Scotland were energized by their bench to overcome a 10-point deficit and beat Fiji 33-17 in Nations Championship rugby at Murrayfield.
After the thrilling but draining defeat to South Africa in Pretoria, coach Gregor Townsend made 14 changes and, tiring of a disjointed display against an efficient and bone-rattling Fiji, unleashed his experienced reserves from the 48th minute.
The injection of more than 260 caps' worth of experience — Pierre Schoeman, Zander Fagerson, Scott Cummings, Magnus Bradbury, Jamie Dobie and regular skipper Sione Tuipulotu, four of them British and Irish Lions — made a huge impact. Scotland clicked and scored four consecutive tries, all of them by replacements, to overturn a 17-7 deficit.
A barrelling Schoeman finished an initial break by match captain Stafford McDowall, Dobie burrowed over beside the posts in the 61st minute to put Scotland in front for the first time in 40 minutes, and Cummings and Dobie again added gloss in the last six minutes in front of a crowd of 55,000.
"I thought our bench did really well," Townsend told the BBC. "Something I've learned over the last 12 months: the bench can help you change momentum. Fiji didn't really break us that often, and in that final quarter the guys were outstanding."
Fiji, who had never beaten Scotland at Murrayfield, led 17-7 at halftime through tries from captain Tevita Ikanivere, a brilliant 90-metre sweeping move finished by Selestino Ravuatumada — with Virimi Vakatawa making his Fiji debut four years after giving up his France jersey due to a cardiac condition — and No. 8 Elia Canakaivata.
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