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 TEIVOVO.COM – TEAM FIJI
(Photo courtesy of Tony Hara)
8 July, 2001
Fiji triumph 28-17 over Samoa
From Jeremy Duxbury in Tokyo
Fiji wrested the Pacific Rim Championship from Manu Samoa here Sunday, defeating the defending champions 28-17 in a bruising encounter at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium.
Some solid defence and some pinpoint kicking from fly-half Nicky Little, who amassed 23 points, saw Fiji put on a sterling all-round performance to lead the game from start to finish.
Little traded penalty kicks with Samoa’s Earl Va’a throughout the first half to go into the break with a slender 12-9 lead. But that opening 40 minutes had accounted for both Samoan locks, pushing skipper Semo Sititi into the second row as cover.
Samoa assistant coach Michael Jones, while praising Fiji highly, admitted that the second row loss had put his team in disarray.
"That affected us a lot," Jones said. "But good teams have to cope with such things. Samoa is still going along a learning curve, and we hope to change from a good team into a great team."
"Fiji made things gel today, playing good 15-man rugby," Jones added.
Fiji’s stand-in coach Ifereimi Tawake also paid tribute to his team.
"I’m very proud of the boys," Tawake said. "It’s about time we believed in ourselves and played some winning rugby."
Tawake’s comments were echoed by his captain Greg Smith: "There’s a perception that Fiji play in Samoa’s shadow," the skipper said. "But today we have proved we are their equal, and this year Fiji stands alone in Pacific rugby."
This was Fiji and Samoa’s third encounter in five weeks, having shared the two matches one each during the qualifiers.
Little continued his accurate kicking in the second half, collecting another three-pointer after Samoa were penalised for obstruction.
Ten minutes into the half, a quick line-out from Fiji caught the Samoans flat-footed. Api Naevo took the ball cleanly, passed back to halfback Jacob Rualuni, who flicked it to Little, then Alfie Uluinayau who cut back inside to score under the posts.
Little converted and added two more penalties as the Samoans fought desperately to get back into the game.
Sustained pressure in the Fiji 22 eventually saw halfback Steve So’oialo dive through and score, but that was the sole time the Samoans broke the Fiji line.
The last half hour saw relentless physical rugby from both sides, with no quarter given. At times, it looked as though the game might boil over into a mass brawl, but Canadian referee Bruce Kuklinski did well to calm things down.
Earlier, hosts Japan had surprised Canada with a 39-7 thrashing to take third place, putting on a marvellous display of running rugby to the delight of the vocal crowd.
Wing Toru Kurihara scored two tries and kicked another 14 points for a 24-point tally. Japan’s other tries came from Yuya Saito, Hideki Namba and Luatangi Vatuvei, while Canada’s sole try was scored by No 8 Phil Murphy.
Scorers
Samoa: Try: Steve So’oialo. Penalty goals: Earl Va’a (3), Silao Laega.
Fiji: Try: Alfie Uluinayau. Conversion: Nicky Little. Penalty goals: Nicky Little (7).
Samoa (15-1): Tanner Vili, Brian Lima, To'o Vaega (Terry Fanolua), Va'aiga Tuigamala, Elvis Seveali'i, Earl Va'a (Silao Lea’ega), Steven So'oialo, Junior Paramore, Craig Glendinning, Semo Setiti (captain), Lama Tone (Alfie To’oala), Opeta Palepoi, Polo Asi, Ace Tiatia (Trevor Leota), Kas Lealamanu'a (Mark Luafalealo).
Fiji (15-1): Norman Ligairi, Adriu Rinakama (Saimoni Rokini), Vili Satala (Dan Baleinadogo), Alfred Uluinayau, Vilimoni Delasau, Nicky Little, Jacob Rauluni (Sami Rabaka), Inoke Male, Alifereti Doviverata, Jope Tuikabe, Simon Raiwalui, Api Naevo (Sisa Koyamaibole), Bill Cavubati (Isaia Rasila), Greg Smith (captain), Henry Qiodravu (Peniasi Damu).
Half-time: 9-12
Referee: Bruce Kuklinski (Canada)
Att: 5,000
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