Robinson's Scotland start with 23-10 win over Fiji

LONDON (Reuters) - Scotland coach Andy Robinson celebrated his first game in charge by watching his side defeat Fiji 23-10 at Murrayfield on Saturday.

The former England coach replaced Frank Hadden in June.

Scrumhalf Chris Cusiter, captain for the first time, broke quickly to release Johnnie Beattie who bundled over from close range. Phil Godman kicked three penalties and a conversion to give the Scots a 16-7 halftime lead.

Fiji kept themselves in contention with a rare first-half foray that allowed Vereniki Goneva to nip in over the line.

Graeme Morrison stretched Scotland's lead 10 minutes after the break after quick hands from the backs allowed the centre to dive over from close range.

But the hosts, who last played Fiji in a narrow win at the 2003 World Cup, failed to build on the score after enjoying plenty of possession and a Little penalty was the only addition to the score.

"I am really pleased, I thought in the first half we controlled the game well," Robinson, who was assistant to Clive Woodward when England won the 2003 World Cup, told the BBC.

"We turned over too many balls (in the second half)...so the guys are a little frustrated by that themselves so we will keep looking at that."

Robinson, who was sacked as England manager in 2006 after 13 defeats in 22 games, now has tough matches against Australia and Argentina to come.