12-07-2025
Fiji 29 Scotland 14: Townsend blasts Darcy Graham red card as Scots go down in Suva
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GREGOR TOWNSEND defended bad boy Darcy Graham after Scotland slumped to a crushing 29-14 defeat away to Fiji.
The winger was sent off for a second yellow card midway through the second half – giving away a penalty try in the process.
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Fiji's Jiuta Wainiqolo runs the ball towards the try line
Credit: AFP
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Scotland's Fergus Burke tackles Fiji's Josua Tuisova
Credit: AFP
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Scotland players at the national anthems
Credit: AFP
To add to Graham's pain he also suffered a dislocated finger in the same incident.
Townsend admitted Scotland's discipline had been poor overall and that they deserved to lose.
But the head coach also felt Graham's two cards were undeserved.
Toony said: 'I'd have to look at it again but at the time I thought the yellow cards were very harsh.
'I'm not sure if the first pass was going to their player's hand anyway.
'So I don't know how we can then make that an incident that's worth a yellow card.
'But as soon as the referee has made the call in that area you know it's going to be a yellow card.
'Darcy is obviously also in pain from the dislocated finger so that is causing him a bit of trouble.
'But I think overall Fiji deserved to win.
'They had a lot of opportunities to put us under pressure in our 22.
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'They were physical and they're a quality team.
'But we're disappointed in our own performance and 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.'
Scotland actually got off to a stunning start with a try inside the first three minutes.
Fiji stopped the visitors' line-out maul from motoring.
But the ball instead went quickly through the backs for Graham to tee up Kyle Rowe to power his way over.
That was a sign of intent from the Scots on a sun-baked Suva surface.
But it turned out to be a false dawn as Fiji went on to dominate much of the rest of the contest.
The Scotland defence did well to twice hold up their hosts on the line.
But a third attempt was illegal and Ewan Ashman was sent to the bin for it.
Caleb Muntz finally got Fiji on the board with a kick from the tee.
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Fans of Scotland cheer during the rugby test match between Fiji and Scotland
Credit: AFP
It then got much worse for the visitors when Graham picked up their second yellow card of the half for going early into a try-stopping tackle on Sireli Maqala.
That proved costly when Fiji drove over captain Tevita Ikanivere for their first try of the game.
Scotland were wobbling as their penalty count soared.
And they shipped a second try right on the stroke of half-time.
Muntz looped a pass wide for Salesi Rayasi who found Kalaveti Ravouvou to score in the corner.
The break clearly helped as it was the Scots who claimed the first try of the second period.
Ashman's powerful run was stopped close to the line.
But play was recycled for Tom Jordan to stroll over for Scotland's second score.
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Fiji's Elia Canakaivata avoids a tackle from Scotland's Will Hurd during the rugby
Credit: AFP
It was anyone's game at that point as both sides tired.
But a piece of magic from Fiji saw them stretch their lead.
Muntz passed inside for Juita Wainiqolo and the twinkle-toed winger did the rest as he danced around four or five tacklers to reach the line.
Disaster then struck after 66 minutes when Graham intercepted a pass in an offside decision.
The TMO had a look and awarded the penalty try – with the winger also sent off for a second yellow.
That sent a Mexican wave rolling throughout the jubilant home crowd who knew a massive win was in the bag.
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