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RWC 2025: Four takeaways from Scotland v Fiji
By Martyn Thomas at Salford Community Stadium, Salford
Scotland secured a bonus-point 29-15 victory against Fiji that takes them into the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 quarter-finals but they did not have it all their own way on Saturday.
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Francesca McGhie opened the scoring for the second consecutive week in Salford, racing onto an Emma Orr hack through to dot down. Coming in the second minute, it was sluggish by her own standards, with only 55 seconds needed to open her account last week against Wales.
Fiji were reduced to 14 players in the ninth minute as tighthead prop Vika Matarugu was sent to the sin bin. And from the resulting scrum, Rhona Lloyd was released down the blindside to score in the right corner.
But as the rain began to fall any notion that Fiji would be washed away was quickly disabused. Loosehead prop Loraini Senivutu scoring the most popular try of the day in the right corner.
Scotland were struggling to contain their opponents but it was Bryan Easson’s side who scored the crucial fourth try. Orr again heavily involved, taking the ball unopposed at the breakdown and starting a move that ended with Lloyd grabbing her second try.
McGhie notched her second try in the second half to secure the bonus point for Scotland before Orr finished well after Staita Railumu had scored for Fiji.
The Fijians played the final 24 minutes with 14 after Tawake was shown a 20-minute red card on review and Adi Nailolo received a late yellow. Still Fiji had the final say, replacement prop Karaliaini Naisewa burrowing over to leave the score 29-15.
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Scotland into quarters
Scotland will take the positives from a match that threatened to get away from them at times.
In difficult conditions, and despite not playing at their best against a team who refused to know when they were beaten, they got the victory that takes them into the quarter-finals.
Scotland were forced to make a mammoth 233 tackles to stem the tide and gave away 12 penalties in a match that looked to be going to a different script after 10 minutes.
But they got the job done and following the heartbreak of three years ago in New Zealand that should not be taken for granted.
However, coach Bryan Easson and his players will know they were in a match and they will also know they will need to play a lot better than they did in Salford if they are to progress any further than the last eight.
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McGhie and Orr highlight their importance again
Where would Scotland be if it wasn’t for their star backs McGhie and Orr?
McGhie scored two tries on Saturday to take her World Cup tally to five in only two matches. McGhie later charged down Ade Nailolo’s attempted conversion as Fiji threatened an unlikely comeback.
The first of her two tries – which had been scored in only the second minute – owed much to Orr’s ability to spot space in behind the Fijian defence and exploit it with a perfectly weighted kick.
Orr also had a hand in Scotland’s pivotal third try, taking possession at the back of a breakdown on halfway and launching the attack that ended in Lloyd’s second try.
That gave Scotland breathing space, as did her try on the hour mark. That came after a lovely finish down the right touchline from the Scotland centre.
Fiji show flair in adversity
Fijian rugby royalty was in attendance at Salford Community Stadium in the form of Waisale Serevi and he would have been proud of some of the handling from the women in white in difficult conditions.
Despite losing winger Michella’e Stolz to injury early on and playing for 10 minutes a player light, Fiji refused to back down.
Ioan Cunningham’s side found a way back into the contest through sheer force of will alone. Led by flanker Nunia Daunimoala, Fiji took the game to the team ranked eight places above them and were rewarded with an impressive try.
Daunimoala – who did not always stay on the right side of the ref’s whistle in Salford – broke through the Scottish defence and after play was recycled through Kolora Lomani, prop Senivutu showed strength and pace to finish in the corner.
Scotland appeared to be knocked off their stride for the remainder of the first half, a fact borne out by the stats. The top eight tacklers at the break were all Scottish, Elliann Clarke and Rachel McLachlan making 14 apiece by that stage.
Fiji hooker Bitila Tawake ended the half with an impressive 12 carries.
It was a story that carried into the second half. Fiji will probably feel aggrieved they didn’t have more than five points to show for their performance in the opening 20 minutes, but they have plenty to take into their final game against Wales next weekend.
Resolute Fiji let down by discipline
It may seem like a cliché but the only thing lacking from Fiji for the majority of the contest was a little composure and discipline.
At key moments in both halves, not least when Daunimoala broke into open space in the first half, they were undone by a rush of blood or moment of madness.
On that occasion the flanker allowed Scotland the opportunity to clear their lines when their defence was scrambled, diving into a tackle when Chloe Rollie was still on the floor.
It was a trend that was repeated in defence too. Both times Scotland put them under sustained pressure, Fiji ended up a player light.
The first try they conceded in the seond half came with the unwanted bonus of a yellow card to hooker Tawake that was later upgraded to a red.
Even playing a player light the Fijiana kept taking the game to their opponents and would have been rewarded with a third try were it not for a knock on at the breakdown.
Tidy up the mistakes and Wales will have serious reason to worry next weekend.
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