|
|
|
 TEIVOVO.COM – TEAM FIJI
4 July, 2001
Fiji thump Canada with late surge
From jeremy Duxbury in Tokyo
Four tries in the last 15 minutes saw Fiji eventually triumph with ease 52-23 over Canada in their Pacific Rim semi-final rugby union clash at Tokyo Stadium on Wednesday.
Fiji now play Samoa in Sunday's final.
Canada had stayed in the game through the boot of Bob Ross, who clocked up 18 of Canada points via four penalty goals and two long-distance dropped goals.
But as the game wore on, Fiji exploited the space out wide and reigned freely across the park.
Star winger Vilimoni Delasau scored a second half hat trick of tries, two of which saw him break out from his own half and zigzag home through the Canadian defence.
It was quite a different picture from the opening 40 minutes when Fiji fumbled and dropped nearly everything and gave away needless points.
Fiji captain Greg Smith admitted the bad communication in his team, but was pleased with the outcome.
"We just couldn’t hang onto the ball in the first half," Smith said. "And their points came from our mistakes."
Ross clipped two penalty goals through the sticks to give Canada a 6-3 lead, but Fiji fly-half Nicky Little replied with one of his own.
In the 19th minute, Canada winger Sean Fauth made the most of a knock-on in the Fiji backline and jogged home to score the game’s opening try and put Canada 11-3 ahead.
Little kicked two more penalty goals before replacement centre Vili Satala sidestepped through for a try following a useful kick-and-chase from fullback Norman Ligairi.
But just before the half-time whistle, Ross hit a dropped goal to make the score 16-14 in Fiji’s favour.
Ross opened the second half with another three-pointer, but Delasau put Fiji back in front with the first of his three tries after good link play from replacement fullback Alfie Uluinayau.
Another dropped goal from Ross and a penalty goal apiece kept the scores close at 26-23, before Fiji found their rhythm and doubled their points total in the last quarter of an hour.
In the 65th minute, Uluinayau completed an easy try from a double overlap, then flanker Alifereti Doviverata went down the short side to score another.
As the clock counted down, Delasau picked up two tries in the last two minutes, showing electric pace and his trademark triple sidestep to find space and give Fiji coach Ifereimi Tawake a big win for his debut in charge.
Canada coach David Clark explained that most of his first-choice forwards were unavailable, and he was pleased with his young players’ performance.
"I thought we competed well overall, but the Fiji pace got to us in the last 20 minutes," Clark said.
Fiji 52 Canada 23
H-t: 16-14
Scorers
Fiji: Tries: Vilimoni Delasau (3), Vili Satala, Alifereti Doviverata, Alfie Uluinayau. Conversions: Nicky Little (4), Alfie Uluinayau. Penalty goals: Nicky Little (4).
Canada: Tries: Sean Fauth. Penalty goals: Bob Ross (4). Dropped goals: Bob Ross (2).
Teams
Fiji (15-1): Norman Ligairi (Alfred Uluinayau), Adriu Rinakawa, Saimoni Rokini, Dan Baleinadogo (Vili Satala), Vilimoni Delasau, Nicky Little, Jacob Rauluni (Sami Rabaka), Sisa Koyamaibole (Inoke Male), Jope Tuikabe, Alifereti Doviverata, Simon Raiwalui, Api Naevo (Emori Katalau), Bill Cavubati (Isaia Rasila), Greg Smith (captain), Henry Qiodravu (Peniasi Damu).
Canada (15-1): Jeff Williams, Fred Asselin (Shane Thompson), John Cannon, Kyle Nichols, Sean Fauth, Bob Ross, Morgan Williams, Phil Murphy, Colin Yukes, Ryan Banks (Brad Major), Ron Johnstone, Ed Knaggs, Garth Cooke (Kevin Wirachowski), Pat Dunkley - captain (Kevin Tkachuk), Rod Snow (Harry Toews).
Referee: Anetere’a Andrew Aiolupotea (Samoa)
|
|
|
