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 VODAFONE FIJI 15s
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Saturday 13 November, 2004
Fiji find form to repel NZ Divisional XV
By Jeremy Duxbury
Six tries in the last 20 minutes against a tiring NZ Divisional XV saw Fiji rack up a 61-22 victory at Churchill Park on Saturday. Fiji outscored the visitors nine tries to one and ran amok late in the game in searing conditions.
The large win will have boosted the confidence of the young Fijian players, only a handful of whom have played international rugby before this year.
The forwards looked more pumped up than they were a week ago in Suva, and the backs had little trouble in getting past their markers, especially after the fatigue of the Kiwis’ playing three tough matches in eight days had set in.
"Physically, by half-time, we had the better of them," Vodafone Fiji coach Wayne Pivac said. "But we had made a few mistakes and New Zealand were still close to us the scoreboard."
Kiwi wing Tim Manawatu kicked five penalty goals, mostly from long-range, as the Divisional XV kept the pace until the hour mark.
Making a big difference was the injection of pace and energy from the bench as Mr Pivac elected to start with his big players.
Seva Rokobaro came on early when Isoa Domolailai injured his hip after just 12 minutes.
It was cruel fate for the towering Domolailai, who was making his first appearance since 2001. The lock had begun strongly, taking a lead role in the mauls and stealing a line-out from the Kiwis.
But Rokobaro played with equal passion and picked up a second-half try. Dale Tonowai, who replaced skipper Kele Leawere on the hour, also added life to the loosies and with his first touch set up centre Kameli Ratuvou for a try.
And Sunia Koto at hooker, Ravuama Samo at prop and fullback Jo Tora also made big impacts when coming on.
The understanding between Jack Prasad, Julian Vulakoro and the outside backs improved markedly as Fiji threw the ball around and used the width of the field.
Fiji’s first try came when fullback Neumi Nanuku joined a backline move and delayed his pass enough to allow Aisea Tuilevu the space to break free.
Sisa Koyamaibole, who hardly put a foot wrong all day, charged out of a maul for the second try as Mark Bright and Lee Peina tried but failed to hold him back.
Moments later, wing Sireli Bobo used his blistering pace to break free and head for the try-line only to be called back for a forward pass.
With a 14-3 lead, Fiji stumbled slightly, giving away a couple of penalty goals and a soft try to centre Niva Ta’auso as the New Zealanders to a 16-14 advantage.
Prop Joe Bale had a great chance to score his first try for Fiji when he chased a long kick from Nanuku, picked up a loose ball and headed for the line from 20 metres out. But maybe lacking the confidence to go all the way, he attempted a basketball pass to Tuilevu and the ball was lost.
Just before half-time, Prasad received a quick ball from Nanuku after Aporosa Vata and Rokobaro had hurried the Kiwis into a mistake. The fly-half stepped to his right and shot through a gap to the line.
Prasad, who took over as skipper when Leawere left the field, showed far more variety in this game and repeated his try-scoring jink in the second half.
"That’s why Jack’s in the team," coach Pivac said. "He is alert enough and quick enough to spot the holes when they appear."
As for Leawere, Mr Pivac said he was "really motivated" for this game, "but was maybe a little over-enthusiastic as he was penalised four times in the first half."
It took 20 minutes of the second half for Fiji to get going again, but once into their stride, the tries flowed freely.
Koto forced a turnover following a New Zealand line-out, and quick ball along the line allowed young Tailevu centre Ratuvou to score.
Manawatu picked up another three-pointer in the 65th minute, but from the restart, Rawaqa challenged the high ball and Rokobaro steamed through to collect and score untouched beneath the posts.
Two minutes later and Prasad had his brace; and in the 76th minute Samo showed his strength to bulldoze his way past the defence and offload for Bobo to score.
With only a couple of minutes remaining, Fiji confirmed their superiority with further tries to Bobo and Vulakoro, both running home from their own half.
While the win wraps up a very positive though sparse season for Fiji, Mr Pivac said a training squad of 45 players will be selected soon and put on off-season progammes ready for next year.
Fiji already have seven Tests confirmed for 2005, and also hope to bring the NZ Maoris to Suva and play the Barbarians at Twickenham in November.
Saturday 13 November, 2004
Fiji 61 NZ Divisional 22
Churchill Park, Lautoka
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (NZ)
Half-time: 21-16
Crowd: 6,000
FIJI: 15 Neumi Nanuku (Jo Tora 70), 14 Aisea Tuilevu, 13 Kameli Ratuvou (Isoa Neivua 76), 12 Julian Vulakoro, 11 Sireli Bobo, 10 Jack Prasad, 9 Aporosa Vata (Saiasi Fuli 66), 8 Sisa Koyamaibole, 7 Mosese Volavola, 6 Ifereimi Rawaqa, 5 Isoa Domolailai (Seva Rokobaro 12), 4 Kele Leawere (Dale Tonawai 61), 3 Apisai Nagi (Ravuama Samo 40), 2 Bill Gadolo (Sunia Koto 55-70, 71), 1 Josese Bale.
Coach: Wayne Pivac
Tries: Prasad (2), Bobo (2), Tuilevu, Koyamaibole, Rokobaro, Ratuvou, Vulakoro; Conversions: Vulakoro (7), Tora.
NZ DIVISIONAL XV: 15 Robbie Malneek (Aaron Bancroft, Mike Rowe 61), 14 Tim Manawatu, 13 Niva Ta’auso, 12 Davis Norman, 11 Iliesa Durrant,10 Eddie Hekenui, 9 Lee Peina (Chad Shepherd), 8 Kahu Marfell (Mutu Ngarimu), 7 Mark Bright, 6 Mike Johnson (capt), 5 Hayden Triggs (Mike Dwyer), 4 Campbell MacKenzie, 3 Gavin Briggs (Mike Thompson), 2 Mark Stewart (Derek Leefe), 1 Clint Newland
Coach: Glen Moore
Try: Ta’auso; Conversion: Manawatu; Penalty goals: Manawatu (5).
Scoring sequence (Fiji's score first)
9min PENALTY GOAL NZ DIV, Manawatu – 0-3
10min TRY FIJI, Tuilevu; Conversion Vulakoro – 7-3
20min TRY FIJI, Koyamaibole; Conversion Vulakoro – 14-3
23min PENALTY GOAL NZ DIV, Manawatu – 14-6
26min TRY NZ DIV, Ta'auso; Conversion Manawatu – 14-13
28min PENALTY GOAL NZ DIV, Manawatu – 14-16
37min TRY FIJI, Prasad; Conversion Vulakoro – 21-16
Half-time
50min PENALTY GOAL NZ DIV, Manawatu – 21-19
62min TRY FIJI, Ratuvou; Conversion Vulakoro – 28-19
65min PENALTY GOAL NZ DIV, Manawatu – 28-22
66min TRY FIJI, Rokobaro; Conversion Vulakoro – 35-22
68min TRY FIJI, Prasad; Conversion Vulakoro – 42-22
76min TRY FIJI, Bobo; – 47-22
79min TRY FIJI, Bobo; Conversion Vulakoro – 54-22
84min TRY FIJI, Vulakoro; Conversion Tora – 61-22
Full-time
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