Scotland 23-10 Fiji
Sean Lamont returned to the starting line-up alongside his brother Rory
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Saturday, 14, Nov 2009 05:48
By Matt Hallam.
Andy Robinson's reign as Scotland coach got off to a winning start at Murrayfield with a 23-10 win over Fiji.
Almost three years to the day when Robinson left his post as England coach he oversaw a comfortable win for Scotland in the opening game of their autumn Test series.
Phil Godman put them in the lead with a long range penalty before converting Johnnie Beattie's try. Another two penalties gave the Scots a comfortable lead but they were pegged back before half time when Fiji's Vereniki Goneva went over in the corner.
Graeme Morrison's try under the posts put Scotland back in control though and although Nicky Little pulled some points back from a penalty, Fiji could do little to prevent the final outcome. Robinson made ten changes from Scotland's last international against England in March.
Chris Cusiter led the Scots out with co-captain Mike Blair starting on the bench and Worcester centre Alex Grove made his debut alongside brothers Rory and Sean Lamont.
Fiji named 12 overseas players in their starting XV with Clermont's Napolioni Nalaga on the wing and Bath's Little at fly-half, who has scored nearly 650 points for his country.
Scotland's early play was littered with penalties, interrupting their flow and letting Fiji off as they looked to put pressure on their visitors. However, it was Fiji who paid for their indiscipline at the ruck on the quarter hour mark with Godman converting a 40-yard penalty to give Scotland the lead.
Joshua Matavesi's poor handling gave Godman the chance to double his teams lead minutes later, but he saw his second kick rebound off the upright as the score remained at 3-0. Fiji couldn't hold off their hosts for long though as Cusiter burst forward after collecting from the line-out and offloaded to Beattie to slide over the try line before Godman converted.
Godman sent another two penalties through the posts as Scotland began to look comfortable.
However the Fijians fought back and a succession of penalties allowed them to put pressure on Scotland's defence which failed prevent Goneva going over in the corner with Little converting to make it 16-7 at the break.
Fiji looked to claw themselves further back into the game after half-time when Scotland failed to roll away at the ruck, however Little dragged his penalty wide of posts.
The Scots struggled to find the quick ball but their quality at set pieces was giving them the upper hand and as their scrum steam rolled towards the line, the Fijians were powerless to prevent Morrison scoring under the posts before Godman converted.
Little pulled three points back for Fiji on the hour mark with a penalty after the Scots had again failed to roll away from the scrum but they had no joy in adding further points.
Chris Patterson, on as a replacement for Rory Lamont could have added to Scotland's lead late on but he got poor contact on his penalty and the game ended with a comfortable win for the Scots.