IT'S TIME TO BOKS CLEVER

Toonie goes strong for Fiji to prime troops for South Africa

- STUART BATHGATE

GREGOR TOWNSEND has warned Fiji will be a stern test for Scotland - after picking his strongest available side for Murrayfield clash.

The coach cannot select France-based pair Blair Kinghorn and Ben White or England-based Finn Russell for the first Autumn Nations Series game on Saturday as it falls outside the official international window.

And with a match against world champions South Africa coming up eight days later, Toonie was also expected to rest some of his home-based first picks.

But the gaffer reckons this Fijian squad will be better prepared than in the past as they have already played together this season - including a win over Japan in September in the Final of the Pacific Nations Cup.

And he wants his team to be battle-hardened by the time they face the Springboks.