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9 August, 2003
Fiji stroll past Marlborough
Fiji’s near annihilation of Marlborough at Lansdowne Park on Saturday underlined the growing gap between the 1st and 2nd divisions of New Zealand’s NPC.
While winning 75-12 against Griz Wyllie’s Red Devils, Fiji were even allowed the luxury to relax at times without a discernible drop in the scoring rate.
Dominant players of the 11-try haul had to be hat trick grabbing lock Kele Leawere, his gazelle-like second row partner Ifereimi Rawaqa, powerful forward Sisa Koyamaibole and Nadroga stalwart prop Isaia Rasila.
While fielding another frightening backline, it was Fiji’s forwards that dominated the day, scoring seven tries between them, a total that would have been one higher had Rawaqa’s second try not been disallowed for an off-the-ball infringement.
Within eight minutes, Fiji had jumped to a 21-0 lead after tries from Leawere, Marika Vunibaka and Epeli Ruivadra.
The quick-fire start allowed Mac McCallion to juggle the players around, and switch starting fullback Waisale Serevi with fly-half Nicky Little when the situation suited.
After Little’s perfect kicking display against Canterbury, Serevi took over the duties here, landing an impressive 10 from 11 conversion attempts from a variety of angles.
Rawaqa and Koli Sewabu dominated the line-outs, and defensively Fiji proved far too strong for their Kiwi counterparts.
Marlborough’s two tries came in a 10-miunte spell midway through the second half when Fiji sat back a little on their huge lead and forgot to stay in their opponents’ faces.
The penalty count against Fiji was again alarming, and had Marlborough not been so far behind, they would have kicked for goal more often.
Sewabu made the break that set up Ruivadra’s try, then Serevi interchanged with Rasila and Rawaqa before the Lautoka lock threw a return dummy and went over the line himself.
Alifereti Mocelutu, playing at No.8, piled over for try number five after a clean line-out take from Rawaqa near the Marlborough line, and Serevi added the extras from out wide.
On 34 minutes, Kele Leawere picked up his second with a typical bulldozing run to the line; then Rasila took a reverse pass from Sewabu to break the defence and send Fiji into a 49-0 lead at the interval.
Four minutes into the second half, Koyamaibole showed his power to scatter the defenders in front of him. Serevi converted once more to make it 56-0.
After Sami Rabaka and Joe Veitayaki had replaced Moses Rauluni and Paula Biu, respectively, Leawere completed his hat trick by touching down in the corner.
Saimoni Rokini then came on for Aisea Tuilevu.
After a short period of pressure, Marlborough finally broke their duck in the 54th minute when Hayden Pedersen scored in the corner.
Fiji replied almost immediately through Vilimoni Delasau, his last touch before being replaced by Sekove Leawere. Hooker Bill Gadolo also went on in place of Greg Smith.
Needing a few minutes for the new players to settle, Fiji were unable to stop Marlbrough grabbing a second try to take the score to 68-12.
But Fiji finished the match on a high note with a stunning try from wing Sekove Leawere, compounding the Marlborough misery and giving Mr McCallion something to think about for the upcoming selections in South America.
Saturday, 9 August, 2003
Marlborough 12 Fiji 75
Lansdowne Park, Blenheim
Half-time: 0-49
MARLBOROUGH: 15 Mike Campbell, 14 Bryn Cotching, 13 Sam Gibbons, 12 Ono Levu Temo, 11 Nathan Peipi, 10 Sam Howe, 9 Reece Poutawera, 8 Laurie McGlone (capt), 7 Regan Dixon, 6 Herman Bahn, 5 Troy Looms, 4 Stu Campbell, 3 Isaac Cook, 2 David Evans, 1 Anthony Keenan.
Reserves: Mark Stewart, Dane Taingahue, Tristan Moran, Joe Payton, Aaron Senior, Martin Campbell, Hayden Pedersen
Coach: Alex Wyllie
Tries: Campbell, Stewart; Conversion: Dixon
FIJI: 15 Waisale Serevi, 14 Marika Vunibaka, 13 Aisea Tuilevu (Saimoni Rokini 50), 12 Epeli Ruivadra, 11 Vilimoni Delasau (Sekove Leawere 57), 10 Nicky Little, 9 Moses Rauluni (Samisoni Rabaka 46), 8 Alivereti Mocelutu, 7 Kolinio Sewabu, 6 Sisa Koyamaibole, 5 Kele Leawere, 4 Ifereimi Rawaqa, 3 Paula Biu (Joeli Veitayaki 46), 2 Greg Smith (capt) (Viliame Gadolo 57), 1 Isaia Rasila
Reserves: Emori Katalau, Setareki Tawake
Coach: Mac McCallion
Tries: K Leawere (3), Vunibaka, Ruivadra, Rawaqa, Mocelutu, Rasila, Koyamaibole, Delasau, S Leawere; Conversions: Serevi (10)
Scoring sequence (Marlborough first)
4min TRY FIJI – K Leawere, conversion Serevi – 0-7
6min TRY FIJI – Vunibaka, conversion Serevi – 0-14
8min TRY FIJI – Ruivadra, conversion Serevi – 0-21
22min TRY FIJI – Rawaqa, conversion Serevi – 0-28
24min TRY FIJI – Mocelutu, conversion Serevi – 0-35
34min TRY FIJI – K Leawere, conversion Serevi – 0-42
40min TRY FIJI – Rasila, conversion Serevi – 0-49
Half-time
44min TRY FIJI – Koyamaibole, conversion Serevi – 0-56
50min TRY FIJI – K Leawere – 0-61
54min TRY MARLBOROUGH – Campbell – 5-61
57min TRY FIJI – Delasau, conversion Serevi – 5-68
65min TRY MARLBOROUGH – Stewart, conversion Dixon – 12-68
79min TRY FIJI – S Leawere, conversion Serevi – 12-75
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