Gregor Townsend wants Scotland to learn from ill-discipline shown against Fiji
However, they emerged from it having learned a harsh lesson as winger Darcy Graham was given a red card after picking up two of three yellows – the other went to hooker Ewan Ashman – to make positive starts to both halves largely irrelevant.
A hard-fought battle in Suva with Fiji taking the win.#AsOne #SkyscannerPacificTour pic.twitter.com/0sBS3uR3UJ
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) July 12, 2025
Asked what lessons could be learned, Townsend said: 'Discipline, clearly. There were 14 penalties and three yellow cards and I would imagine most of them are in our control, so that's unusual for us to give away so many penalties and yellow cards.
'That fatigues us when we're a man down, but also gives the opposition opportunities in our 22 and eventually those opportunities told for Fiji and they got the tries.'
Scotland got off to the perfect start when Graham sent full-back Kyle Rowe over with just four minutes gone and debutant Fergus Burke added the conversion.
But first-half yellow cards for Ashman and Graham, who was adjudged to have tackled his man before the ball arrived, either side of a Caleb Muntz penalty for the hosts left the Scots fighting an uphill battle, and tries from Tevita Ikanivere and Kalaveti Ravouvou sent Fiji in at the break with a 15-7 lead.
Tom Jordan crossed within four minutes of the restart and Burke's conversion made it a single-point game, but Jiuta Wainiqolo's touch-down and a penalty try, which also resulted in Graham's exit, proved decisive.
Townsend said: 'I think Fiji deserved to win. They had a lot of opportunities to put us under pressure in our 22. They were physical and obviously they're a quality team, and they showed that last week.
'But we're disappointed in our own performance, that we gave them so many opportunities to put pressure on us. The penalty count was too high, three yellow cards, it makes it very tough to win any Test match. Up against a quality side at home, it's going to be really difficult.'
Townsend was able to take positives from some aspects of his side's play, but admitted their failure to build upon good starts to both halves had proved costly.
Special memories unfolding as Fergus earns his first Scotland Cap 🏴💙#AsOne pic.twitter.com/phKeUb5S29
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) July 12, 2025
He said: 'We felt up front with our scrum and our maul, that was creating go forward. Maybe we could have got more penalties out of it, because we were certainly the dominant team on scrum and maul.
'Outside of that, our defence at times looked really in control. Some very good tackles going in, a lot of effort, and then we just had an offside penalty, a breakdown penalty, and then the three yellow cards in our own 22.
'They have a big effect on what you can do in the next 10 minutes, because you're having to change things around line-out and personnel.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
21 minutes ago
- BBC News
Aberdeen looked 'sharp' in their first friendly, says Thelin
Aberdeen looked "sharp" in their first pre-season friendly, says manager Jimmy Thelin, as his side defeated League 1 Cove Rangers by two Palaversa and Nicky Devlin netted for the Dons on Saturday in their first outing since lifting the Scottish Cup in May. "It was good to have this opportunity to get everybody playing time," Thelin said."We're going to have some other games now ahead of us, and it's going to be more and more intense. "I think everybody's looking sharp. It's still early and we have things to improve on. The main thing today was how the team build up and how we helped and supported each other."We have been working on being more available on the pitch to create some relations. Their relations and the connections inside that we share the same picture on the pitch and I think the players help each other. "It's good to be back, and it's nice to see everyone. Hopefully we can create something good this season."
Sky News
an hour ago
- Sky News
What to expect after UK-wide heatwave - with heavy rain and cooler temperatures forecast for many
Much of the country will see heavy rain on Sunday night and Monday after a UK-wide heatwave peaked, according to forecasters. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland recorded their hottest day of the year so far on Saturday. But the Met Office is now forecasting a dip in temperatures, which will be a welcome change for those who have struggled in the heat. Highs of 33C were felt on the first day of the weekend. Forecasters also think heavy showers will develop across many parts of the UK by Monday. Met Office meteorologist Kathryn Chalk said: "While we've seen the peak of the heat in this heatwave through [Saturday] it's still going to be very warm on Sunday before turning cooler for many of us on Monday. "So we've got this ridge of high pressure extending across the UK, helping to keep things settled, but out towards the West, an area of low pressure moving through Sunday night and into Monday. "So if you're not a fan of the heat, temperatures will be falling away but also bringing some heavy spells of rain, or welcome rainfall, for many of us." 2:17 Hot temperatures continued on Sunday, with highs of 31C. An amber heat health alert remains in place for the Midlands and southern and eastern England until 9am on Monday. The UK Health Security Agency also has yellow alerts in place until Monday for the North East, North West, and Yorkshire and Humber. While the alerts are similar, an amber warning refers to a potential rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions, and a yellow warning refers to the same demographic having an increased risk to their health. Organisers of Wimbledon also warned spectators to take care in the heat, as the men's singles final takes place on Sunday afternoon. The All England Club said it significantly increased the number of on-screen communications and push notifications to remind guests to stay hydrated and seek respite from the sun. The club also said service stewards on court have access to water for spectators in need, that on-site medical teams are ready to assist when required, and that the grounds have more than 100 free water refill points as well as a pharmacy where guests can buy sunscreen. Fire and water safety warnings on Saturday Fire chiefs also warned people to stay safe this weekend, while cautioning of the increased risks of wildfires and drowning during the heatwave. The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) asked people not to enter water to try to cool down and urged parents and carers to ensure children are supervised around water at all times. The risk of wildfires in London is rated "severe" by the Natural Hazards Partnership. Firefighters in Surrey tackled a wildfire on Hankley Common in Thursley on Saturday, which spanned approximately eight hectares, with Surrey Fire and Rescue Service urging nearby residents to close their windows and doors and urging the public to avoid the area. Scottish fire crews also spent a second day tackling a wildfire in Perth near the M90 in the Craigend area, with an "extreme" wildfire warning in place for much of the nation. HM Coastguard also issued safety advice for people heading to the UK coast, saying data from the water incident database shows over the last three years most drownings occurred in July. Hosepipe bans still likely The first hosepipe ban of this year came into force on Friday, as Yorkshire Water put restrictions in place across the region in an effort to protect water supplies. Residents supplied by the company have been told to avoid using a hosepipe for watering the garden, cleaning cars and filling paddling pools, as part of efforts to protect supplies in the face of yet more dry weather forecast for the coming weeks. 1:56 There are also impending restrictions on customers in Kent and Sussex after South East Water said demand for drinking water had reached "record levels since May". It announced a hosepipe ban will come into force for its customers from 18 July.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
'We're sick to death of these performances' - your views on Fiji defeat
We asked your for your views following Scotland's disappointing defeat to Fiji in what some of you said:David: If this was such an important fixture, why was it arranged when eight first choice Scotland players were on tour with the Lions? It beggars belief that Scotland's chances in the next World Cup could be put at risk in this Awful from Scotland. Poor discipline, poor handling and they looked knackered from the 10 minute mark. Another group of death at the World Cup awaits and Townsend deserves nothing less. No idea why some of the guys who played last week didn't play this week, shocking decision from the This is Groundhog Day with Scotland. One week promising, the next disappointing. Townsend has never achieved consistency with Scotland which has meant no serious challenge for any trophy. I think he has achieved some great results at times but we will have the same conversations about missed opportunities after the 2026 Six Nations that we have done the last two years. We need a change, no guarantees of improvement but we can't keep going on the same mediocre While the result isn't necessarily his fault, the buck must rest with the head coach. Townsend has done a very good job taking Scotland this far, however, it looks as though we are in for another tough World Cup pool and, thus, an early exit. It's time to promote One of the worst performances I've ever seen from the as fans are sick to death with these performances now. If Alex Williamson is seriously considering offering a new deal then his head needs as fans can see Gregor's time is up ,so Alex needs to have the guts to act before it's too late! To say I'm furious after that would be an understatement 😡!
