Scotland vs Fiji LIVE rugby: Final score and result from autumn international
Gregor Townsend’s side were looking to bounce back at Murrayfield from a narrow defeat to Australia last week
Scotland overcame a first-half scare to beat Fiji 28-12 at Murrayfield on Saturday, outscoring their visitors by four tries to two in a tough, physical contest.
George Turner, Adam Hastings, Duhan van der Merwe and Ben White dotted down for the home team with Hastings adding two conversions and his replacement Blair Kinghorn the other pair.
Fiji’s points all came in an impressive first-half showing, from Setariki Tuicuvu and debutant lock Ratu Leone Rotuisolia with a solitary conversion from Vilimoni Botitu.
Scotland’s superior organisation and fitness proved decisive but they had to weather an early onslaught that suggested with more preparation Fiji might have come closer to an upset. They had just days to prepare after only assembling at the start of the week.
F/T: Ireland 19-16 South Africa
Doesn’t that whet the appetite for the pool stage meeting between these two at the World Cup next year? The Stade de France, 23 September - a tasty potential Pool B decider.
Plenty more to come before then, of course. The hosts still have Fiji and Australia to come this autumn, while South Africa’s tour does not get any easier - they travel to Marseille for a meeting with France next Saturday.
F/T: Ireland 19-16 South Africa
Ireland debutant Jimmy O’Brien, who was excellent after coming off the bench in the first half, has a quick chat with Amazon Prime.
“It was great to be involved in that. I only found out on Thursday afternoon. The lads helped me out a lot - I wasn’t expecting to come on at 13, I haven’t played there for a while!
“There is such a good vibe in the team. Everyone gets on and everyone is trying to play the same way. It is pretty seamless to move up and play in that team.”
F/T: Ireland 19-16 South Africa
A match of predictable ferocity and fight, a proper, proper arm-wrestle - with Ireland earning another significant tick on their build towards the World Cup. The world champions came to Dublin and gave Andy Farrell’s side plenty, but the hosts held out for a tenth successive home win.
Ireland 19-16 South Africa, 79 minutes
The lineout works - just. Ireland have a minute to see out. This ball won’t travel far.
Ireland 19-16 South Africa, 78 minutes
Penalty to Ireland! Just as South Africa look to have won the ball back near halfway, the blast of Nika Amashukeli’s whistle helps the host, the Springboks’ pinged and yet more time ticking by.
TRY! Ireland 19-16 SOUTH AFRICA (Kurt-Lee Arendse try, 77 minutes)
A brilliant score to give South Africa hope!
It looks as if Ireland have ended the momentum of the Springboks’ movement as Robert Baloucoune detonates Willie le Roux’s chest. But Le Roux keeps the ball alive, popping up from the floor for Eben Etzebeth.
Etzebeth then produces a moment of deft handling, belying that Brobdingnagian frame. He fends off one, draws two more and sends up the periscope, reaching up to drop the ball back over the garden fence for the little Kurt-Lee Arendse to scoot over.
Another missed conversion - three points in it, three minutes left.
Ireland 19-11 South Africa, 75 minutes
That’s about Damian Willemse’s best moment of the game, leading the chase at the restart and exploiting a clutch of Irish catchers slow to set. A knock on in the tackle from the hosts gives South Africa an attacking scrum.
PENALTY! IRELAND 19-11 South Africa (Johnny Sexton penalty, 73 minutes)
An anxious intake of breath from Sexton, and the crowd.
Time for the exhale - it’s over! The lead swells to eight...
Ireland 16-11 South Africa, 72 minutes
But South Africa never fully escape, and Ireland earn a penalty as they explore the left edge.
It’s wide, out near the touchline - Johnny Sexton might usually go for the corner, but at this juncture, with the chance to extend the lead to eight, on comes the kicking tee.
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