Fijians overcome Scots as yellow, red cards doom visitors' hopes

The Flying Fijians have bounced back strongly by defeating Scotland 29-15 in Suva on Saturday.

The win not only lifted their spirits after a previous loss to Australia a week earlier but also helped them earn crucial points for the Rugby World Cup in 2027.

The win also means that Fiji gains some valuable ranking points ahead of December’s pool draw, as both nations are desperate to avoid any pool of death.

Fiji has always been tough for Scotland to beat, and Saturday's match was no different.

While Scotland started strong and scored the first point, Fiji quickly took control of the game. By halftime, the hosts were leading 15-7.

After the break, Scotland managed to score again quickly, making it a close game. But Fiji responded with impressive play that saw them regain the lead.

Unfortunately for the Scots, their chances were hurt by players receiving yellow and red cards, which slowed their winning progress, and a penalty try awarded to Fiji in the last 15 minutes sealed the victory for the hosts.

Darcy Graham had a particularly rough day: He received the red card after getting two yellow cards for rule violations, which weakened his team's defence.

Despite their initial success, the Scots struggled to maintain their momentum throughout the match, ending up on the back foot for much of the game. They had numerous penalties called against them for mistakes, adding to their frustration.

Fiji's win not only bolstered their confidence but also improved their chances of a better seeding for the World Cup draw in December, a significant concern for both teams looking to avoid a difficult group.

Fiji coach Mick Byrne says that with so many players performing well, it made choosing who to play a challenge.

He says his team was determined to overcome their previous loss and prepared for the physical challenge that Scotland would bring.

"It's a great problem to have," he told reporters, adding that they were determined to bounce back after their loss to the Wallabies.

"We missed a couple of lineouts early; the boys took it personally and spent a good amount of time looking at that. So, we'll work through those.

"They're going to bring real physicality into our game," the Fijian coach stated.

Photo/Fiji Sports Council

Scotland coach Gregor Townsend says playing with a reduced team made things difficult:

"It was tough for us when we were down to 14 men on three occasions, but Fiji deserved to win. We're disappointed with our performance and disappointed we didn't capitalise on a good start to the second half and getting back in the game.

"There were 14 penalties and three yellow cards. I would imagine most of them are in our control. That's unusual for us, to give away so many penalties and yellow cards, and that fatigues us when we're a man down.

"The start of the game and the start of the second half showed what we can do. Some of the effort was excellent, but there were too many times when it was simple mistakes."

The Scots still own the all-time series lead, 7-4, against Fiji. Scotland finish their Southern Tour with Sāmoa on 18 July in Auckland, at Eden Park.

Fiji, meanwhile, won’t play again until the Pacific Nations Cup in late August.

The match showcased Fiji's strength and resilience, while Scotland face some challenges to address before their World Cup preparations continue.

In other rugby internationals played on the weekend, the New Zealand All Blacks defeated France 43-17 in Wellington on Saturday night. It was the All Blacks' highest score against the French since winning 49-14 in Dunedin in 2018. The Black Ferns beat the Wallaroos 37-12 in Wellington.

Later, the AUNZ Invitational XV were blown away 48-0 by the British and Irish Lions in Adelaide. The Lions next face the Wallabies at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane in the first of three test matches.

Wales defeated Japan 31-22. Looking ahead, the Springboks take on Italy on Sunday, NZ time, Portugal host the Irish, Uruguay-Romania, Argentina-England, USA-Spain, and Canada-Belgium.

Tupou Vaa'i takes on the French defence during their first test in Dunedin on 5 July. The All Blacks won 31-27. Photo/Marty Melville/Photosport

Fiji: Rayasi, Ravouvou, Maqala, Tuisova, Wainiqolo; Muntz, Kuruvoli; Mawi, Ikanivere (c), Doge, Nasilasila, Mayanavanua, Tagitagivalu, Canakaivata, Mata. Replacements: Matavesi, Hetet, Tawake, Vocevoce, Tuisue, Wye, Armstrong-Ravula, Botitu.

Scotland: Rowe, Graham, Redpath, Jordan, Steyn; Burke, Dobie; Sutherland, Ashman, Millar Mills, Sykes, Gilchrist, Ritchie, Darge (c), M Fagerson. Replacements: Turner, Hepburn, Hurd, Williamson, Bayliss, Horne, Hastings, Smith.

Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)