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 VODAFONE FIJI
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29 June, 2003
Fiji dedicate win to Fairhurst
The Vodafone Fiji team that defeated the Queensland Reds on Sunday dedicated their victory to out-going trainer Geoff Fairhurst, who must return to the New Zealand Police Force next month after more than a year with Fiji.
"The players wanted to dedicate this match to Geoff," coach Mac McCallion said. "It looks like this will be his last game with the team, so they wanted to make sure he went out on a high note."
Mr McCallion added that the win makes an important psychological difference as the players ready themselves for the next part of the 11-match build up to the Rugby World Cup.
"All this week, we also spoke about how important it was to go back to Fiji with a win under our belt. I told the boys I damned well did not want to get on that Air Pacific plane unless we beat the Reds," he said.
"I am extremely proud of the boys, they really stuck to their game plan in difficult circumstances and played together very well."
The coach praised young debutant Sekove Leawere, who scored a try 10 minutes into his first international.
"When you get a tape of this game you will see we scored some absolutely sensational tries. It was a great debut for Sekove Leawere and again Seru (Rabeni) had a wonderful match."
Second five Rabeni, who plays wing for the Otago Highlanders, scored a brace of tries, including what was to be the match winner when he charged down a Julian Huxley kick and reacted quickly to the loose ball to score under the posts.
Fly-half Waisale Serevi set up Isaac Mow for Fiji’s second try, and also kicked three conversions and a dropped goal.
"In the pack, Sisa (Koyamaibole) had another great game, as well as Kitione Salawa, and Alifereti Doviverata was also on fine form," the coach said.
"There are still a lot of areas we need to work on but today’s performance was far better than that against the Brumbies (last week)."
Doviverata made one thumping tackle on Elton Flatley just before half-time that left the Wallabies five-eighth unconscious for three minutes.
Flatley lay motionless on the Ballymore turf, sending alarm through the Queensland team. After being fitted with a neck brace and carried off on a stretcher, he was taken to the Royal Brisbane Hospital for tests. A CAT scan came up all clear and he was released from hospital later.
Mr McCallion didn’t have much praise for referee Stuart Dickinson, who Fiji fans will remember for his sending off of Saiasi Fuli and Jope Tuikabe in the Commonwealth Games final.
Mr Dickinson, who awarded more than 20 penalties against Fiji, yellow-carded Mow in the first minute for a high tackle, and skipper Isaia Rasila for a similar offence.
"Unfortunately, the referees seem intent on completely hammering Fiji. I gave up counting the penalties in the second half because the penalties were just so one-sided. It was the only really disappointing thing about the match."
"Still, the players didn't let the referee get them down and they stood up tall and played their best."
The former Auckland Blues assistant coach explained his decision to take off Serevi after the Reds’ second try.
"I substituted Serevi because he took a knock to his right forearm and it meant he was unable to pass the ball properly and was obviously having trouble holding tackles."
"(The injury to Serevi) is nothing serious – we know it is not broken, but we need to get a proper diagnosis so it can be treated."
"I was trying to give everybody on the bench a run and we also needed to get some experience on the field for the final 20 minutes. That was why I wanted Marika (Vunibaka) on just to try to minimise the risk of making silly mistakes from tired hands in that closing stage."
After a storming start that saw Fiji leading 24-0 at half-time, the Reds came back well in the second period, scoring four tries, but ultimately, the Fiji defence did just enough for the win.
Fiji will now play Tonga on Friday at Prince Charles Park in Nadi.
Sunday, 29 June, 2003
Queensland Reds 24 Fiji 31
Ballymore, Brisbane
Half-time: 0-24
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Aus)
Crowd: 11,477
REDS: 15 J Huxley, 14 S Barton, 13 J Graham, 12 J Pelesasa, 11 C Northcott, 10 E Flatley, 9 B Wakely, 8 J Roe, 7 D Croft, 6 D Heenan, 5 R Vedelago, 4 M Cockbain (capt), 3 G Panoho, 2 T McIsaac, 1 N Stiles.
Tries: Vedelago, Croft, Heenan, Roe; Conversions: Huxley (2)
FIJI: 15 Alfred Uluinayau, 14 Isaac Mow (yellow card 1-10), 13 Saimoni Rokini (E Ruivadra 60), 12 Seru Rabeni, 11 Sekove Leawere (M Vunibaka 63), 10 Waisale Serevi (J Narruhn 51), 9 Moses Rauluni, 8 Alifereti Doviverata (S Tawake 68), 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Sisa Koyamaibole, 5 Kele Leawere (V Gadolo 44-49), 4 Emori Katalau (A Mocelutu 62), 3 Joeli Veitayaki (N Seru 80), 2 Isaia Rasila (capt – yellow card 40-49), 1 Richard Nyholt
Tries: Rabeni (2), S Leawere, Mow; Conversions: Serevi (3) Narruhn; Dropped goal: Serevi
Scoreboard
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