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Darcy Graham shows what Scotland have missed in demolition of Fiji

kieran crichard
·24-min read
Darcy Graham scoring a try against Fiji
Darcy Graham scored four times at Murrayfield - PA/Andrew Milligan

Scotland 57 Fiji 17

Welcome back, Darcy Graham. The Scotland wing finished with four excellent tries against Fiji to send him past Stuart Hogg and up to 28 on Scotland’s all-time try-scoring list. Graham was actually tied with Duhan van der Merwe at the top of that list for a whole 10 minutes, before Van der Merwe’s late try after Graham had left the field for a head injury assessment saw him reclaim the record for himself on 29 tries.

This was a decent enough win for Scotland where they started and finished strongly, scoring eight tries in total, but suffered a significant dip in the middle as a raw Fiji side fought back well. But the story was Graham, making his first Scotland appearance in 13 months after a long-term groin injury ruled him out of this year’s Six Nations and summer tour.

“I walked onto the field with Darcy, the pitch felt pretty good and I said ‘this is your playground’. Because every time we play at Murrayfield, Darcy is going crazy and he did again today,” said the Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu.

Graham’s Test return was packed full of the lively wing’s excellent footwork, and a touch of good fortune for his second score when even a botched grubber kick worked in his favour. Arguably the only low point came when he was completely stood up by a dummy from Fiji captain Tevita Ikanivere for one of the visitors’ tries, although it was the kind of finish down the touchline which Graham would have been proud of himself.

“Darcy was outstanding,” added the Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend. “He scores different types of tries – his angles of running before he gets the ball are very hard to pick up. His strength to get out of tackles is up there with the best in the world.

”[Van der Merwe and Graham] are not driving each other on and trying to look for tries, they are doing the right thing for their team. Their tries are often scored by the work of other people too. It’s fantastic that we’re living this history where we have two players with a lot of rugby ahead of them that are setting try-scoring records. Ian Smith from 1924 to 1933 held that record for so many years [with 24 tries] and now it is being broken every game or every other game those two are playing.”

‘Hardened, Test players’ returning for Wales

All but two of Fiji’s match-day 23 play for the Fijian Drua in Super Rugby but what they possessed in familiarity they lacked in Test experience. Two yellow cards and four tries conceded within the first 20 minutes meant they were always running uphill, but they did cut the deficit from 26-0 to 29-17 at one stage. Their resources will be boosted considerably against Wales next Sunday in Cardiff by the returns of captain Waisea Nayacalevu, Josua Tuisova, Semi Radradra and more.

“It’s probably a learning for us – games outside the window affect us around our experience,” noted Fiji head’s coach Mick Byrne. “A couple of players came in who were not part of the Pacific Nations Cup who had only had three or four professional games. We’ll have 11 hardened, Test match players who will come in on Sunday from France and England.”

Van der Merwe’s score to snatch the try-scoring record back all to himself was arguably the pick of Scotland’s tries, a brilliant behind-the-back pass from Adam Hastings at the heart of a move which sent Van der Merwe over in the corner.

Huw Jones was excellent, scoring twice, while Rory Darge’s defensive effort with 22 tackles and a couple of turnovers should not be forgotten amid all the tries.

Still, if Scotland can get both Graham and Van der Merwe firing in a much sterner challenge next week against the Springboks, when Finn Russell, Blair Kinghorn and others will be available again, then they can give South Africa plenty to worry about.

Match details

Scoring sequence: 5-0 Rowe try, 7-0 Hastings con, 12-0 Graham try, 14-0 Hastings con, 19-0 Graham try, 24-0 Jones try, 26-0 Hastings con, 26-5 Armstrong-Ravula try, 29-5 Hastings pen, 29-10 Derenalagi try, 29-15 Ikanivere try, 29-17 I Armstrong-Ravula con, 34-17 Graham try, 36-17 Hastings con, 41-17 Graham try, 43-17 Hastings con, 48-17 Van der Merwe try, 50-17 Hastings con, 55-17 Jones try, 57-17 Hastings con

Scotland: K Rowe (T Jordan 40); D Graham (S McDowall 65), H Jones, S Tuipulotu, D van der Merwe; A Hastings, A Price (J Dobie 48); P Schoeman (R Sutherland 48), E Ashman (D Richardson 48), Z Fagerson (D Rae 62), G Gilchrist, S Cummings (M Williamson 60), M Fagerson, R Darge, J Dempsey

Yellow card: E Ashman 33

Fiji: I Armstrong-Ravula; V Karawalevu, A Vota (W Nalaga 63), I Tabuavou (K Valetini 59), P Loganimasi; C Muntz, F Lomani (S Kurivoli, 63); H Hetet (L Natave 58), T Ikanivere (M Dolokoto 59), S Tawake (J Koroiduadua 58), I Nasilasila, R Rotuisolia (M Vocevoce 50), M Derenalagi (V Miramira 67), K Salawa, E Canakaivata

Yellow cards: F Lomani 5, A Vota 14

Referee: C Evans (Wales)

Attendance: 67,144

08:06 PM GMT

Huw Jones happy with Scotland’s win

08:00 PM GMT

Gregor Townsend speaking after the match

07:55 PM GMT

Former Scotland back-row Johnnie Beattie on BBC Radio 5 Live

“The Fijian boys are an abrasive bunch, they cause chaos in the collisions so you have to endure the waves they throw at you. They are good for 15-20 points. We saw at the World Cup they are good quality opposition, they made it to a quarter final.

“We dominated the set piece, did not allow them a platform. We did not allow them much possession and when we had the ball, they created space and generated things for people. The space afforded to Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe was a joy to watch at times.”

07:49 PM GMT

Impressive return to the Scotland jersey for Graham

Darcy Graham has had a number of injuries since the World Cup last year and today marked his first match in a Scotland shirt since the World Cup.

07:46 PM GMT

Man of the match Darcy Graham

“I am chuffed to bits. It was great to be back out there and playing in this jersey. The fans were awesome again tonight.

“We did not expect that big lead that early on. We knew Fiji were going to be brutal and come out of the box quickly. We managed to start quickly before them. They came back into the game and we had to work hard to keep them out.

“We spoke about keeping our penalty count low and keeping them out of the game. We did that in the second half but credit to Fiji.

“We will now reset. It will be a tough old game next weekend and we know what is coming against South Africa.

“I love playing at Murrayfield and it is always special playing here in front of these fans.”

07:39 PM GMT

Full-time

Scotland think they have finished off a dominant win in style with a ninth try through van der Merwe but there was a foot in touch by Jones in the build-up so the try is chalked off.

Scotland do complete a 57-17 victory against Fiji.

07:35 PM GMT

TRY! Scotland have eight

Jones was denied a few minutes ago by a double movement but he will not be here. Hastings sends over a crossfield kick to Jones, who is in acres of space on the right-hand touchline. It is a simple score for Jones. Hastings is spot-on with the conversion and Scotland lead 57-17 with a matter of seconds remaining.

07:33 PM GMT

78 mins: Scotland 50 Fiji 17

Scotland are awarded a penalty inside the Fiji half and Hastings boots it into the Fiji 22 with around two minutes left.

07:31 PM GMT

76 mins: Scotland 50 Fiji 17

After his four tries today, Graham has been named man of the match.

07:30 PM GMT

75 mins: Scotland 50 Fiji 17

Jones thinks he has gone over for Scotland’s eighth try. The initial on-field decision is no try for a double movement and, after a TMO review, a penalty is given against Jones for that double movement.

07:27 PM GMT

TRY! van der Merwe scores after brilliance from Hastings

First-phase try from Scotland straight off a line-out. A fantastic offload around the back from Hastings sends Jones through and the outside centre finds van der Merwe outside him to go over. Hastings’ conversion brings up the Scotland 50.

07:25 PM GMT

71 mins: Scotland 43 Fiji 17

Scotland win a scrum penalty just inside the Fiji half, which leads to a talking-to for the Fiji front-row. Scotland kick into the Fiji 22.

07:18 PM GMT

65 mins: Scotland 43 Fiji 17

Fiji are working their way towards the Scotland 22 but their progress is halted as they concede a penalty.

07:15 PM GMT

TRY! Graham adds his fourth

Scotland chip ahead into the Fiji 22 and a lucky bounce plays into their favour. They are making great progress inside the Fiji 22 towards the line and Graham powers over from short range to score his fourth try of the match. Hastings lands the conversion and this game is done and dusted. Scotland now lead 43-17.

07:12 PM GMT

60 mins: Scotland 36 Fiji 17

We are at that stage of the second half where both sides are ringing the changes.

07:09 PM GMT

59 mins: Scotland 36 Fiji 17

Scotland make good progress into the Fiji 22 but give away a penalty for going off their feet.

07:04 PM GMT

54 mins: Scotland 36 Fiji 17

Nearly a quite incredible moment. Fiji take the restart quickly and Dempsey makes a mess of an attempted clearing kick. Fiji come so close to a try in the corner through Karawalevu  but a late try-saving tackle from Jordan denies them.

07:03 PM GMT

TRY! Graham hat-trick

Just as it looked like Fiji were getting back into this game Scotland get an important try. Jones offloads Graham, who escapes a tackle and goes over. Hastings lands the conversion.

07:01 PM GMT

51 mins: Scotland 29 Fiji 17

Scotland break into the Fiji 22 but Hastings knocks on at a crucial moment for the home side.

06:59 PM GMT

TRY! Fiji coming back into the game

Scotland are caught napping at the front of the line-out. Fiji go for a short throw at the front. Ikanivere then pulls off an outrageous dummy and goes over for Fiji’s third try. The conversion is landed and Scotland’s lead, which did stand at one point at 26 points, is now 12 points.

06:58 PM GMT

48 mins: Scotland 29 Fiji 10

After a TMO check, Fiji are given a penalty for a high tackle by Ashman, who was shown a yellow card in the first half. Looking at the replays he is very lucky not to receive a second yellow for that head-on-head contact. Moments later he is taken off. What a surprise!

06:56 PM GMT

47 mins: Scotland 29 Fiji 10

Price: look away now. Canakaivata carries off the base of the scrum and just piles straight into Price, sending the Scotland scrum-half back a few yards.

06:50 PM GMT

44 mins: Scotland 29 Fiji 10

Fiji’s latest attack gets to 20 phases as they head towards the Scotland 22 but the hosts’ defence stands up well and van der Merwe rips the ball away so that Scotland can clear.

06:46 PM GMT

Second half

We are back under way at Murrayfield.

06:40 PM GMT

Scotland’s first-half tries

06:31 PM GMT

TRY! Derenalagi powers over

Fiji have the final say in this first half. With yet another penalty advantage, Fiji power over through their number six Derenalagi. Muntz misses a fairly simple conversion. Scotland lucky to escape there without another yellow card.

That is half-time and Scotland lead 29-10 at the break.

06:29 PM GMT

40 mins: Scotland 29 Fiji 5

Another Fiji penalty, just five metres out from the Scotland line. Surely another yellow for Scotland cannot be that far away? Ashman is now back on after his yellow card.

06:27 PM GMT

40 mins: Scotland 29 Fiji 5

Fiji have a penalty inside the Scotland 22 with the clock in the red. Fiji are going to the corner.

Tom Jordan is on for his Scotland debut, replacing Rowe.

06:24 PM GMT

39 mins: Scotland 29 Fiji 5

Nasilasila has just absolutely belted Rowe just after he had caught a high ball. Rowe is taking some deep breaths as that hurt to say the least. Most non-rugby players would have stayed down for a long time after a hit like that.

06:22 PM GMT

PENALTY! Hastings adds three

It is landed by the Glasgow fly-half and Scotland lead 29-5 with just over two minutes left in this first half.

06:22 PM GMT

36 mins: Scotland 26 Fiji 5

Coach-killer for Fiji. Just after they score, they concede a penalty inside their own 22 for obstruction. Hastings is going for goal rather than going to the corner. With hooker Ashman in the sin bin, that probably explains why they have opted for three.

06:20 PM GMT

TRY! Fiji get their first

Fiji ship it wide out to the left. Karawalevu steps inside Rowe near the left-hand touchline and gets a very neat offload off to Armstrong-Ravula, who powers over with great support from a few of his teammate. Muntz cannot land the conversion. It has taken them a while to get into this game and they have already shipped 26 points but they have their first try of the night.

06:18 PM GMT

32 mins: Scotland 26 Fiji 0

Fiji have a penalty advantage just shy of the Scotland line. They cannot take advantage so we go back for the penalty. The referee has had enough and Ashman is sent to the bin.

06:16 PM GMT

31 mins: Scotland 26 Fiji 0

Another Fiji penalty and Scotland will surely not be far away from a yellow card now. A five-metre line-out to come for Fiji.

06:15 PM GMT

30 mins: Scotland 26 Fiji 0

The chance is gone for Fiji as Scotland steal possession and clear.

06:14 PM GMT

29 mins: Scotland 26 Fiji 0

Fiji are starting earn a few penalties and it it now Scotland’s discipline under the microscope. The hosts are punished for not rolling away and Fiji will kick into the Scotland 22.

06:10 PM GMT

25 mins: Scotland 26 Fiji 0

Scotland disrput the Fiji maul and win the scrum.

06:09 PM GMT

24 mins: Scotland 26 Fiji 0

Finally Fiji have some possession and they enter into the Scotland for the first time this evening. They have a penalty of their own as Scotland are penalised for not rolling away.

Unsurprisingly Fiji do not go for the posts and go to the corner as they are restored to 15 men.

Vota’s back on the field so Fiji can finally give this a decent crack. The only issue being that they’re leaking a point a minute. Even without their European-based contingent, we expected more than this.

06:06 PM GMT

TRY! Fourth score already for Scotland

Dream start for the hosts, horror show for the visitors. Jones intercepts and runs through to score with ease under the posts, which gives Scotland a simple conversion. They already lead 26-0 and only just over 20 minutes have gone.

06:04 PM GMT

TRY! Graham doubles up

Scotland win another penalty and catch Fiji napping. Hastings takes a quick crossfield kick and picks out Graham. He attempts a kick through, runs onto it and goes through to score. There is some confusion as we did not know if Graham had actually kicked the ball or dropped it. The TMO decides Graham got the faintest of touches on his right boot so the try is given. Hastings’ conversion slides past the left-hand upright.

06:00 PM GMT

TRY! Graham adds Scotland’s second

This could not have been a worse start for Fiji. Graham does a neat one-two with Ashman down the right-hand touchline and the former, who has not played for Scotland since the World Cup last year, goes over. It did look Graham’s pass to Ashman may have gone forward but the TMO does not intervene. Hastings lands a very tough conversion and Scotland lead 14-0.

05:58 PM GMT

14 mins: Scotland 7 Fiji 0

A second yellow card is given to Fiji as Vota is sent to the bin, just as Lomani is about to come on. They were warned and now the are punished.

05:56 PM GMT

12 mins: Scotland 7 Fiji 0

Scotland win a penalty at the scrum and Fiji captain Ikanivere is given a talking-to by the referee about his side’s discipline. Already the visitors have conceded a number of penalties and we are only just over 10 minutes into this game.

05:53 PM GMT

TRY! Rowe goes over

Scotland may have just been denied the opening try but they will not be denied this time. They win the line-out and send it wide, where after good footwork from Rowe he gets over. Hastings lands a simple conversion and Scotland lead 7-0.

Kyle Rowe is a couple of years removed now from a horrific ACL injury which kept him out for over a year. Brilliant to see that kind of footwork from a player in form, with four tries in six games this season for Glasgow and Scotland.

05:52 PM GMT

NO TRY

After a TMO review, Schoeman is adjudged to be obstructing the tackle which allowed Ashman to power over so the try is chalked off. Scotland had a penalty advantage anyway so they go back to the corner.

05:50 PM GMT

TRY! OR NO TRY?

Scotland’s pressure pays off. They win the line-out and set the maul. Ashman breaks off the back of the maul and powers over. But wait, will the try stand? Could there be an obstruction? We are going to the TMO...

05:49 PM GMT

8 mins: Scotland 0 Fiji 0

Fiji penalised at the scrum so Hastings boots into the corner for a five-metre line-out.

05:47 PM GMT

6 mins: Scotland 0 Fiji 0

Fiji steal the line-out but knock on in the process.

05:46 PM GMT

5 mins: Scotland 0 Fiji 0

Fiji manage to steal possession and can clear their lines.

Another penalty conceded by Fiji and they are going to be back under pressure. Scotland line-out inside the Fiji 22 once more.

05:46 PM GMT

4 mins: Scotland 0 Fiji 0

Looking at some angles it looked like a definite deliberate knock-on but from others it looked like he did not know too much about it and it may have just hit him. The referee and TMO decide it is a deliberate knock-on and send Lomani to the sin-bin. No penalty try though.

05:44 PM GMT

4 mins: Scotland 0 Fiji 0

Scotland have the penalty advantage as Fiji go off their feet. They are just inches from the line and they then go wide. Scotland have numbers but Lomani knocks it down.

05:42 PM GMT

2 mins: Scotland 0 Fiji 0

Scotland win their first penalty of the match, not far outside the Fiji 22. They go to the corner, turning down the opportunity of three points. A line-out inside the Fiji 22 to come.

05:40 PM GMT

Kick-off

Golfer Robert MacIntyre has the honour of delivering the match ball before the start of play.

We are under way at Murrayfield.

05:34 PM GMT

Kick-off fast approaching

Both sides have made their way out at Murrayfield and it is time for the national anthems.

Know everyone is still processing what’s happened at Twickenham but we’re minutes away from kick-off here at Murrayfield. Interesting to see how a fairly raw Fiji side go given that 21 of their 23 play for the Fijian Drua. No Finn, Kinghorn and White for Scotland this week but it’s still a punchy side.

05:31 PM GMT

Reminder of the team news

Scotland starting XV: Rowe; Graham, Jones, S Tuipulotu (capt), Van der Merwe; Hastings, Price; Schoeman, Ashman, Z Fagerson, Gilchrist, Cummings, M Fagerson, Darge, Dempsey.

Replacements: Richardson, Sutherland, Rae, Williamson, Brown, Dobie, Jordan, McDowall.

Fiji starting XV: Ravula; Karawalevu, Vota, Tabuavou, Loganimasi; Muntz, Lomani; Hetet, Ikanivere (capt), Tawake, Nasilasila, Rotuisolia, Derenalagi, Salawa, Canakaivata.

Replacements: Dolokoto, Natave, Koroiduadua, Vocevoce, Miramira, Kuruvoli, Valetini, Nalaga.

05:24 PM GMT

Great stat about Gregor

I am a little bit surprised about this, am I the only one?!

05:16 PM GMT

The hosts are in the building

05:14 PM GMT

England have lost in dramatic circumstances

You can follow reaction to that result here.

04:56 PM GMT

Into the final 10 minutes at Twickenham

We’re in the final 10 minutes of the England vs New Zealand match.

The hosts are leading 22-17. You can follow the nail-biting finale here.

04:39 PM GMT

The two XVs

Scotland starting XV: Rowe; Graham, Jones, S Tuipulotu (capt), Van der Merwe; Hastings, Price; Schoeman, Ashman, Z Fagerson, Gilchrist, Cummings, M Fagerson, Darge, Dempsey.

Replacements: Richardson, Sutherland, Rae, Williamson, Brown, Dobie, Jordan, McDowall.

Toulon scrum-half Ben White is unavailable as this game falls out of the international window so Ali Price will make his first Scotland start in over a year. Adam Hastings is given the nod at fly-half. Darcy Graham makes his first appearance since the World Cup after a number of injuries. With Toulouse full-back Blair Kinghorn not available, Kyle Rowe starts in the 15 jersey. New Zealand-born Tom Jordan has been named on the bench and is set to to make his debut today.

Darcy Graham
Darcy Graham flies back into the Scotland XV today - AFP/Sameer Al-Doumy

Fiji starting XV: Ravula; Karawalevu, Vota, Tabuavou, Loganimasi; Muntz, Lomani; Hetet, Ikanivere (capt), Tawake, Nasilasila, Rotuisolia, Derenalagi, Salawa, Canakaivata.

Replacements: Dolokoto, Natave, Koroiduadua, Vocevoce, Miramira, Kuruvoli, Valetini, Nalaga.

03:38 PM GMT

Scotland expecting tough Fiji test

Scotland’s Autumn Nations Series campaign gets under way this evening as they host Fiji at Murrayfield.

Gregor Townsend’s men were knocked out in the group stages of the World Cup last year whilst Fiji progressed to the quarter-finals, where they came up just short against England.

Today’s hosts have a new captain, with Glasgow centre Sione Tuipulotu given the honour of leading the side through these November Tests.

Fiji are without their European-based players such as co-captain Waisea Nayacalevu (Sale Sharks), Semi Radadra (Lyon) and Josua Tuisova (Racing 92) as this game falls outside the international window. Despite the Pacific Islanders missing a number of their key men, Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend is expecting a tough challenge.

“Whatever team Fiji puts out, they’re going to have terrific individual skills,” said Townsend. “They’re going to be very physical.

“They’ve been together for a while. Most of this team played in the recent Pacific Nations Cup, which included a 40-point win over Japan, so they’re going to be a very cohesive and Test-ready unit.”

Darcy Graham has been selected for his first Scotland start since the Ireland game at the 2023 World Cup after playing regularly at club level this season following a string of injury problems in the past couple of years.

“Darcy’s excited,” said Townsend. “I think that last game he played against Cardiff, he got a number of touches on the ball. It’s probably taken him a few games to grow into that form, which is understandable, but he’s trained really well this week.”

Scotland toured The Americas over the summer, winning four from four against Canada, United States, Chile and Uruguay as Townsend rested a number of first-choice players.

Fiji recently won the Pacific Nations Cup, beating Japan 41-17 in the final.

The last meeting between the sides in Edinburgh came in November 2022, when Scotland won 28-12.

Stay here for all the pre-match build-up and action, with kick-off set for 5.40pm.