Junior All Blacks wear out Fiji

By William Tabuya

Rupeni Caucau scored a superb try on his return in Fiji colours but it was not enough as the Junior All Blacks wore out the FMF Flying Fijians totriumph35-17 in the first round of the Pacific 5 Nations championship in Suva.

FMF Flying Fijians Coach Wayne Pivac felt they could have gone away with a victory but the Junior All Blacks kept it together when they needed to.

”We were beaten by a better team," Pivac said. "There were so many turnovers. The fitness disappeared during the game that resulted in us making mistakes. We had numbers in the backline and we need to work on what went wrong today.”

A well worked line-out from five meters resulted in an Aca Ratuva try as the Fijian forwards pushed the visitors into their own try line. Bai converted from wide as Fiji led 7-0.

Auckland Blues loose-man Nick Williams replied in the 11^th minute as he shoved his massive size through three defenders for the try. Stephen Donald converted.

A penalty a piece kept the visitors take a slender lead of 13-10 into half-time.

The second spell started with the wind behind the Junior All Blacks and Donald made no mistake as he nailed an early penalty after South African referee Craig Joubert blew for an offside.

The visitors dominated the second spell and looked to wear out the Fijians as they added 22 further points.

The Junior All Blacks settled in and displayed their touch of experience and grace as a counter attack and good support gave hard working flanker and New Zealand Commonwealth Games 7s rep Josh Blackie a try under the goal posts.

Cameron McIntyre added the conversion as he took over kicking duties.

McIntyre continued to punish the opposition with another penalty in the 49^th minute after repeated infringement in the ruck.

He again showed his class from the Canterbury Crusaders franchise as he sizzled through the Fijian defense to score a try before converting as they led 30-10.

The FMF Flying Fijians held on and looked to crossing the Junior All Blacks advantage line but did not have the needed support thus allowing the tourists to gain possession.

The local support of 20,000 fans seemed to have had enough after Johnny Leo’o scored another try, but one Fijian International did not give up.

Agen winger Rupeni Caucau pumped the gas from midfield, with the crowd cheering “Go Fiji Go” and he glided past two defenders before leaving Sosene Anesi in his wake to score under the posts.

The crowd gave a standing ovation as Bai converted the try. Junior All Blacks 35-17 over the FMF Flying Fijians.

Junior All Blacks coach thanked his boys for sticking to the game plan: ”We didn’t give Fiji space knowing that they have the speed and we attacked the ball on the ground to stop continuity and that’s what we’ve been doing for the super 14 competition”


Saturday 3 June, 2006
Fiji 17 Junior All Blacks 35
Pacific 5 Nations
Post Fiji Stadium, Suva
Half-time: 10-13
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Touch judges: George Ayoub (Australia), James Bolabiu (Fiji)
Att: 20,000

FIJI: 15 Norman Ligairi, 14 Mosese Luveitasau, 13 Epeli Ruivadra, 12 Seru Rabeni (Kameli Ratuvou 62), 11 Rupeni Caucau (Jo Tora 78), 10 Seremaia Baikeinuku, 9 Seveci Taka (Emosi Vucago 78), 8 Alifereti Doviverata, 7 Aca Ratuva (Akapusi Qera 67), 6 Ifereimi Rawaqa, 5 Simon Raiwalui (capt), 4 Isoa Domolailai (Netani Talei 53), 3 Apisai Nagi, 2 Sunia Koto (Joeli Lotawa 67), 1 Josese Bale (Ravuama Samo 62)
Coach: Wayne Pivac
Tries: Ratuva, Caucau; Conversions: Baikeinuku (2); Penalty goal: Baikeinuku

Junior All Blacks: 15 Sosene Anesi, 14 Anthony Tuitavake (Viliame Waqaseduadua 60), 13 Niva Ta’auso (Tamati Ellison 60), 12 Cameron McIntyre, 11 Caleb Ralph, 10 Stephen Donald, 9 Jamie Nutbrown (Kevin Senio 66), 8 Nick Williams, 7 Josh Blackie, 6 Steven Bates (Johnny Leo’o 58), 5 Bernie Upton, 4 Tom Donnelly (Hoani MacDonald 65), 3 John Afoa (Campbell Johnston 56), 2 Corey Flynn (capt), 1 Saimoni Taumoepeau (Wyatt Crockett 50)
Coach: Colin Cooper / Ian Foster
Tries: William, Blackie, McIntyre, Leo'o; Conversions: Donald, McIntyre (2); Penalty goals: Donald (2), McIntyre

Scoring sequence (Fiji's score shown first)
4min – TRY FIJI Ratuva; conversion Bai – 7-0
11min – PEN GOAL NZ, Donald – 7-3
16min– TRY NZ Williams; conversion Donald – 7-10
24min – PEN GOAL NZ, Donald – 7-13
29min – PEN GOAL Fiji, Bai (missed) – 7-13
31min – PEN GOAL Fiji, Bai – 10-13
40min – PEN GOAL NZ, Donald (missed) – 10-13
Half-time
41min – PEN GOAL NZ,  Donald (missed) – 10-13
43min – TRY NZ Blackie; conversion McIntyre – 10-20
49min – PEN GOAL NZ McIntyre – 10-23
51min – TRY NZ McIntyre; conversion McIntyre – 10-30
74min – TRY NZ Leo'o; conversion McIntyre (missed) – 10-35
76min – TRY FIJI Caucau; conversion Bai – 17-35
Full-time

Team Fiji main page