Scotland Suffers Indiscipline-Penalized Defeat to Fiji, Losing World Cup Seeding Chance

Scotland suffered a heavy 29-14 defeat to Fiji in Suva, marked by poor discipline that severely impacted their performance and World Cup prospects. Head coach Gregor Townsend highlighted the excessive penalties and three yellow cards, including a crucial red card to winger Darcy Graham, as key factors that gave Fiji many scoring opportunities in Scotland's 22. Despite early tries from Kyle Rowe and Tom Jordan, and conversions by debutant Fergus Burke, Scotland's indiscipline and inability to capitalize on set-piece dominance led to their downfall. Townsend acknowledged Fiji's quality and physicality but stressed that Scotland’s own errors, especially in conceding penalties, were costly. Graham's frustration, possibly linked to his recent Lions omission, contributed to his two yellow cards and eventual sending off, which derailed Scotland’s late hopes. The defeat completes a difficult record for Townsend in Suva and underscores the urgent need for Scotland to improve discipline ahead of upcoming matches.