Scotland player ratings vs Fiji | Nations Championship 2026

Scotland player ratings: A Scotland side featuring 14 changes in personnel made heavy weather of dispatching a much-improved Fiji to end a largely positive first Nations Championship campaign with a bonus-point victory at Murrayfield.

The South Sea Islanders certainly made them work for it though, responding to an early Jonny Gray try with three excellent first-half scores, including one while they were down to 14 men, to earn a 17-7 half-time lead.

But Scotland, boosted by an early injection of energy from their bench, eventually got their attacking game going and tries from replacements Pierre Schoeman, Jamie Dobie – with a double – and Scott Cummings saw them home.

Here is how the Scotland players fared:

15. Tom Jordan – 6
Bit of a mixed bag from the full-back. Saw plenty of ball but seemed to seek contact on occasion rather than space when running it back at the Fiji defence. Couldn’t hold on to Burke’s short pass with two men outside him but started to find his rhythm in the final-quarter revival.

14. Darcy Graham – 5
Looked to get involved, stepping in off his right wing, and one clever grubber kick down the left flank. But struggled to make an impact and one knock-on in the first half summed up a frustrating afternoon for Scotland’s record try-scorer, who was removed from the fray after 54 minutes.

13. Ollie Smith – 6
Wearing a special gold-embossed No.13 jersey in honour of the late, great Scott Hastings, Smith cut a lovely midfield line to set up the position for Gray’s opening try, but struggled to replicate that early impact. Shifted out wide when Tuipulotu entered the fray, but few chances to escape.

12. Stafford McDowall – 7
Leading his country for a fourth time, McDowall tried to replicate the Tuipulotu role early on with a succession of tip-on passes to release others but struggled to make any headway in attack and smashed back by Tuisova on one occasion. But far more direct and much greater impact after moving to outside centre when Tuipulotu came on to join him in midfield.

11. Duhan van der Merwe – 6
Sporting some flowing new blond locks, the giant winger struggled to get involved in the first half and was well shackled by a swarm of defenders on his only sight of open prairie. Far more involved in the second period with several powerful charges down the left flank, although forced into touch when he tried to go on the outside. But superbly claimed a high kick to create Dobie’s second try.

10. Fergus Burke – 6
Struggled to get his backline flowing in the face of some huge defensive hits from the Fiji midfield, with a lack of deception and variety at times. But grew into the game and looked a lot more assured with Tuipulotu outside him in the last half-hour. Landed three out of four shots at goal after taking over the duties from Horne.

9. George Horne – 5.5
Making just an eighth Test start on his 47^th cap, Horne struggled to match his usual impact in a Glasgow shirt. Decent service but held short when bursting onto Smith’s early break and stepped out of line in defence in the build-up to Fiji’s second try. Hooked for Dobie after 47 minutes.

1. Rory Sutherland – 5
Did his job at the set-piece and hit plenty of rucks, with half-a-dozen carries and tackles. One lost ball in contact close to the Fiji line contributed to the clunky first-half display though. Gave way to Schoeman early in the second half.

2.George Hiddleston – 7
After a barnstorming display off the bench against the Springboks last week, the Glasgow hooker continued a positive few weeks with a productive first Test start here.  A bundle of energy with 13 carries in the loose, although held short when he went it alone off the back of a maul. Nailed all but one of his lineout darts, and will challenge Ewan Ashman for starting status next season.

3. D’arcy Rae – 5
Forced a scrum penalty out of Mawi at the first set-piece and continued to make his presence felt at the set-piece but hardly seen with ball in hand and the contrast when Zander Fagerson entered the fray was immediate.

4. Jonny Gray – 7.5
The veteran was a huge presence in a productive first half which saw him carry the ball nine times, including muscling through Tuisova from close range to claim just a fifth Test try on his 83^rd cap.  Also a safe source of lineout ball at the front. Made way for Cummings after 49 minutes.

5. Max Williamson – 5.5
Some big carries around the fringes early on and a regular target in the lineout, where he safely pouched plenty of ball. But couldn’t quite get Scotland’s driving maul functioning against a determined Fiji defence and replaced by Cummings early in the second half.

6. Josh Bayliss – 8
Big impact off the bench against the Springboks and a hugely industrious outing here showed his value. A clean source of lineout ball and a bundle of energy with ball in hand, finishing as Scotland’s top carrier with 19. Failed to finish a gilt-edged chance at 14-17 down when the ball was dislodged from his grasp over the line, but kept hammering away and a smart pick-up and offload put Dobie over for his second try late on.

7. Freddy Douglas – 6
The Edinburgh youngster has had to bide his time patiently for a first Test start after winning his first cap in November 2024, and grafted away here but couldn’t bring his super-strength jackaling to bear on proceedings. Plenty of involvement with ball in hand though and made his fair share of tackles.

8. Gregor Brown – 6.5
Starting his first senior game at No.8 after shifting from the second row, the Aberdonian was a powerful presence in a first half in which he made 12 carries. Conceded a penalty for crawling which led to Fiji’s first try. Moved into the engine room for the second half and not so prominent, but a decent shift.

Replacements: 8
Props Pierre Schoeman and Zander Fagerson made a huge difference as soon as they entered the fray after 47 minutes, their carrying game getting Scotland on the front foot and Schoeman smashing his way over for his ninth Test try. Jamie Dobie added snap and dynamism from scrum-half, pouncing for an opportunistic try to put his side in front on the hour before claiming a second late on. Sione Tuipulotu also brought an instant injection of intensity and organisation to midfield proceedings, while Magnus Bradbury and Liam McConnell added punch in the carry and hooker Seb Stephen could be happy with his first cap after coming on for the final 14 minutes.