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Record night for Fiji
Stade de la Mediterranée, Béziers.
Friday, 1st October, 1999.
World Cup Pool C
Fiji 67 Namibia 18
Fiji ended a six-match losing streak at World Cup finals by thrashing an inexperienced Namibian side 67-18 in front of lively crowd in Beziers.
Not since the 28-9 defeat of Argentina in 1987 had Fiji managed a victory – so relief rather than exuberance was the reaction from coach Brad Johnstone and his team.
“The first game in any tournament is never easy, especially after a month’s lay-off,” Johnstone said.
Six tries before half-time, with Fiji spinning the ball wide at every opportunity, gave them a healthy 43-6 lead. But the Africans, made up of fanatical amateurs – mostly farmers who travel hundreds of kilometres just to train, came out after the break with renewed resolve and dominated the next 20 minutes.
Only after conceding two tries did Fiji get a grip again, then finished the match in the same positive spirit with which they had started it.
Soon after the game got under way, Serevi teamed up with Vili Satala to feed Fero out wide. The winger galloped through with ease to get Fiji off the mark. Manu Tiko produced a mirror-image try down the left flank in the 16th minute, and Fiji were rolling.
“I picked a team that would throw it around from the start,” Johnstone said. “It’s very much horses for courses. We can certainly play a lot tighter than that, and we’ll need to do so in the next match.”
Emori Katalau had an outstanding game at lock and dominated the lineouts. In the 25th minute, he snatched a loose Namibian throw-in and dived over the line to move Fiji into a 20-6 lead.
Setareki Tawake then found himself overlapping down the left and squeezed over; Satala produced a trademark solo try, dancing through a bunch of defenders; and Fero ended the half as he had started it – scoring after collecting a clever chip through from Katalau.
In the second half, Alivereti Mocelutu, Smith and Jacob Rauluni forced their names onto the scoresheet too as Fiji held their line for the last quarter.
Johnstone believes Fiji played at about 65 per cent capacity, and need to up that to 80 or 90 to beat Canada. “I believe we can do it,” he said.
SCORING SEQUENCE: (Fiji first): 0-3, 7-3, 10-3, 10-6, 15-6, 22-6, 29-6, 36-6, 43-6 (half-time), 43-13, 50-13, 50-18, 57-18, 60-18, 67-18.
Fiji: (15-1): A Uluinayau, F Lasagavibau (N Little 72), V Satala, W Sotutu (M Nakauta 54), M Tiko, W Serevi, J Rauluni, A Mocelutu, S Tawake, A Naevo (K Sewabu 67), S Raiwalui, E Katalau, J Veitayaki (E Naituivau 47), G Smith (captain), D Rouse.
Tries: Lasagavibau (2), Tiko, Katalau, S. Tawake, Satala, Mocelutu, Smith, J. Rauluni. Conversions: Serevi (8). Penalty goals: Serevi (2).
NAMIBIA: L van Dyk, D Farmer (G Jense van Rensburg 49), A Samuelsen, S van der Merwe, D Mouton (G van Wyk 41), C Zaayman, R Jantjies, S Furter, J Olivier (Herman Lintvelt 66), Q Hough (captain), P Steyn (J Theron 66), H Senekal, G Opperman (Andries Blaauw 64), Ho Horn (E Smith 61), M Jacobs.
Tries: Senekal, Jacobs. Conversion: Van Dyk. Penalty goals: Van Dyk (2).
Referee: David McHugh (Ireland).
Attendance: 12,000.
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