Scotland’s bench sparks comeback to beat Fiji 33-17 at Murrayfield

EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — Scotland was energized by its bench to overcome a 10-point deficit and beat Fiji 33-17 in Nations Championship rugby at Murrayfield on Saturday.

>After the thrilling but draining loss to South Africa in Pretoria last weekend, Scotland coach Gregor Townsend made 14 changes and finally tired of a disjointed, wasteful display against an efficient and bone-rattling Fiji by unleashing his experienced reserves from the 48th minute.

>The injection of more than 260 caps' of experience from the likes of forwards Pierre Schoeman, Zander Fagerson, Scott Cummings, Magnus Bradbury and backs Jamie Dobie and regular skipper Sione Tuipulotu — four of them British and Irish Lions — made a huge impact.

>Scotland clicked, and to no surprise 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, then Dobie burrowed over beside the posts in the 61st minute to put Scotland in front for the first time in 40 minutes.

>Scotland glossed up the scoreline with two more tries in the last six minutes by Cummings and Dobie again to send home a crowd of 55,000 happy.

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