Scottish rugby fans can expect a dramatic opening to the Autumn test series this Saturday as the national side takes on Fiji at Murrayfield. Questions will be asked of new Scotland coach Andy Robinson and in Fiji he’ll find no easy answers.
Follow our live text commentary from inside Murrayfield with our man Robert Dawson Scott from 14.00 on Saturday afternoon.
The island nation are now ranked one place above Scotland in the IRB world rankings and they come into this game on the back of a fine summer of wins. Japan, Tonga and Samoa have all fallen to the world number nine side, and they’ll be looking to improve on their record in Edinburgh.
Scotland have won three out of four contests with Fiji to date, but the national side has rarely suffered so low an ebb. Their miserable Six Nations performance meant they finished in the bottom two for the fifth time in six years, matching Italy’s record.
But in Robinson they hope to have a fresh beginning. Scottish Rugby are pinning their hopes on the Englishman who helped Clive Woodward to the World Cup in 2003 and guided Edinburgh to their highest ever Magners League finish.
He’s gone for pace and power to counter the Fijian’s natural strengths. The three-quarter line features some of the heaviest hitters to feature for Scotland in a long time with the Lamont brothers, Alex Grove, Simon Danielli and Graeme Morrison on the shoulder of Phil Godman.
Up front the heavyweight battle between Alastair Strokosch and Akapusi Qura on the flanks should shake the Murrayfield stands while in the pack Moray Low can grasp his chance at tighthead in the absence of Euan Murray.
With heavy rain and high winds forecast over Friday night and Saturday it seems the weather is playing into Scotland’s hands. if the Murrayfield pitch is hit badly it could come down to game of attrition which will stymie the free-flowing Fijians.
The teams:
Scotland: 15 Rory Lamont, 14 Sean Lamont, 13 Alex Grove, 12 Graeme Morrison, 11 Simon Danielli, 10 Phil Godman, 9 Chris Cusiter (c), 8 Johnnie Beattie, 7 John Barclay, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Alastair Kellock, 4 Nathan Hines, 3 Moray Low, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Allan Jacobsen.
Replacements: 16 Dougie Hall, 17 Kyle Traynor, 18 Jason White, 19 Richie Vernon, 20 Mike Blair, 21 Chris Paterson, 22 Nick De Luca.
Fiji: 15 Josh Matavesi, 14 Vereneki Goneva, 13 Gabirieli Lovobalavu, 12 Seremaia Bai (c), 11 Napolioni Nalaga, 10 Nicky Little, 9 Moses Rauluni, 8 Asaeli Boko, 7 Akapusi Qera, 6 Josefa Domolailai, 5 Ifereimi Rawaqa, 4 Wame Lewaravu, 3 Deacon Manu, 2 Vili Veikoso, 1 Alefoso Yalayalatabua.
Replacements: 16 Graham Dewes, 17 Sereli Ledua, 18 Leone Nakarawa, 19 Samu Bola, 20 Waisale Vatuvoka, 21 Jonetani Ratu, 22 Nasoni Roko.
