Scotland threw off a brief wobble in the first half to tick most boxes on their way to a commanding 54-17, eight-try victory over Fiji at a sellout BT Murrayfield.
The Scots used their forward organisation to build a strong platform in the first half, only to lose it with some basic errors allowing Fiji to score two tries and take the lead at 17-14 just after the half hour.
But more forward pressure brought a blizzard of penalties against the Fijians, two yellow cards before half-time, and the Scots went on to score 40 points without reply, opening out to score almost at will once their forward domination had frustrated the visitors.
Tommy Seymour claimed the first hat-trick of tries by a Scot since Ally Hogg in the 2007 Rugby World Cup against Romania, all his three tries coming in a 15 minute spell either side of half-time.
Allan Dell and Fraser Brown had the first half scores as the Scots kept it tight, Sean Maitland scored another, and in the late minutes Jamie Ritchie and Adam Hastings both had their first international tries at Murrayfield.
Greig Laidlaw kicked five conversion and Finn Russell two, and man of the match was debutant Sam Skinner, who was outstanding in the lineout and forceful in loose play.
The Scots’ mad ten minutes in the first half will exercise the interest of the coaches in their review, but although South Africa will be a very different proposition next week, it was a more than satisfying final scoreline.
Scotland were ruthless in the tight in the first half trying to set a foundation, but kept Fiji in the game with a couple of careless errors.
Ben Volavola put Fiji ahead with an early penalty and had a chance for a second but pulled it wide, while Stuart Hogg needed all his pace to get back to cover under his own posts after Semi Radradra smashed through Alex Dunbar on an attack from his own 22 and led the breakout.
Scotland were in some need of settling down, and got a break when Metui Talbula was caught offside on halfway and gave them the chance to start to turn the screw with their lineout drive.
Their first score came when Fiji actually held the maul, but a swift move involving Sean Maitland off his wing eventually was finished by Allan Dell from point-blank range, Laidlaw converting.
That seemed to get the Scots in the groove and they marched 60 metres at tempo through converted phase play but almost butchered a certain try when Pete Horne opted to go himself with Seymour unmarked outside him. The Scots pack arrived to rescue the Glasgow centre’s blushes and drive Brown over for the score.
Yet from a position of comfort at 14-3 Scotland contrived to make a series of errors to surrender the lead to the visitors. First Brown overthrew his jumper at a defensive lineout and the Fiji backrow slickly turned it into a score under the posts for Bill Mata.
Then Leone Nakarawa escaped from a ruck on half-way, Frank Lomani snatched the ball, and Dell’s missed tackle on Tevita Cavubati allowed the big lock to send Radradra cantering in for the score.
Volavola converted both tries and but Scotland moved upfield and started to exert pressure again in the tight, forcing yellow cards for first Cavubati and then Nakarawa as Fiji conceded penalty after penalty in retreat.
The Scots thought they’d scored again through Brown but were denied after the TMO spotted an obstructionby Jamie Ritchie, but the score was only delayed briefly as Finn Russell’s long pass sent in Seymour untouched, Laidlaw converting.
A knock-on by Fiji of the second half restart gave Scotland the chance to turn the screw again and they took it, using the personnel advantage to work space for Maitland to score their fourth try, again converted by Laidlaw.
Scotland had the gap they needed now against a tiring Fiji and Seymour completed the first home hat-trick at Murrayfield since 2007 with two tries in a quickfire six minutes.
The first came after Maitland’s initial thurst carried on by Horne, and Russell’s nudge through forced a scrum-five. Horne again made the half-break and from quick ball Laidlaw put Seymour in on the angle from short range.
Then when Fiji missed touch Hogg led the counterattack, Russell and Horne got it out superbly to replacement centre Chris Harris, who gave it to Seymour for the finish.
There was still time for Jamie Ritchie to claim his first international try and a peachj of a score to finish, with replacement Adam Hastings combining with Russell at pace for a score from 60 metres out, taking the Scots over the half-century.
Scotland: S Hogg; T Seymour, A Dunbar, P Horne, S Maitland; F Russell, G Laidlaw (capt); A Dell, F Brown, WP Nel; S Skinner, G Gilchrist; R Wilson, J Ritchie, M Fagerson.
Replacements: S McInally for Brown 52, A Allan for Dell 55, S Bergman for Nel 55, J Gray for Wilson 61, J Strauss for Fagerson 29, G Horne for Laidlaw 61, A Hastings for Horne 71, C Harris for Dunbar 49.
Fiji: S Tuicuvu; M Talebula, S Radradra, J Vatabua, V Goneva; B Volavola, F Lomani; C Maafu, S Matavesi, M Saulo; T Cavubati, L Nakarawa; D Waqaniburotu (capt), P Yato, V Mata.
Replacements: M Dolokoto for Matavesi 60, E Mawi for Maafu 57, K Tawake for Saulo 50, T Tuisue for Cavubati 68, S Kunatani for Yato 64, H Seniloli for Lomani 61, A Veitokani for Vatubua 66, E Vasiteri for Tuicuvu 24.
Ref: A Brace (IRFU)
