Fiji defeat Barbarians in Twickenham spectacle

Fiji defeated the Barbarians 33-31 in an exciting spectacle at Twickenham on Saturday to claim the Killik Cup. The match featured two Americas players – Enrique Pieretto and Tyler Ardron – and four players who will join Major League Rugby for the upcoming season.

The first try was scored in a rather un-Barbarian-like manner, with Mathieu Bastareaud driving over from short range after Makazole Mapimpi came close on the end of several phases. Curwin Bosch pushed the conversion side, but New York fans were pleased to see their incoming star making an early impact.

Two destined to play against Bastareaud in MLR were prominent in Fiji’s reply. Utah-bound Veremalua Vugakoto broke through the line on a neat angle, and quick ball to Enele Malele saw the lanky fullback reach out of the tackle to ground the ball on the line to the delight of Austinites watching from abroad.

The pair were in on the act again just a couple minutes later. Teti Tala ran free and connected with Frank Lomani, who bobbed and weaved to within five meters of the goal. As Vugakoto cleared the breakdown, Malele was there to pick and pop to Tela for a second Fiji try.

André Esterhuizen got one back for the Barbarians with little delay. Again it was comparatively uninspired. After opting for a 5-meter scrum at a penalty, there was no trickery, only a straight line run by the big South African center to smash his way in for a seven-pointer.

It wasn’t a minute into the second half when Fiji crossed for their third try. Joe Powell’s box kick went nowhere and Tela put a nifty grubber in behind the defense for Patrick Osborne to regather. Mosese Voka drove ahead and managed to offload to his flanker mate Johnny Dyer for the score.

The Barbarians at last chanced their arm and it paid off. Peter Samu and Tyler Ardron combined to put Bosch in space and his chip ahead forced Fiji to concede a 5-meter scrum. After a couple short phases were stopped, the ball went wide to Makazole Mapimpi to score in the corner.

A half-break from replacement flanker Mesulame Kunavula down the right side opened up space for Fiji on the left. Osborne took it on further, and then Asaeli Tikoirotuma spun and offloaded to big second row Temo Mayanavanua to stretch over for another try.

The 28-17 scoreline held until the 74th minute when the fans were treated to a scoring barrage. Dyer grabbed his second after a wonderful behind-the-back offload from Tikoirotuma.

Not to be outdone, Mapimpi got his double in similar fashion to his first. Somehow there was enough time for one more try. David Havili and Dillyn Leyds worked a give-and-go down the right side with replacement flyhalf Morné Steyn trailing in support to finish the move, his sideline conversion the final points of the contest.

The Barbarians head to Brazil for their historic contest in São Paulo on Wednesday before returning to the UK to face Wales in Cardiff. Fiji’s campaign is over, with the team not to reconvene before the new July test window and the future of coach John McKee still to be decided in the meantime.

 

SCORING

BARBARIANS 31
Tries – M. Bastareaud (19’), A. Esterhuizen (31’), M. Mapimpi 2 (47’, 77’), M. Steyn (79’)
Cons – C. Bosch 1/3 (32’), M. Steyn 2/2 (78’, 80’)

FIJI 33
Tries – E. Malele (24’), T. Tela (26’), J. Dyer 2 (41’, 74’), T. Mayanavanua (51’)
Cons – T. Tela 4/4 (25’, 27’, 42’, 52’), E. Malele 0/1

 

TEAMS

BARBARIANS
1 Tendai Mtawarira (17 Campese Ma’afu 62’), 2 Rory Best (capt.) (16 Andrew Makalio 53’), 3 Enrique Pieretto (18 Hencus van Wyk 44’), 4 Luke Jones, 5 Tyler Ardron (20 Matt Philip 53’), 6 Peter Samu, 7 Marco van Staden (19 Angus Cottrell 21’-28’), 8 Josh Strauss (19 Angus Cottrell 46’), 9 Joe Powell (21 Jano Vermaak 53’), 10 Curwin Bosch (23 Morné Steyn 63’), 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 12 André Esterhuizen, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud (22 Lukhanyo Am 48’), 14 Dillyn Leyds, 15 David Havili

FIJI
1 Eroni Mawi (17 Joeli Veitayaki 70’), 2 Veremalua Vugakoto (16 Tevita Ikanivere 62’), 3 Samuela Tawake (18 Mosese Ducivaki 67’), 4 Temo Mayanavanua (19 Tevita Naqali 62’), 5 Sikeli Nabou, 6 Mosese Voka, 7 Johnny Dyer, 8 Eremasi Radrodro (20 Mesulame Kunavula 46’), 9 Frank Lomani (capt.) (21 Peni Matawalu 75’), 10 Teti Tela (22 Caleb Muntz 75’), 11 Patrick Osborne, 12 Serupepeli Vularika (23 Cyril Reece 63’), 13 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 14 Jiuta Wainiqolo, 15 Enele Malele

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Tom Foley (England)
Assistants: Simon Harding (England) & Dean Richards (England)
TMO: David Grashoff (England)

 

Attendance: 51,213