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Saturday 18 November 2006
Super start sees Scots past Islanders
In a similar vein to last week's defeat to Wales, a slow and disjointed start by the Digicel Pacific Islanders cost them dearly at Murrayfield on Saturday as they fell 34-22 to Scotland, despite outscoring the Scots 17-3 in the second half in front of a disappointing crowd of just 19,055.
Scotland, racking up their fifth consecutive win at home, feasted on the mistakes made by the tourists, and turned them into points. As well as the slack defence, the Islanders' line-out that had been brutally exploited by Wales was exposed once more.
A quick backline play from five metres out sent Marcus Di Rollo cruising over for the first try in the 10th minute. Chris Paterson converted for a 7-0 lead. Strong defence from the home team led to errors in the Islanders ranks, and eight minutes later Dave Callam crashed over for Scotland's second score.
The Islanders suffered a blow when No.8 Epi Taione was sent to the bin after 24 minutes for slowing down play. With numbers to spare, Scotland collected two further tries to Kelly Brown and Andrew Henderson to push the score out to 28-0 after just 28 minutes and a big blow-out was on the cards.
But the combination of Fijian flyers Rupeni Caucau and Kameli Ratuvou brought the visitors back into the game. Ratuvou followed up well before off-loading perfectly for Caucau to score. Samoan fly-half Tusi Pisi missed the conversion, and a Paterson penalty goal sent the Islanders into the changing rooms trailing 28-5.
A pep talk by Islanders coach Pat Lam breathed some life back into the side.
"At half-time, we spoke about playing super rugby. The boys did just that," Lam said.
The second half saw the Scots struggle to find the try-line with the Islanders defending well with the heavy tackles that they are renowned for. Soon after the restart, Ratuvou crossed the line to answer his coach's call. Pisi missed another straight-forward conversion.
Three minutes minutes later, the Islanders were at it again. A break through midfield and a perfect under-arm pass gave Dan Leo a memorable try under the sticks. Pisi failed to find the uprights so the scored stayed at 31-15. As Lam sent on fresh legs, the Islanders continued to shake the locals with strong tackling and an improved defence.
Di Rollo put the final nail in the Islanders' coffin with a dropped goal from 15 meters out to stretch their lead to 34-15.
But the Islanders were not done yet, and the ever-improving Ratuvou used his wits to score the final try. A clever kick-and-chase saw the ball wait kindly for the Lauan native in the in-goal area for a try during injury time.
Fiji's Seremaia Bai, who had replaced Pisi, added the extra two points.
The Pacific Islanders now head to Lansdowne Road in Dublin still seeking their first Test win. And their opponents, Ireland, are expected to provide the stiffest competition from the three Celtic unions, especially after their mauling of the Springboks last week.
Several players have yet to be seen, even on the bench. Isoa Domolailai's exclusion remains puzzling when the line-outs have been so weak; and for the same reason Tongan hooker Aleki Lutui ought to get the No.2 jersey. And whatever happened to that massive Samoan wing Alesana Tuilagi? The thought the 115kg Tuilagi on one wing and Caucau on t'other ought to put the wind up the Irish.
Saturday 18 November 2006
Scotland 34 Pacific Islanders 22
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Half-time: 31-5
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (NZ)
Touch judges: Alan Lewis (Ireland), George Clancy (Ireland)
TV match official: Hugh Watkins (Wales)
Attn: 19,055
SCOTLAND: 15 Chris Paterson (Hugo Southwell 77), 14 Simon Webster (Hugi Southwell 63), 13 Marcus Di Rollo, 12 Andrew Henderson, 11 Sean Lamont (Hugo Southwell 62-63), 10 Dan Parks (Phil Godman 72), 9 Chris Cusiter (Mike Blair 11), 8 Kelly Brown, 7 Johnnie Beattie (Dave Callam 6), 6 Simon Taylor, 5 Scott Murray, 4 Nathan Hines, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Dougie Hall (Ross Ford 57), 1 Gavin Kerr (Allan Jacobsen 57).
Not used: Alastair Kellock
Coach: Frank Hadden
Tries: Di Rollo, Callam, Brown, Henderson; Conversions: Paterson (4); Penalty goal: Paterson; Dropped goal: Di Rollo
PACIFIC ISLANDERS: 15 Norman Ligairi, 14 Lome Fa’atau, 13 Kameli Ratuvou, 12 Elvis Seveali’i, 11 Rupeni Caucau (Seru Rabeni 53), 10 Tusi Pisi (Seremaia Bai 67), 9 Mosese Rauluni, 8 Epi Taione (yellow card 24-33) (Semo Sititi 53), 7 Nili Latu, 6 Viliami Vaki (Ma’ama Molitika 53), 5 Daniel Leo, 4 Simon Raiwalui, 3 Tevita Taumoepeau, 2 Mahonri Schwalger (Aleki Lutui 29), 1 Taufa’ao Felise
Not used: Justin Va’a, Junior Poluleuligaga
Coach: Pat Lam
Tries: Ratuvou (2), Caucau, Leo; Conversion: Bai
Scoring sequence (Scotland’s scores shown first):
10min – TRY SCOTLAND, Di Rollo; conversion Paterson – 7-0
18min – TRY SCOTLAND, Callam; conversion Paterson – 14-0
24min – Yellow card Pac Islanders, Taione
25min – TRY SCOTLAND, Brown; conversion Paterson – 21-0
28min – TRY SCOTLAND, Henderson; conversion Paterson – 28-0
36min – TRY PAC ISLANDERS, Caucau; conversion Pisi (missed) – 28-5
40min – PEN GOAL SCOTLAND, Paterson – 31-5
Half-time
42min – TRY PAC ISLANDERS, Ratuvou; conversion Pisi (missed) – 31-10
45min – TRY PAC ISLANDERS, Leo; conversion Pisi (missed) – 31-15
75min – DROP GOAL SCOTLAND, Di Rollo – 34-15
80min – TRY PAC ISLANDERS, Ratuvou; conversion Bai – 34-22
Full-time
Scotland vs Digicel Pacific Islanders line-ups
Pacific Islanders main page
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