Sensational Uruguay fly past Fiji

Uruguay completely rejuvenated their World Rugby u20 Trophy chances with a stunning 34-3 win over Fiji on Saturday. The Fijians are well-known for their running rugby but it was Uruguay who showed attacking spirit while also using their traditional forward strength to devastating effect.

It didn’t take long for the Teritos to set the tone. From the kickoff they worked through the phases and when the Fijian defense was pulled out of shape they went wide, exploiting a gap a sending Alejo Piazza over for a magnificent score with barely a minute showing on the stadium clock. In the excitement Juan Martín Cattivelli could not convert but Uruguay were already bursting with confidence.

Fiji would put points on the board through a Filimoni Botitu penalty goal, but almost unbelievably that would be the end of their account in only the 6th minute. The Teritos defense proved impervious with not even an attempt at goal forthcoming for the Fijians in the remainder of the match.

The set piece gave Uruguay a major advantage and the lineout drive produced two tries before the break. Front row pair Guillermo Pujadas and Yamandú Arburúas each burrowed their way over after the maul had been collapsed short of the line. Piazza took over the kicking duties on the third try and made good on the conversion before adding a penalty to bring up half-time with Uruguay ahead by 17 points.

There would be nothing for Fiji to take home in the second half. The bonus point try went to Manuel Leindekar in almost identical fashion to the previous two, only this time instead of a maul at the lineout it was a lineout peel to Manuel Ardao that saw the flanker very nearly reach the line himself. Arburúas and Pujadas each came agonizingly close to scoring themselves before Leindekar it through.

Two moments of magic created the fifth and final try. First it was Pujadas with a one-handed grab to reel in a pass before selling a dummy that a midfielder would be proud of. The rampaging prop was finally felled but the quick recycle gave Cattivelli all the time he needed to spot Juan Garese loitering on the wing, and the cross-kick bounced up perfectly for the replacement flanker to fall onto the ball.

With that Uruguay are right back in the race for the promotion though they will need some help from their new Fijian friends in Punta del Este. If Uruguay defeat Hong Kong and Fiji can get past Portugal on Wednesday then it will be the Teritos who advance to the Final. After entering the game on Saturday with victory over Fiji very much uncertain, Uruguay can be forgiven if they take a moment to savor a famous win in the Montevideo moonlight.

 

SCORING

FIJI 3
Pens – F. Botitu 1/1 (6′)
Yellow cards – L. Nasamila (62′)

URUGUAY 34
Tries – A. Piazza (1′), G. Pujadas (10′), Y. Arburúas (36′), M. Leindekar (52′), J. Garese (65′)
Cons – J. Cattivelli 0/2, A. Piazza 3/3 (37′, 53′, 66′)
Pens – A. Piazza 1/1 (40′)

 

TEAMS

FIJI
1 Isaac Cavu, 2 Veremalua Vugakoto, 3 Luke Tagi, 4 Temo Mayanavanua (capt.), 5 Raikabula Moimoidonu, 6 Seru Ganita, 7 Saimoni Uluinakauvadra, 8 Apisalome Bogidrau, 9 Peni Matawalu, 10 Fabiano Navabale, 11 Veramu Turagavola, 12 Filimoni Botitu, 13 Viliame Suwawa, 14 Poniani Batiniu, 15 Josateki Dagei

Replacements: 16 Semi Navutu, 17 Immanuel Naciva, 18 Lorenzo Mario, 19 Lekima Nasamila, 20 Saverio Raiqisa, 21 Peniasi Ratu, 22 Jamie Kotz

URUGUAY
1 Jaime Coll, 2 Yamandú Arburúas, 3 Guillermo Pujadas, 4 Joaquín García, 5 Manuel Leindekar, 6 Manuel Ardao, 7 James McCubbin, 8 Santiago Civetta, 9 Joaquín Freitas, 10 Juan Martín Cattivelli, 11 Martín Fitipaldo, 12 Agustín Della Corte (capt.), 13 Juan Manuel Fernández, 14 Alejo Piazza, 15 Matías D’Avanzo

Replacements: 16 Matías Aboy, 17 Reinaldo Piussi, 18 Agustín Sosa, 19 Martín Darracq, 20 Juan Garese, 21 Juan Nicola, 22 Manuel Portela

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Tasuku Kawahara (JRFU)
Assistants: Tornike Gvirjishvili (GRU) & Ionut Bodea (FRR)