American Eagles flyhalf Mike Hercus missed a sideline conversion with the last kick of the match Wednesday and Fiji escaped with a 19-18 win in a World Cup Group B thriller at Brisbane.
Nicky Little kicked 14 points as Fiji rallied from a 10-point deficit to lead 19-13 with just a minute remaining.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Then Hercus brilliantly scooped the ball up for flanker Kort Schubert to cross in the left corner.
It was then down to Hercus to try and win the match for the Americans from the conversion just two meters inside the touchline on the left. But his kick stayed wide right. It was an undeserving way for the Americans to bring up a World Cup record -- for the longest losing stretch -- on their ninth consecutive loss.
"We were very very disappointed we didn't get that one. But that was a hell of an effort. No one in the world of rugby gave us a chance and we almost pulled one out," said Eagles captain David Hodges, who plays professionally in Wales for Llanelli.
"We talked about not giving them the ball at turnovers and loose kicks and that's kind of what we did. Penalties too so that they could quick tap them. That's their game -- they like to throw it around a little bit and it it's difficult to defend that.
"Our aims were to penetrate them right from the get go," Hodges said. "To get after them at first phase and try to crack them. I think we got a bit of that but they stole a little bit of our ball in the second half as well."
Fijian captain Alivereti Doviverata said his team badly needed the victory after a heavy loss to France on Saturday.
"Coming into this game when the chips were down after that first loss on Saturday a win is a win for us and we're happy about that and we look forward to the next game," he said.
"We knew from the start that they were going to come hard at us. We have played them a few times before and they're a tough side. The message in the dressing room was just to keep the ball keep recycling it until we get the tries."
The Fijians had gone behind 13-3 when US winger Riaan van Zyl chased down a deep angled kick from Hercus, getting the bounce of the ball and scoring untouched under the posts four minutes after halftime. Hercus, who landed two penalties in the first half, landed the conversion to increase the gap to 10 points.
The try stung Fiji into action. Api Naevi finally crossed after a 60m counterattack.
Vilimoni Delasau burst through two tacklers and unloaded to Marika Vunibaka, who sprinted deep into the attacking quarter before he was dragged down and popped a ball up for Greg Smith. Smith found the high-striding Naevi in support.
Little converted and then slotted a penalty from in front four minutes later as Fiji hit the front for the first time in the 59th minute.
He added another three-pointer seven minutes later to give the Fijians a six-point buffer at 19-13 and then opted to kick for touch instead of goal inside the last seven minutes, when a successful kick would have sealed the match.
Italy 29, tonga 12
Flyhalf Rimo Wakarua kicked 21 points and set up a try on his international debut Wednesday to give Italy a vital 29-12 World Cup win over Tonga.
Center Manuel Dallan scored one try, while brother and winger Denis notched two for Italy at Canberra stadium in the Australian capital as the Italians rebounded from their 70-7 loss to the All Blacks on Saturday.
Italy now sits in third place in Pool D with four points. New Zealand and Wales share the top spot on five after earning a bonus point each for scoring four or more tries in a single match, while Canada and Tonga are yet to earn a point.
"I think that we won a very difficult match because for each team it was important to win to continue in the World Cup so I am very happy," said Italian captain and scrumhalf Alessandro Troncon.
"We played with a lot of rigour, with discipline. We scored the tries when we had to score. We had a good defense."
Tonga's World Cup hopes were dealt a blow after captain and flanker Inoke Afeaki was injured in the second half. An immobile Afeaki was stretchered from the field after clashing heads with an Italian forward while attempting a tackle in the 56th minute.
Flyhalf Sateki Tu'ipulotu missed two penalties and one conversions to squander eight valuable points for Tonga.
Italy opened the scoring in the third minute with the first of three first half penalty kicks courtesy of New Zealand-born Wakarua.
The physical Tongan forwards made their presence known early, with flanker Ipolito Fenukitau given a yellow card and 10 minutes off the field in the second minute for a late and high tackle on Italian center Cristian Stoica.
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