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 VODAFONE FIJI
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3 August, 2003
Serevi magic makes the difference
Waisale Serevi must wonder sometimes what he needs to do to convince the national selectors that he is by far and away Fiji’s best fly-half.
Coming on in the 70th minute with Fiji ahead 29-17 but on the back foot having let the Canterbury Selection back into the game, Serevi injected life into the side and sparked a further 17 points in the remaining 10 minutes for a 46-17 victory.
Until Serevi’s introduction, Fiji hadn’t scored a point in half an hour of play against a team containing just five players with NPC experience.
Expansive attacking play from both teams resulted in a free-flowing spectacle. The home side contested strongly for three-quarters of the match as Fiji warmed up for Wednesday's clash with Canterbury's NPC team.
According to Christchurch-based journalist David Elder, Fiji had an expected edge in the open and in broken play.
Although outweighed, the Canterbury Selection matched Fiji in the tight and set pieces. When chances came it lost little in comparison with the more fancied visitors with fine attacking moves.
Fiji began in fine style, winning possession from the kick-off to set up camp in the Canterbury 22. Only mishandling stopped Fiji from scoring after nine consecutive attacking phases.
Fiji's later attacks came from broken field play and only in the final quarter was their dominance pronounced.
Former Canterbury player Nicky Little gave Fiji's backline good service and direction from first five-eighths and midfielders Ruivadra and Seru Rabeni had strong games, Mr Elder reported in The Press.
Former King Country prop Joeli Veitayaki and captain Aliverti Doviverata were the best of the Fijian forwards.
But the Canterbury Selection – brought together only in the last four days – proved surprisingly competitive. Andy Broomhall and Hayden Hopgood were fine loose forwards and Daniel Turner and Brydon Heller shone in the tight.
The backs were enterprising with halfback Corey Tamou directing play well and inside backs Ryan Roberts, Karne Kaufana and Saul Luamanuvae sprightly on attack.
Sami Rabaka and Epeli Ruivadra did the damage for Fiji in the first half with three tries between them after Veitayaki had got the opener. At half-time, Fiji led 29-10, but then followed a lapse as Ryan Roberts converted his own try to bring Canterbury within firing range.
Strong performances in the forwards from Veitayaki and lock Kele Leawere in particular laid the groundwork for the backs to get plenty of possession. Kitione Salawa replaced the injured Doviverata on the hour and looked sharp, while Leawere later returned to the action after his replacement Api Naevo limped off with an injury.
A cheer greeted the arrival of Serevi in the 70th minute and the France-based veteran sparked the backline immediately.
His entrance lifted the whole side. Going forward again, Fiji earned a penalty and Serevi kicked the three points to take their advantage to 15 points. Young Navosa wing Sekove Leawere then made a superb interception in his own half and raced away to score. Serevi converted to bring the score to 39-17.
Two minutes later, the ball reached Koli Sewabu on the outside with an overlap, and the Japan-based flanker ran around under the posts before touching down.
At age 35, Serevi doesn’t seem to have lost any of his speed of mind or sleight of hand. At last month’s fitness tests in Suva, the Qarani native proved to be the fittest of the whole squad, with Joseph Narruhn in second and Nabua halfback Saiasi Fuli in third.
Despite Serevi’s contribution to this match, to the game in Tonga, and so many before that, he will take up a place on the bench for Wednesday’s clash with the Canterbury NPC team as New Zealander Little gets the starting nod once more.
Sunday, 3 August, 2003
Canterbury Dev XV 17 Fiji 46
Rugby Park, Christchurch
Half-time: 10-29
Crowd: 1,600
CANTERBURY DEVELOPMENT XV: 15 George Miller, 14 Ken Tuua, 13 Saul Luamanuvae, 12 Steve Yates, 11 Karne Kaufana, 10 Ryan Roberts, 9 Corey Tamou, 8 Rhys Williams, 7 Andy Broomhall, 6 Daniel Turner, 5 Tim Harwood, 4 Hayden Hopgood, 3 Sam Biddles, 2 Laurence Corlett, 1 Brydon Heller.
Reserves: Afato So'oalo, Dale Geek, Takerei Norton, Tane Tawera, one to be named, Isaac Cook, Richard Taylor.
Tries: Luamanuvae, Roberts; Conversions: Roberts (2); Penalty goal: Roberts
FIJI: 15 Alfred Uluinayau, 14 Sekove Leawere, 13 Epeli Ruivadra, 12 Seru Rabeni (Aisea Tuilevu 58), 11 Saimoni Rokini, 10 Nicky Little (Waisale Serevi 70), 9 Samisoni Rabaka (Moses Rauluni, 62), 8 Alifereti Doviverata (capt) (Kitione Salawa 62), 7 Kolinio Sewabu, 6 Alivereti Mocelutu, 5 Kele Leawere (Apenisa Naevo 62-72), 4 Emori Katalau, 3 Joeli Veitayaki, 2 Viliame Gadolo (Greg Smith 58), 1 Isaia Rasila
Tries: Ruivadra (2), Veitayaki, Rabaka, S Leawere, Sewabu; Conversions: Little (3), Serevi (2); Penalty goals: Little, Serevi
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