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 VODAFONE FIJI
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9 November, 2002
Wales run Fiji ragged in 58-14 win
By Jeremy Duxbury
Of the three Tests on the UK tour, this was the one in which Fiji had targeted a victory. Wales were dismal against Romania last week while Fiji ran amok against Pontypool. Yet on match day, the hosts simply stepped up several gears and left the Fijians floundering in their wake.
The Welsh ran the ball across the field with flair and conviction as Fiji struggled to find any real rhythm or structured play from their usually flamboyant backs.
Five early penalty goals to fly-half Stephen Jones for a variety of Fijian infringements were followed by seven Welsh tries, mostly worked in from afar.
Second-half tries to wing Fero Lasagavibau and replacement fullback Waisale Serevi gave the Fijians a little credibility, but it cannot begin to mask the huge disappointment the Fiji camp must be feeling right now.
The big scoreline – Fiji’s heaviest defeat ever against Wales – will pose some serious questions for coach Mac McCallion in the 11 months before the World Cup. But a more urgent problem presents itself in Dublin next week when Fiji face Ireland, who two hours earlier beat world champions Australia 18-9.
"We have a lot to work on before the next match," Mr McCallion told Teivovo, in a rather understated manner. "We have to be more disciplined around the rucks and mauls. We got penalised a lot in those areas. Players offside, coming from the wrong side and handling ball in rucks."
"And Fijians being Fijians, once they got penalised like that they struggled to come back. We were just outclassed by a top side today. Wales played really, really well," he said.
In front of 40,000 inside a closed-roof Millennium Stadium, the turf remained soggy and slippery, and kept much of the play in the forward packs.
Though 15-0 down midway through the first half and with Seremaia Bai sitting in the sin-bin for a ruck-handling offence, Fiji enjoyed a good 10 minutes inside the Wales 22, but couldn’t find a way through.
Seru Rabeni and Jacob Rauluni were held up on the line as a try looked imminent, and Norman Ligairi so nearly cut a path through by was caught by the ankle three metres short. The passionate Welsh defence deserved complete credit, answering the call time and again to deny the Fijians a score.
Fiji’s creativity in this situation, however, was sadly lacking. Without much in the way of angled runs or switch passes, their attack remained all too predictable.
And as the half-time whistle approached, Wales hammered home a double killer blow, just like France had done last year.
In the 38th minute, fullback Rhys Williams touched down under the posts following a turnover; and moments later a lost line-out ball, Fiji’s third of the half, saw a sweeping counter-attack from the Welsh finished off in the corner by right wing Mark Jones.
So, 27-0 it was at the break.
Fiji still came out positively, and Rabeni went desperately close again but was bundled into touch by lock Robert Sidoli’s cover tackle.
Another quick Welsh brace inside three minutes then saw the score soar to 39-0 – Sonny Parker and skipper Colin Charvis being the beneficiaries.
On the hour, Mark Jones scored his second try to make it an embarrassing 46-0.
Fiji did string one good move together between Serevi, Little and Ruivadra to leave Lasagavibau wide enough to catch the ball one-handed and sprint down the touchline for the 16th Test try, equalling Vili Satala’s record.
And Serevi’s try from broken play 10 metres from his own line bore an uncanny resemblance to his easy style of sevens rugby as he ran 90 metres untouched, high-stepping his way past Charvis en route.
But either side of his piece of brilliance came further Welsh touchdowns to leave the tourists somewhat shell-shocked as 58-14 losers.
Afterwards, Wales coach Steve Hansen declared himself "very happy with the score."
"It's something we needed and something we wanted. It's a real confidence-booster," the New Zealander said.
Quite the opposite for Fiji – it’s back to the proverbial drawing board.
Wales 58 Fiji 14
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
9 November, 2002
Half-time: 27-0
Kick-off: 4:30pm
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Crowd: 40,000
WALES: 15 Rhys Williams, 14 Mark Jones, 13 Tom Shanklin (Jamie Robinson 10), 12 Sonny Parker, 11 Gareth Thomas, 10 Stephen Jones (Iestyn Harris 67), 9 Dwayne Peel, 8 Colin Charvis (captain), 7 Martyn Williams (Richard Parks 59), 6 Dafydd Jones, 5 Gareth Llewellyn (Steve Williams 40), 4 Robert Sidoli, 3 Ben Evans (Martyn Madden 67), 2 Mefin Davies, 1 Iestyn Thomas.
Reserves not used: Ryan Powell, Andrew Lewis.
Tries: M Jones (2), R Williams,Charvis, Parker, Thomas, penalty try.
Conversions: S Jones (3), Harris
Penalty goals: S Jones (5).
FIJI: 15 Joseph Narruhn (Waisale Serevi 40), 14 Fero Lasagavibau, 13 Seru Rabeni (Epeli Ruivadra 54), 12 Seremaia Bai (yellow card 20-29), 11 Norman Ligairi, 10 Nicky Little, 9 Jacob Rauluni (Sami Rabaka 65), 8 Alivereti Mocelutu, 7 Alifereti Doviverata, 6 Setareki Tawake (Sisa Koyamaibole 53), 5 Simon Raiwalui, 4 Api Naevo, 3 Bill Cavubati, 2 Greg Smith (captain), 1 Richard Nyholt.
Reserves not used: Bill Gadolo, Paula Biu, Isaia Rasila
Tries: Lasagavibau, Serevi
Conversions: Little, Serevi
Scoring sequence: S Jones pen (2 min) – 3-0; S Jones pen (11 min) – 6-0; S Jones pen (16 min) – 9-0; S Jones pen (22 min) – 12-0; S Jones pen (26 min) – 15-0; R Williams try (38 min) 20-0; S Jones con (39 min) 22-0; M Jones try (40 min) 27-0; Half-time. Charvis try (49 min) – 32-0; S Jones con (50 min) – 34-0; S Parker try (53 min) – 39-0; M Jones try (59 min) – 44-0; S Jones con (60 min) – 46-0; F Lasagavibau try (62 min) – 46-5; N Little con (62 min) – 46-7; G Thomas try (70 min) – 51-7; W Serevi try (73 min) – 51-12; ; W Serevi con (74 min) – 51-14; penalty try (80 min) – 56-14; I Harris con (50 min) – 58-14; Full time
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