Fiji cruise to victory over Canada

Fiji were well short of their best, but still had enough class to take a dominant 38-13 win over Canada in the second round of the Pacific Nations Cup at Suva. As expected, it was a difficult match for the Canadians who struggled to find parity in any aspect of the contest.

Canada’s scoring opportunities came without exception from Fiji’s casual first half approach. An early penalty opportunity was converted by Shane O’Leary to give the men in red an early lead.

The home side had no intention of kicking for points. After going through a handful of phases, the overlap was on wide left where Viliame Mata was waiting. The giant No8 had more than enough pace to make the corner for the first try.

O’Leary knocked over a second penalty after Peceli Yato unbound from the scrum early before smashing into Gordon McRorie. Yato made up for the indiscretion by pounding on a loose ball to score after Henry Seniloli disrupted the transfer between McRorie and Luke Campbell at a defensive put-in.

The Fijian scrum had the better of their opposites and won a penalty to earn field position. With a penalty just 5 meters out, instead of another set piece Fiji opted for a tap play and Leone Nakarawa was unstoppable from close range.

Repeat box kicks seemed to be Canada’s strategy in the wind and one finally paid off late in the first half. Fiji regained possession but Seniloli’s offload was intercepted by Nick Blevins, with quick hands sending Kainoa Lloyd into the corner. O’Leary beautifully curled the sideline kick through the posts to make is a one-score game at the break.

There would be little to cheer for from a Canadian perspective following the restart. Within 10 minutes Fiji had scored twice. The first was through Peni Ravai, who drove past multiple defenders to reach the line. The second was a scintillating attack from their own end with Semi Radradra sending Josua Tuisova on a 60-meter sprint to the corner.

More Fijian indiscipline gave Canada multiple attacking lineouts but they were repeatedly foiled, and instead it was Fiji who taught the Canadians a lesson in the driving maul. Once forward momentum was established, replacement hooker Mesulame Dolokoto broke off the side and powered through McRorie for the sixth and final try.

The final found of the competition will see Canada taking on Tonga at Churchill Park in Lautoka on Friday. A couple-header in Suva on Saturday will finish with the home side playing against Samoa.

 

SCORING

FIJI 38
Tries – V. Mata (8’), P. Yato (17’), L. Nakarawa (30’), P. Ravai (43’), J. Tuisova (49’), M. Dolokoto (67’)
Cons – J. Matavesi 4/6 (18’, 31’, 44’, 68’)

CANADA 13
Tries – K. Lloyd (36’)
Cons – S. O’Leary 1/1 (37’)
Pens – S. O’Leary 2/2 (4’, 13’)

 

TEAMS

FIJI
1 Campese Ma’afu (17 Eroni Mawi 50’), 2 Veremalua Vugakoto (16 Mesulame Dolokoto 50’), 3 Peni Ravai (18 Lee-Roy Atalifo 50’), 4 Tevita Ratuva, 5 Leone Nakarawa (capt.) (19 Tevita Cavubati 59’), 6 Peceli Yato (20 Mosese Voka 71’), 7 Semi Kunatani, 8 Viliame Mata, 9 Henry Seniloli (21 Niko Matawalu 59’), 10 Josh Matavesi, 11 Eroni Sau, 12 Jale Vatubua (22 Ben Volavola 58’), 13 Semi Radradra, 14 Josua Tuisova (23 Patrick Osborne 54’), 15 Kini Murimurivalu

CANADA
1 Rob Brouwer (17 Djustice Sears-Duru 50’), 2 Eric Howard (16 Andrew Quattrin 69’), 3 Jake Ilnicki (18 Matt Tierney 44’), 4 Conor Keys (19 Evan Olmstead 39’), 5 Kyle Baillie (capt.), 6 Justin Blanchet (20 Mike Sheppard 2’), 7 Lucas Rumball (21 Matt Heaton 56’), 8 Luke Campbell, 9 Gordon McRorie, 10 Shane O’Leary (22 Jamie Mackenzie 61’), 11 Kainoa Lloyd, 12 Ciaran Hearn, 13 Nick Blevins (23 Conor Trainor 67’), 14 Jeff Hassler, 15 Peter Nelson

 

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: Mike Fraser (NZRU)
Assistants: Nick Briant (NZRU) & Graham Cooper (ARU)