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9 June, 2001
Samoa defeat Fiji in Island classic
By Jeremy Duxbury
Samoa put the ghosts of 1996 behind them on Saturday to record an important 36-27 win over Fiji at Suva’s National Stadium on Saturday in the Pacific Rim championship.
Five years ago, Fiji slaughtered the Samoans 60-0 on this ground, a defeat that has lingered in the Samoan minds ever since.
But Saturday’s victory allows Samoa to leapfrog Tonga and go top of the three-team round-robin with nine points.
Samoan coach John Boe labelled the match "Island rugby at its best", noting the numerous crunching tackles from both teams and Fiji’s surging comeback that ignited the 9,000-strong crowd.
"I thought Fiji played an incredible game," Boe said, "and I’m just pleased we managed to hang on."
Wounded in the wars was big Fiji lock Simon Raiwalui who departed after just 12 minutes with a broken nose. Even Samoan hardman Trevor Leota spent some time in the blood bin.
Yellow carded for their sins were Fiji captain Greg Smith and Samoa’s replacement hooker Ace Tiatia.
Samoan No.8 Junior Paramore scored two push-over tries from five-metre scrums in the first half as Fiji struggled to hold their pack together.
Fiji halfback Jacob Rauluni pulled one back for Fiji, but at half-time the visitors led 17-10.
Samoa’s assistant coach Michael Jones talked of the psychological boost the win gives his players.
"It was very important for us to win here for many more reasons than the obvious," Jones said. "It was a good morale boost to defeat Fiji on their home ground and that made this a very huge thing for us."
"Fiji were the better team in the second half and when they are in that mood, there aren’t very many teams in the world who can keep up with them. They were quite rampant at one point."
Fiji picked up a bonus point too for their four tries but missed a simple opportunity for a second point when they took a tap penalty in front of the posts in injury time when a kick for goal would have been enough.
"We butchered a bonus point there," Fiji coach Greg Smith said, adding that he actually felt better than two weeks ago when Fiji lost to Tonga.
Samoa led 29-10 with 15 minutes to play, but Fiji began throwing the ball around with more panache which led to three late tries as their backline swung into action and nearly snatched the match.
"In the end our ball retention let us down again," Smith said. "Had we strung more phases together earlier in the game, then we could have kept the pressure on."
But two tries against the run of play had given the Samoans just enough of a cushion.
Canterbury Crusaders wing Afato So’oalo touched down twice, while Earl Va’a made the most of a stupid error in the Fiji scrum to score just as Fiji were getting back into the game.
Fullback Norman Ligairi joined the backline and used his pace to outrun the Samoans to the corner for Fiji’s second try, then big centre Vili Satala scored two more to give Fiji some hope.
But in the end, Samoa walked away happy after their third win in a row over Fiji, who must now win their two remaining games to have a chance of qualifying for next month’s semi-finals in Japan.
Fiji 27 Samoa 36
H-T: 10-17
Fiji: Tries – Vili Satala (2), Jacob Rauluni, Norman Ligairi, Conversions – Nicky Little (2), Penalties - Nicky Little (1)
Samoa: Tries – Junior Paramore (2), Afato So’oalo (2), Earl Va’a.
Conversions – Silao Lea’ega (4), Penalty - Silao Lea’ega
Fiji (15-1): Norman Ligairi, Dan Baleinadogo, Vili Satala, Seremaia Bai, Vilimone Delasau, Nicky Little, Jacob Rauluni, Inoke Male (Jope Tuikabe), Alifereti Doviverata, Sailosi Naiteqe, Simon Raiwalui, Api Naevo, Peniasi Damu (Isaia Rasila), Greg Smith (captain – yellow card), Henry Qiodravu (Epeli Ratuniata).
Samoa (15-1): Silao Lea’ega, Faapulou Soolefai, Terry Fanolua, Fred Tuilagi (Alfie To’oalo), Afato So’oalo, Earl Va’a, Steve So’oialo (Joe Filemu), Junior Paramore, Craig Glendinning (Patrick Segi), Semo Sititi (captain), Leo Lafaiali’i, Opeta Palepoi, Polo Asi, Trevor Leota (Ace Tiatia), Mark Luafalealo.
Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand)
Half-time: 10-17
Crowd: 9,000
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