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 TEIVOVO.COM – TEAM FIJI
7 November, 2001
Serevi marks brilliant comeback
Waisale Serevi marked his return to the Fiji 15s team by setting up a try with virtually his first touch after coming on midway through the second half then scoring two wonderful tries to conjure up a late 33-23 win over an Italian Regional XV for Fiji.
Serevi, whose last game for Fiji was at the 1999 World Cup, replaced Nicky Little at flyhalf with the Fijians trailing 23-8 and made an immediate impact in the match played in Milan.
Performing his trademark double loop down the line, the maestro lobbed a long pass out to Fero Lasagavibau to score in the corner.
Serevi’s conversion hit the post, but three minutes later he intercepted an Italian move on his own 22 and raced off to score untouched under the posts.
With four minutes remaining on the clock, Serevi levelled the scores at 23-23 with a penalty goal, then put Fiji ahead for the first time in the match with a second penalty goal on full time.
Rounding off a marvellous evening for the France-based player, he gathered a kick-and-chase to get around the Italian defence and score his second try three minutes into stoppage-time.
That gave Serevi a total of 20 points in the 23 minutes he was on the field and probably earned him the nod over Little for Saturday’s Test against Italy.
The Italians had surprised Fiji by dominating the first half, building up a 20-3 lead in quick time.
A valuable try by Canterbury wing Marika Vunibaka on the stroke of half-time kept Fiji in touch at 20-8. Vunibaka was also playing his first game for Fiji in more than a year having missed the Pacific Rim tournament through injury.
Shortly after half-time, Simon Raiwalui was yellow carded after a tussle in the Fiji half that handed the young Italians another three-pointer.
But the introduction of Serevi, along with Vili Satala a few minutes earlier, injected life into the Fijian side and changed the direction of the game.
Five Fijian players made their debuts in the match – centre Epeli Ruivadra, halfback Asaeli Naiteqe, lock Isoa Domolailai and props Richard Nyholt and Apisai Nagi.
Fiji (15-1): Jonetani Waqa, Marika Vunibaka, Epeli Ruivadra, Emori Tuisese (Vili Satala), Fero Lasagavibau, Nicky Little (Waisale Serevi), Sami Rabaka (Asaeli Naiteqe), Jope Tuikabe, Sisa Koyamaibole, Alifereti Doviverata (captain), Simon Raiwalui (yellow card), Isoa Domolailai (Emori Katalau), Bill Cavubati (Richard Nyholt), Isaia Rasila, Apisai Nagi.
Tries: Serevi (2), Vunibaka, Lasagavibau,
Conversion: Serevi (2)
Penalty goals: Little, Serevi (2).
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