Fiji take on Scotland at Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, with a team featuring 11 of the starting 15 that played in the victorious Pacific Nations Cup final. Spirits will be high after the manner of that win, claiming their sixth title with a convincing 41-17 scoreline against Eddie Jones’s Japan.
Following the Pacific Nations Cup, this is the Flying Fijians’ longest winning run since June-July 2017, when they also won four in a row, a run that included their last win against Scotland (27-22).
The last time these two met during the 2022 Autumn Nation Series, Scotland edged an absorbing encounter 28-12.
With the majority of the European-based Fijian players unavailable for selection, Byrne is placing his trust in the Fijian Drua, Fiji’s Super Rugby Pacific team.
“It’s been a big year for those young Drua players that might not have ever thought they’d be putting on a Flying Fijians jersey this year. Every time they’ve done that, they’ve stepped up, done us proud, and played extremely well.”
There will be an all-Fijian Drua front row with Haereiti Hetet and Samuela Tawake named the starting props, with captain and fellow Drua player Tevita Ikanivere in at hooker.
In the boiler room, Drua pair Isoa Nasilasila and Ratu Leone Rotuisolia make up the second row, accompanied by an all-Drua back-row with Kitione Salawa named at openside flanker, and Ratu Meli Derenalagi named at blindside flanker. Elia Canakaivata is named at number eight to complete the pack.
The Drua halfback pairing of Frank Lomani and Caleb Muntz is unchanged from the side that won the Pacific Nations Cup final.
Inia Tabuavou is the only player named in the starting lineup not playing their domestic rugby in the Southern Hemisphere, with the Racing 92 man named in the centres alongside Apisalome Vota.
The back-three sees only one change to the side that won the Pacific Nations Cup, with Ponipate Loganimasi replacing Ilasia Droasese on the wing. Vuate Karawalevu starts on the other wing, with Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula named at full-back.
Mick Byrne has also named an all-Drua bench, with two uncapped players in half-back Kemueli Veletini and centre Waqa Nalaga included.
