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 TEIVOVO.COM – INTERNATIONAL RESULTS
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Saturday 20 May 2007
Young FMF Flying Fijians fall just short Samoa
The FMF Flying Fijians put on a brave and defensively sound performance against a more experienced Manu Samoa side in the opening match of the 2007 IRB Pacific Nations Cup, but fell 8-3 at a muddy Apia Park on Saturday.
With six new caps in the starting line-up and another two getting a run from the bench, FMF Flying Fijians coach Ilivasi Tabua gave us a glimpse of the future of Fiji rugby, and no-one let him down. Indeed, several of the debutants shone brightly.
Loosehead prop Alefoso Yalayalatabua had a terrific game, putting in some telling tackles and adding another dimension to the attack. If anything, he suffered from a lack of support when going forward.
Big Taranaki No.8 Tomasi Soqeta also flexed his muscles and showed composure at the back of the pack. And the 21-year-old Dan Rawaqa took the fullback duties in his stride, kicking Fiji’s only points – a penalty goal in the second minute.
Isoa Neivua handled the conditions and some difficult balls very well, and was unlucky not to score a try when he toed ahead only to stumble in the mud metres short. Australia-based midfield man Vitori Buatava replaced Jack Prasad at fly-half for the last quarter and appeared at ease in his first taste of Test rugby.
Fiji’s organisation was underlined when Wame Lewaravu received a yellow card from Australian referee Paul Marks shortly after coming on in the 60th minute. For the time Lewaravu was in the sin-bin, Samoa held possession in the Fiji half but couldn’t get past the 14 men.
Whilst Fiji’s tackling and positional play in defence was first-rate, they did commit a few unforced errors that proved costly in terms of possession and territory, and some decision-making towards the end was a little suspect. Some of this could be attributed to the heavy conditions.
In the 25th minute, Samoan hooker Mahonri Schwalger scored the only try of the match following a rolling maul towards the corner. And late in the game, fullback Gavin Williams converted a penalty goal to make it 8-3 to the hosts – the lowest aggregate score for a full Samoa-Fiji Test since the very first one back in 1924 [the match that Samoa won 6-0 in 1983 was abandoned early in the second half].
Saturday 19 May 2007
Samoa 8 FMF Flying Fijians 3
IRB Pacific Nations Cup
Apia Park, Apia
Half-time: 5-3
Referee: Paul Marks (Australia)
Touch judges: James Leckie (Australia), Hemi Siaosi (Samoa)
Crowd:
SAMOA: 15 Gavin Williams, 14 Davis Lemi, 13 Anetalea Tuilagi (Tauvaga Faafou 79), 12 Brian Lima, 11 Lome Faatau, 10 Loki Crichton, 9 Steven Sooialo (Notise Tauafao 79), 8 Semo Sititi, 7 Alapasa Cordtz, 6 Justin Purdie (Ulia Ulia 63), 5 Kane Thompson, 4 Filipo Levi (Leo Lafaialii 79), 3 Fosi Palaamo (Muliufi Salanoa 53), 2 Mahonri Schwalger, 1 Donald Kerslake (Naama Leleimalefaga 70).
Not used: Joshua Kei
Coach: Michael Jones
Try: Schwalger; Penalty goal: Williams.
FMF FLYING FIJIANS: 15 Taniela Rawaqa (Marika Vakacegu 79), 14 Vesi Rauluni, 13 Vereniki Goneva, 12 Dan Baleinadogo, 11 Isoa Neivua, 10 Jack Prasad (Vitori Buatava 70), 9 Seveci Taka, 8 Tomasi Soqeta, 7 Akapusi Qera (Netani Talei 61), 6 Alifereti Doviverata (capt), 5 Langi Peters (Wame Lewaravu 63, yellow card 64-73), 4 Kele Leawere, 3 Tiko Matawalu (Apisai Turukawa 61), 2 Sunia Koto, 1 Alefoso Yalayalatabua.
Not used: Viliame Gadolo, Gabiriele Lovobalvu
Coach: Ilivasi Tabua
Penalty goal: Rawaqa
Scoring sequence (Samoa’s points shown first):
3min – PEN GOAL FIJI, Rawaqa – 0-3
25min – TRY SAMOA, Schwalger; conversion Crichton (missed) – 5-3
Half-time
41min – PEN GOAL SAMOA, Crichton (missed) – 5-3
61min – Yellow card Fiji, Lewaravu
78min – PEN GOAL SAMOA, Williams – 8-3
83min – PEN GOAL FIJI, Buatava (missed) – 8-3
Full-time
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