Fiji run rampant in blowout win over Georgia

Fiji restored some pride to their Rugby World Cup campaign as they ran away with a 45-10 victory over Georgia on Thursday in Osaka. The rain was hardly a factor for the winners, who take the decisive Pool D result to all but guarantee the automatic qualification position for RWC 2023.

It was a dead even stalemate in the opening quarter as both teams understood the stakes. A high tackle from Fiji gave Soso Matiashvili a crack at goal but despite one of the assistant referees bizarrely raising his flag, the kick was correctly waved wide and the score remained zeros.

The rain did not deter Fijian creativity and Ben Volavola spotted an opportunity behind the Georgian defense. His kick was gathered by Semi Radradra, and the winger fired a perfect pass back inside to Waisea Nayacalevu in support to race in for the first try. Volavola’s conversion made it a full seven.

With time winding down on the half the Georgians launched a desperate attack and though Giorgi Nemsadze knocked on over the line, advantage gave Matiashvili a second chance, this time from directly in front of the posts. He would make no mistake with the board reading 7-3 at the intermission.

More Fijian magic was conjured shortly after the break. A wide pass from Volavola connected with Kini Murimurivalu, who in turn fired a brilliant offload to put Radradra in space. After beating two defenders he offloaded to Frank Lomani to finish a cracking team effort.

The power of the Fijian backs was proving too much for Georgia to contain. After Sam Matavesi won a turnover, the attacking lineout came off the top and the ball was quickly shipped to Radradra peeling around as the extra man. Once again he put in the finishing pass, this time to Josua Tuisova screaming down the right side. Volavola pushed the kick wide but Fiji were 17-3 to the good.

Desperate to get the next score, Georgia won the restart and their forwards went to work. Eventually it was Mamuka Gorgodze who had the strength to squeeze over, with Matiashvili landing the conversion to make it a one-score game and pull the Lelos right back into the contest.

It was only temporary respite, however. From a scrum in their own end, Fiji ran another set move with Tuisova the extra man coming left from the right wing. Radradra would get the finish himself this time, sprinting away and stepping back inside to score a superb try under the posts.

The final dozen minutes of the game yielded three more tries for Fiji as Georgia’s defense was now in tatters. Semi Kunatani would spin over before a long-range gallop from second row Api Ratuniyarawa. Appropriately it was Radradra who scored last to cap man-of-the-match effort.

While their dreams of a Quarter Final spot are effectively over following the upset loss to Uruguay, Fiji can still play their part in their final pool match against Wales on Wednesday in Oita. Only a miracle result for Georgia against Australia in Shizuoka next Friday can restore them to a third place Pool D finish.

 

SCORING

FIJI 45
Tries – W. Nayacalevu (19’), F. Lomani (45’), J. Tuisova (50’), S. Radradra 2 (61’, 76’), S. Kunatani (68’), A. Ratuniyarawa (70’)
Cons – B. Volavola 5/7 (20’, 62’, 69’, 71’, 77’)

GEORGIA 10
Tries – M. Gorgodze (53’)
Cons – S. Matiashvili 1/1 (54’)
Pens – S. Matiashvili 1/2 (34’)

 

TEAMS

FIJI
1 Campese Ma’afu (17 Peni Ravai 55’), 2 Sam Matavesi (16 Veremalua Vugakoto 72’), 3 Manasa Saulo (18 Lee-Roy Atalifo 69’), 4 Tevita Cavubati (19 Api Ratuniyarawa 63’), 5 Leone Nakarawa, 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu (capt.), 7 Semi Kunatani, 8 Peceli Yato (20 Viliame Mata 63’), 9 Frank Lomani (21 Niko Matawalu 74’), 10 Ben Volavola, 11 Semi Radradra, 12 Levani Botia, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu (22 Jale Vatubua 72’), 14 Josua Tuisova, 15 Kini Murimurivalu (23 Josh Matavesi 72’)

GEORGIA
1 Mikheil Nariashvili (17 Guram Gogichashvili 57’), 2 Shalva Mamukashvili (16 Jaba Bregvadze 57’), 3 Beka Gigashvili (18 Levan Chilachava 65’), 4 Giorgi Nemsadze, 5 Kote Mikautadze (19 Otar Giorgadze 52’), 6 Giga Tkhilaishvili (20 Beka Saghinadze 52’), 7 Mamuka Gorgodze, 8 Beka Gorgadze, 9 Vaso Lobzhanidze (21 Gela Aprasidze 65’), 10 Lasha Khmaladze, 11 Sandro Todua (23 Mirian Modebadze 72’), 12 Merab Sharikadze (capt.) (22 Lasha Malaguradze 42’-55’, 69’), 13 Davit Kacharava, 14 Giorgi Kveseladze, 15 Soso Matiashvili

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistants: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) & Matthew Carley (England)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)