By Tom English.
Darcy Graham had a dream return to the Test arena, scoring four tries as Scotland began their Autumn Series with a thumping win over Fiji at Murrayfield.
The wing, making his international comeback after a year away from the Test arena with injury, went over for two scores in each half to momentarily draw level with Duhan van der Merwe as Scotland’s all-time record scorer.
But Van der Merwe reclaimed top spot with a 29th Test try in the second half.
Ewan Ashman, who was fortunate not to get a second yellow or a straight red for a head-on-head collision in the second half, and a double from Huw Jones completed the rout, but it was Graham who lit up the national stadium.
Murrayfield applauded Graham from the pitch when he came off towards the end, the victory safely in the bag at that point.
Scotland got off to a flyer on the back of horrendous Fijian discipline, Frank Lomani hitting the bin after a deliberate knock-off after just three minutes.
The home team took a few attempts to make their numerical advantage count, but when they did, it was Kyle Rowe’s footwork that unlocked Fiji. Adam Hastings, bright and imaginative, banged over the conversion and made it 7-0 after eight minutes.
Fiji’s penalty count was already bordering on the stratospheric, six conceded after 12 minutes and then a second yellow when Apisalome Vota for slowing down Scottish ball. Seven penalties and two yellows after 14 minutes – a calamity.
Graham made them pay soon after, the try with sharp exchanges between the wing and hooker Ashman standing despite a suggestion of a forward pass earlier in the move.
Hastings put Scotland out to a 14-0 lead. Easy. And easier still when quick thinking from Hastings off another penalty given away by Fiji led to the fly-half cross-kicking to Graham, who ran away to score.
The TMO had a look at it for a knock-on, but the decision went Scotland’s way again.
That Vota yellow proved ever more costly when the razor-sharp Jones intercepted Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula to scamper away for Scotland’s fourth try. Hastings made it 26-0 with just 21 minutes on the clock.
A dream first half hour was followed by a poor last 10 when Ashman saw yellow for a no-arms tackle that was eventually punished by Fiji when Armstrong-Ravula scored.
Scotland’s defence in the face of gathering Fijian power was weak. Hastings banged over a penalty, Tom Jordan came on for an excellent debut after Rowe had the misfortune to be on the end of a howitzer tackle and Ashman returned.
A storm weathered? Not really. Mali Derenalagi powered over before the break and it was deserved. Tevita Ikanivere scored just after the break and that was deserved too.
It was a cheeky move at the front of a line-out, a slick one-two and then a terrible decision by man-of-the-match Graham in defence. Ikanivere went by him like he was not there and suddenly it was 29-15.
Just before that score, Ashman went high in the tackle and was deeply fortunate not to get a second yellow, or even a straight red. He was spoken to, and warned, but he should have been off.
Scotland’s response to Fiji’s threat was impressive. A terrific team try led to Jones cutting a lovely line to put Graham in for his hat-trick.
Not long after that, Graham scored his fourth with substitutes Dylan Richardson and Jamie Dobie, who was influential, helping to weaken Fiji’s resistance. The conversion made it 43-17.
It became a 50-pointer when a fast-finishing Scotland struck again, Hastings’ delicious offload in midfield setting them on their way and Jones put Van der Merwe through.
Scotland kept attacking and scored again in the final seconds when Hastings, another major performer, cross-kicked for Jones, who was in acres of space on the right wing.
Hastings converted and Scotland had the promising start to the autumn that they were looking for.
Line-ups
Scotland: Rowe (Jordan 41), Graham (McDowall 65), Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Van Der Merwe, Hastings, Price (Dobie 48), Schoeman (Sutherland 48), Ashman (Richardson 48), Zander Fagerson (Rae 59), Gilchrist, Cummings (Williamson 60), Matt Fagerson, Darge, Dempsey (Brown 67).
Fiji: Armstrong-Ravula, Karawalevu, Vota (Nalaga 63), Tabuavou (Valetini 59), Loganimasi, Muntz, Lomani (Kuruvoli 63), Hetet (Natave 59), Ikanivere (Dolokoto 59), Tawake (Koroiduadua 59), Nasilasila, Rotuisolia (Vocevoce 50), Derenalagi (Miramira 67), Salawa, Canakaivata.