Fiji fired a warning shot to Rugby World Cup hosts England in Burnaby, British Columbia, on Monday with a sparkling attacking performance to down tough-tackling Samoa 39-29 and win the Pacific Nations Cup.
Just under seven weeks from their opening World Cup fixture against England at Twickenham on Sept. 18, Fiji served a timely reminder of their potency to outscore Samoa by five tries to three. A see-saw battle at the Swangard Stadium saw Fiji race away to an early 17-3 lead before the physical Samoa looked to have reeled them early in the second half with two quick tries to take a 21-17 lead. However, just as Samoa appeared to have taken control of the contest, Fiji came roaring back with three quick tries that saw them pull clear and hang on for a deserved win. Fiji had gotten off to a dream start with early tries from athletic lock Leone Nakarawa and scrumhalf Niko Matawalu.
Nakarawa opened the scoring for the Fijians after just 90 seconds, bursting clear to score under the posts for a try converted by Joshua Matavesi.
Photo: AFP
Matavesi slotted a penalty to put Fiji 10-0 up before Samoa got on the scoresheet through Michael Stanley’s first three-pointer of the contest, a towering long-range effort from wide on the left.
However, Fiji had Samoa scrambling again when they snaffled a lineout and captain Akapusi Qera peeled off before feeding Matawalu, who sprinted over close to the posts, Matavesi adding a simple conversion to make it 17-3. Samoa fought back with two more Stanley penalties to make it 17-9 at halftime, and soon after the restart looked to have taken a grip when flanker Jack Lam crashed over from close range, before a wonderful individual run from right wing Fa’atoina Autagavaia made it 21-17.
Yet Fiji’s response was immediate, Nakarawa grabbing his second of the match to put his team 22-21 ahead after a clever cross-field kick by Ben Volavola caused havoc in the Samoan defense.
Samoa remained calm and Stanley kicked them back in front with another cool penalty to make it 24-22, but just as Fiji looked to be struggling against the power of the Samoa setpiece, the game turned on its head around the one-hour mark as the flamboyant islanders turned on the style to score two tries out of nothing.
The first came through full-back Kini Murimurivalu, going over in the corner for a try converted by Volavola to put Fiji 29-24 ahead.
However, Fiji saved their best for last and opened up a 12-point lead with a magnificent try from distance. Replacement Peceli Yato conjured a scintillating break in midfield before feeding the omnipresent Matavalu who went racing in under the posts. The scrumhalf then unselfishly popped a pass to skipper Qera following up, and with Volavola adding the conversion Fiji were suddenly 36-24 ahead.
Samoa ensured a nervous finish with Autagavaia scoring his second try of the match to reduce Fiji’s lead to 36-29, but with the conversion missed, the Samoans were always struggling to complete another comeback. Four minutes from time, Samoa were penalized at a ruck and Volavola stepped up to kick the three points and Fiji were home.
OUT AGAINST INDONESIA: Taiwan reached the semi-finals at the tournament for the first time by defeating Denmark, with Chou Tien-chen beating Viktor Axelsen Taiwan yesterday crashed out of the Thomas Cup team competition in Chengdu, China, but achieved their best result at the top-tier badminton event by reaching the semi-finals. Indonesia were too good in the semis, winning 3-0 to advance to today’s final against China, who eliminated Malaysia 3-1. In the opening singles of the men’s team clash at the Hi-Tech Zone Sports Center Gymnasium 2, Anthony Ginting defeated Taiwan’s Chou Tien-chen 21-18, 21-19 in 51 minutes, which put a huge hole in Taiwan’s aspirations to perhaps even make the final. In the men’s doubles, Fajar Alfian and Muhammad Ardianto downed Lee Yang and Wang
NO DOUBT: Spurs star Wembanyama was unanimously selected as NBA Rookie of the Year, winning all 99 votes to become the first Frenchman to capture the honor The Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday night produced a dominant defensive display to seize a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven playoff series against the Denver Nuggets with a 106-80 road victory. The third-seeded Timberwolves harassed Denver relentlessly to claim a second straight win over the NBA champions as the series heads back to Minneapolis for Game 3 on Friday. Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards scored 27 points apiece, but the star of the show was Minnesota’s suffocating defensive effort, which knocked Denver out of their stride almost from the tip-off. The Timberwolves finished with 11 steals and 12 blocks, in sharp contrast to
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek on Saturday came through “the most intense and crazy final” she has ever contested to avenge her loss to Aryna Sabalenka in last year’s Madrid Open final with a grueling three hour, 11 minute victory in the Spanish capital. Coming back from 1-3 down in the decider and saving three match points in total, Swiatek claimed a 7-5, 4-6, 7-6 (9/7) victory to secure the Madrid Open trophy for the first time. “Well, who is going to say now that women’s tennis is boring, right?” Swiatek said. Swiatek, who picked up the 20th title of her career, and ninth at
One of Malaysia’s top soccer clubs has pulled out of today’s season-opening Charity Shield after a spate of assaults, including an acid attack, on players in the country. It leaves the kickoff of Malaysia’s season this weekend under a cloud following the unprecedented acts of violence against players, which have left the country shocked and angry. Authorities said they have imposed tighter security, but Selangor said that they would not play in the showpiece curtain-raiser against Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) citing “a series of criminal incidents and recent threats.” Selangor and Malaysia winger Faisal Halim is in intensive care