. | SNS Group