16 hours ago
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Scotland were pushed hard by Fiji but battled hard to get the bonus-point win which secured their spot in the Women’s Rugby World Cup knock-out stages.
They came through a bruising Pool B contest in Manchester which, following last week’s comprehensive win over Wales, means they are on a maximum 10 points from 10.
They joined Canada in the last eight after the world-ranked No 2 side thrashed the Welsh 42-0, setting up a shoot-out for top spot with the Scots in Exeter next Saturday.
Scotland didn’t have it all their own way here, as the physical Fijians put three tries on the board and turned up the heat on Bryan Easson’s side when pulling to within seven points shortly after the interval.
However, Francesca McGhie gave the Scots some breathing space with her second try of the afternoon — adding to a first-half try double from Rhona Lloyd — before Emma Orr added one of her own to provide clear daylight.
Head coach Easson said: ‘It was bruising. The physicality was there from minute one from Fiji, but we soaked it up. We got five tries, a bonus point and the job’s done in terms of reaching the knock-out stages which is the most important thing.
Fransesca McGhie crosses for the first of her two tries and now has five for the tournament
Rhona Lloyd and Emma Wassell perform a jig of joy after victory was secured
Evie Gallagher is tackled by a physical Fiji side who left nothing behind in pursuit of an upset
‘Going into this World Cup, getting to the quarter-finals is what we came for. We’ll take the real positives of that after two wins and then get ready for Canada next week.’
Scotland got off to a lightning-fast start, with a clever kick from centre Orr putting winger McGhie away in space for a quick-fire try to add to her hat-trick against Wales last week.
Lloyd added her 26th and 27th tries for her country either side of a try from Fiji prop Loraini Senivutu.
The Fijians came out of the blocks flying after the interval and No 8 Manuqalo Komaitai burst through a gap to go under the posts. Scotland were under the cosh, but, importantly, they scored the bonus-point try in the 57th minute via McGhie and added to it on the hour mark through Orr.
Karalaini Naisewa went over for an unconverted effort for Fiji, but Scotland can now look forward to a last-eight tie on September 13 or 14 in Bristol.
