Canada fall to Classy Fiji in London

Sometimes in international competition a heavy defeat can be described as not being a true reflection of the match in question. The 47-18 scoreline, though in which Fiji overcame Canada this afternoon in London was very much explanatory. The Pacific Islanders were the much better side and now head to the World Cup with an eye on upsetting England.

The decision to have Fiji rather than heavyweights Australia open the World Cup was highly questionable but the form of England throughout 2015 cannot be described as being dangerous. England has labored to victories in addition to being well out classed such as was the case recently in Paris.

Fiji, by way of comparison, has backed up winning the Pacific Nations Cup title by clearly getting the better of Canada. It ought to send fear into the players and supporters of Pool A teams. Termed the Pool of Death Fiji join Australia, England, Uruguay and Wales and will fancy their chances while Wales awaits the outcome of injuries to key personal.

Canada’s aim of completing two wins in Pool D appears to be a distant dream. Troubling either of the heavyweights, France and Ireland, would require much more than what was shown today against Fiji while the same could be said of what Canada must produce to defeat not only Italy but also Romania.

Romania has completed two wins over Canada in the years since the previous Rugby World Cup and came closer to defeating Tonga this weekend than Canada did at home in the Pacific Nations Cup. The match between Canada and Romania in Milton Keynes looms as being the only realistic win for either team.

Doing so for Canada will require a much improved performance than that of today in London where two late tries reduced what had been a very large gulf between the competitors. The difference between the teams may appear small in that Fiji scored five tries to Canada’s three while Nemani Nadolo landed his kicks and Gordon McRorie missed his. In actuality, though, Fiji was clinical and Canada the inferior team until near the very end.

Nadolo’s 22 points were a highlight with ten of them being from conversions of what were, often, highly impressive tries with Fiji slicing through and around Canadian defenders. Early signs were, nonetheless, positive as Canada responded to two early Nadolo penalties to make it a 6-3 match. What followed was 17 unanswered points with the match appearing over at half time.

Scrumhalf Niko Matawalu scored a superb try after selling a dummy pass and his individual brilliance returned as he broke free to set up Waisea Nayacalevu. In no time the match had changed with Fiji leading 23-3.

A Phil Mackenzie break set-up Conor Trainor for Canada’s opening try but with McRorie off target and Matawalu scoring his second try any hope of Canada fighting back in the second half appeared buried.

It took almost twenty minutes for the first second half points. When Nadolo landed a conversion follwing Nayacalevu’s second try Fiji was in total control leading 40-8. DTH van der Merwe gave Canada some credibility by scoring two late tries but it was Fiji who closed out the match on top with Metuisela Talebula intercepting a Connor Braid pass to score.

The teams now have less than two weeks to prepare for the World Cup. Fiji will face England in London on Friday September 18 while Canada will begin the following day against Ireland in Cardiff, Wales.

 

SCORING

CANADA 18
Tries – C. Trainor (32′), D. van der Merwe 2 (68′, 73′)
Cons – G. McRorie 0/1, C. Braid 0/2
Pens – G. McRorie 1/1 (16′)

FIJI 47
Tries – N. Matawalu 2 (22′, 38′), W. Nayacalevu 2 (26′, 60′), M. Talebula (78′)
Cons – N. Nadolo 5/5 (23′, 27′, 39′, 61′, 79′)
Pens – N. Nadolo 4/4 (9′, 12′, 31′, 64′)
Yellow cards – N. Talei (71′)

 

TEAMS

CANADA
1 Hubert Buydens (17 Djustice Sears-Duru 54′), 2 Benoît Pifféro (16 Aaron Carpenter 54′), 3 Jason Marshall (18 Jake Ilnicki 16′), 4 Evan Olmstead, 5 Jamie Cudmore (capt.) (19 Brett Beukeboom 54′), 6 Kyle Gilmour, 7 Nanyak Dala, 8 Richard Thorpe, 9 Gordon McRorie (21 Phil Mack 57′), 10 Liam Underwood, 11 DTH van der Merwe, 12 Connor Braid, 13 Conor Trainor, 14 Phil Mackenzie (23 Nick Blevins 70′), 15 Harry Jones (22 Ciaran Hearn 46′)

Not used: 20 John Moonlight

FIJI
1 Campese Ma’afu (17 Peni Ravai 54′), 2 Sunia Koto (16 Vili Veikoso 66′), 3 Manasa Saulo (18 Lee-Roy Atalifo 70′), 4 Api Ratuniyarawa (19 Tevita Cavubati 59′), 5 Leone Nakarawa, 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu, 7 Akapusi Qera (capt.) (16 Vili Veikoso 62′-66′), 8 Masi Matadigo (20 Netani Talei HT), 9 Niko Matawalu (21 Nemia Kenatale HT), 10 Josh Matavesi (22 Asaeli Tikoirotuma 62′), 11 Nemani Nadolo, 12 Gaby Lovobalavu, 13 Vereniki Goneva (23 Kini Murimurivalu 76′), 14 Waisea Nayacalevu, 15 Metuisela Talebula

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)