Sloppy Selects crushed by Fiji Warriors

The USA fared little better than their northern neighbors as a number of errors contributed to a blowout 62-12 loss to the Fiji Warriors in the first round of the Americas Pacific Challenge on Saturday. While the Selects were busy losing possession at key moments, the Fijians made them pay dearly for each mistake en route to 10 tries including six unanswered scores in a dismal second half for the Americans.

It was a promising start for the USA as Matai Leuta was first to a chip ahead by Mike Te’o to score the game’s first points after only five minutes. The mistakes appeared immediately, however, and JP Eloff was charged down leaving the ball for Ifereimi Tovilevu to touch down. It was Eloff again on the wrong end of fortune when the flyhalf knocked on and quick hands put Fred Hickes over for Fiji’s second score at the 15 minute mark.

A dominant Fijian scrum gave no8 Eremasi Radrodro the perfect platform to bolt and barrel over for a third score. Te’o almost conjured a second score for the Selects with a scything run down the field but his final pass was knocked away by the cover defense and Bryce Campbell’s desperate attempt for the ball was ruled a knock-on in goal. Repeat infringements put Martin Iosefo in the bin and Fiji took full advantage, scoring their fourth through prop Mesake Doge just before half-time.

The USA’s woes continued early in the second half when Demecus Beach was shown yellow following a collapsed scrum, leaving the Selects with only 13 men on the pitch for three minutes. Somehow they held out and when Iosefo returned a line break by Leuta set up an attacking lineout. From the ensuing maul Stephen Tomasin darted off the back to score for the Selects and make it a two-score game.

Sadly for the Americans that would be as close as they came. A kick and chase from Lepani Raiyala ended with Radrodro in for his second, and from the kickoff Eroni Vasiteri put Alivereti Veitokani over for a deflating score. The scrum conceded a penalty try followed by an intercept score from impressive flanker Vasikali Mudu, with Sakiusa Nadruku and Apete Daveta adding to the American misery.

A chance for redemption will come on Wednesday as the Selects face Canada in a battle of the wounded, while Fiji march towards the title with a physical challenge against Samoa next up.

 

SCORING

USA SELECTS 12
Tries – M. Leuta (5), S. Tomasin (47)
Cons – J. Eloff (48)
Yellow cards – M. Iosefo (37), D. Beach (44)

FIJI WARRIORS 62
Tries – I. Tovilevu (7), F. Hickes (15), E. Radrodro 2 (28, 51), M. Doge (39), A. Veitokani (52) Penalty try (59), V. Mudu (65), S. Nadruku (68), A. Daveta (73)
Cons – A. Veitokani 6 (16, 40, 51, 60, 66, 69)

 

TEAMS

USA SELECTS
1 Mason Pederson 2 Joe Taufete’e (capt.) 3 Demecus Beach 4 Siaosi Mahoni 5 Matt Jensen 6 Harry Higgins 7 Pat Blair 8 Sione Tu’ihalamaka 9 Stephen Tomasin 10 JP Eloff 11 Matai Leuta 12 Martin Iosefo 13 Bryce Campbell 14 Brett Thompson 15 Mike Te’o

16 Hanco Germishuys 17 Chance Wenglewski 18 Alex Maughan 19 Christian Ostberg 20 Malon Al-Jiboori 21 Nick Boyer 22 Ben Cima 23 Ahmad Harajly

FIJI WARRIORS
1 Joeli Veitayaki 2 Jerry Naureure 3 Mesake Doge 4 Rupeni Nasiga (capt.) 5 Mesulame Kunavula 6 Nemani Nagusa 7 Vasikali Mudu 8 Eremasi Radrodro 9 Henry Seniloli 10 Alivereti Veitokani 11 Fred Hickes 12 Eroni Vasiteri 13 Ifereimi Tovilevu 14 Apete Daveta 15 Lepani Raiyala

16 Iliesa Leca 17 Mosese Ducivaki 18 Kalivati Tawake 19 Esikia Macu 20 Sakiusa Nadruku 21 Sakiusa Gavidi 22 Ilimeleki Leiloma 23 Sitiveni Kunaga

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Pali De Luca (UAR)
Assistants: Santiago Romero (URU) & Rodrigo Goyret (URU)
TMO: Alejandro Longres (URU)