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Fiji player ratings vs Scotland | Autumn Nations Series 2024

Fiji players react following the Autumn Nations Series International rugby union test match between Scotland and Fiji at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh on November 2, 2024. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN / AFP)

Fiji player ratings: Fiji paid the price for a sluggish start and ill-discipline as they fell to a record 57-17 defeat to Scotland at Scottish Gas Murrayfield in their opening match of the Autumn Nations Series.

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Both sides were bereft of their England and France-based players as the match fell outside the international window, but Fiji suffered more damage to their squad with the likes of Semi Radradra, Josua Tuisova, Jiuta Wainiqolo and Waisea Nayacalevu all absent.

This, however, did provide an opportunity for fringe players to step up, but most failed to do so.

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Plenty of firepower will be back for Fiji next week when they take on Wales in Cardiff, so the question will be whether their outsiders did anything to displace their returning stars.

Here’s how the Fiji players rated:

Match Summary

1
Penalty Goals
0
8
Tries
3
7
Conversions
1
0
Drop Goals
0
126
Carries
141
12
Line Breaks
5
10
Turnovers Lost
11
6
Turnovers Won
5

15. Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula – 4
Horrendous interception pass thrown for Huw Jones’ try- from his own half when Fiji were down to 14 with the recipient facing the wrong way. He at least responded with a try of his own later in the first half, showing his strength to barge his way over. Wayward goalkicking to boot to complete a mixed performance.

14. Vuate Karawalevu – 3
Came very close to a try straight from a Fiji kick-off, but was denied in the corner. Quiet otherwise.

13. Apisalome Vota – 5
Yellow carded for an infringement at a ruck, although he was paying the price for his side’s poor discipline. Produced a crucial tap tackle early on in the second 40 to prevent Duhan van der Merwe from running in for a try. Put in a decent defensive shift. 

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12. Inia Tabuavou – 4
Loose pass early on as Fiji could not get a foothold in the game. Looked dangerous when he got ball in hand, which became more frequent as the game progressed. Will rue his missed tackle for Darcy Graham’s hat-trick try as Scotland had clawed their way back into the match, and wasn’t given much time after that.

11. Ponipate Loganimasi – 5
Caught out of position for the crossfield kick to Graham, although the Fijian backline was depleted at the time. Lovely step and offload to set up Ravula’s try. Came off his wing well throughout the match.

10. Caleb Muntz – 4
Fiji and Muntz looked uncomfortable early on in the match, but he settled down and had his side playing nice rugby, although they unfortunately started from a 0-26 deficit.

9. Frank Lomani – 6
Yellow carded for an intentional knock-on early on just moments after a nice cover tackle. Despite his side finding themselves under huge amounts of pressure in the first half, he kept the tempo up as Fiji rebounded with points of their own.

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1. Haereiti Hetet – 5
Caught out by the new laws as he gave away a penalty almost immediately after Fiji had scored and looked to be building some momentum. Tackled relentlessly, but was part of a front-row that did not have a great evening in the scrum.

2. Tevita Ikanivere – 6
Led from the front when his side were under the pump in the first half with plenty of carries. Rewarded with a cheeky try after the break, flummoxing Graham with a dummy.

3. Samuela Tawake – 4
Conceded an early scrum penalty which eventually resulted in Scotland’s first try of the match. Had a tough time at scrum time, which was part of Fiji’s undoing in an ill-disciplined affair.

4. Isoa Nasilasila – 4
Failed to claim a lineout when Fiji had a good platform to score in the first half. Huge hit on Kyle Rowe that left the full-back gasping for air.

5. Ratu Leone Rotuisolia – 5
Got through plenty of defensive work, topping Fiji’s tackle count with 13 before leaving the field after 50 minutes.

6. Ratu Meli Derenalagi – 4
Bundled over for Fiji’s second try which was unsurprisingly the highlight of his game. Solid, albeit not a particularly eye-catching display.

7. Kitione Salawa – 5
Double figures for both carries and tackles is a commendable return, and two turnovers to add to a well-rounded game. Although he was outplayed by opposite man Rory Darge.

8. Elia Canakaivata – 6
Carried hard and frequently, topping the carry charts for the match with 16. Got his hands dirty in other areas of the game as well.

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Replacements
16. Mesulame Dolokoto – 3
Slipped off a tackle on Graham minutes after coming on as the Scot darted over for his fourth.

17. Livai Natave – 4
Solid tackles once he had come on for the final 20 minutes. Like his predecessors, struggled in the scrum.

18. Jone Koroiduadua – 3
Suffered the same fate all Fijian props did.

19. Mesake Vocevoce – 5
Six carries in half an hour when Fiji didn’t have much ball isn’t to be sniffed at.

20. Vilive Miramira – 5
Five tackles from 10 minutes at the end.

21. Simi Kuruvoli – 4
Quiet cameo from the bench.

22. Kemueli Valetini – 4
Came on for his debut when Scotland were breezing to a win, but got his hands on the ball in a short period and made an additional six tackles.

23. Waqa Nalaga – 4
Also on debut, it’s harsh to judge any outside back on a 20-minute cameo against a side scoring tries for fun.

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J
JW 2 hours ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Ok, managed to read the full article..

... New Zealand’s has only 14 and the professional season is all over within four months. In France, club governance is the responsibility of an independent organisation [the Ligue Nationale de Rugby or LNR] which is entirely separate from the host union [the Fédération Française de Rugby or FFR]. Down south New Zealand Rugby runs the provincial and the national game.

That is the National Provincial Championship, a competition of 14 representative union based teams run through the SH international window and only semi professional (paid only during it's running). It is run by NZR and goes for two and a half months.


Super Rugby is a competition involving 12 fully professional teams, of which 5 are of New Zealand eligibility, and another joint administered team of Pacific Island eligibility, with NZR involvement. It was a 18 week competition this year, so involved (randomly chosen I believe) extra return fixtures (2 or 3 home and away derbys), and is run by Super Rugby Pacific's own independent Board (or organisation). The teams may or may not be independently run and owned (note, this does not necessarily mean what you think of as 'privately owned').


LNR was setup by FFR and the French Government to administer the professional game in France. In New Zealand, the Players Association and Super Rugby franchises agreed last month to not setup their own governance structure for professional rugby and re-aligned themselves with New Zealand Rugby. They had been proposing to do something like the English model, I'm not sure how closely that would have been aligned to the French system but it did not sound like it would have French union executive representation on it like the LNR does.

In the shaky isles the professional pyramid tapers to a point with the almighty All Blacks. In France the feeling for country is no more important than the sense of fierce local identity spawned at myriad clubs concentrated in the southwest. Progress is achieved by a nonchalant shrug and the wide sweep of nuanced negotiation, rather than driven from the top by a single intense focus.

Yes, it is pretty much a 'representative' selection system at every level, but these union's are having to fight for their existence against the regime that is NZR, and are currently going through their own battle, just as France has recently as I understand it. A single focus, ala the French game, might not be the best outcome for rugby as a whole.


For pure theatre, it is a wonderful article so far. I prefer 'Ntamack New Zealand 2022' though.

The young Crusader still struggles to solve the puzzle posed by the shorter, more compact tight-heads at this level but he had no problem at all with Colombe.

It was interesting to listen to Manny during an interview on Maul or Nothing, he citied that after a bit of banter with the All Black's he no longer wanted one of their jersey's after the game. One of those talks was an eye to eye chat with Tamaiti Williams, there appear to be nothing between the lock and prop, just a lot of give and take. I thought TW angled in and caused Taylor to pop a few times, and that NZ were lucky to be rewarded.

f you have a forward of 6ft 8ins and 145kg, and he is not at all disturbed by a dysfunctional set-piece, you are in business.

He talked about the clarity of the leadership that helped alleviate any need for anxiety at the predicaments unfolding before him. The same cannot be said for New Zealand when they had 5 minutes left to retrieve a match winning penalty, I don't believe. Did the team in black have much of a plan at any point in the game? I don't really call an autonomous 10 vehicle they had as innovative. I think Razor needs to go back to the dealer and get a new game driver on that one.

Vaa’i is no match for his power on the ground. Even in reverse, Meafou is like a tractor motoring backwards in low gear, trampling all in its path.

Vaa'i actually stops him in his tracks. He gets what could have been a dubious 'tackle' on him?

A high-level offence will often try to identify and exploit big forwards who can be slower to reload, and therefore vulnerable to two quick plays run at them consecutively.

Yes he was just standing on his haunches wasn't he? He mentioned that in the interview, saying that not only did you just get up and back into the line to find the opposition was already set and running at you they also hit harder than anything he'd experienced in the Top 14. He was referring to New Zealands ultra-physical, burst-based Super style of course, which he was more than a bit surprised about. I don't blame him for being caught out.


He still sent the obstruction back to the repair yard though!

What wouldn’t the New Zealand rugby public give to see the likes of Mauvaka and Meafou up front..

Common now Nick, don't go there! Meafou showed his Toulouse shirt and promptly got his citizenship, New Zealand can't have him, surely?!?


As I have said before with these subjects, really enjoy your enthusiasm for their contribution on the field and I'd love to see more of their shapes running out for Vern Cotter and the like styled teams.

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