Fiji showed their class with a dominant 63-10 win over Canada in Pacific Nations Cup action on Sunday. Played at the neutral venue of Denver, the result sends the Fijians into next week’s tournament final against Japan at Salt Lake City while the Canadians will square off against Tonga for third place.
It was largely one-way traffic for the Fijians in the first half, carrying on at a rate of nearly a point a minute through the hour mark. Six tries were up on the board by halftime despite a red card to Mesake Doge for a dangerous tackle. Kalaveti Ravouvou led the way for the Fijians with a hat trick, while Kemu Valetini – a late addition to the starting lineup – kicked six conversions and two penalty goals.
For Canada there was slim pickings with a three pointer to Peter Nelson accounting for all of his team’s points in the second half. A half-break and offload from Matthew Oworu set Brock Gallagher away on a 35-meter sprint for what would be Canada’s only try of the game in the 59th minute.
*file to be updated*
CANADA 10
Tries – B. Gallagher
Cons – P. Nelson
Pens – P. Nelson
FIJI 63
Tries – T. Rakuro 2, M. Vocevoce, E. Waqa. K. Ravouvou 3, E. Mawi, J. Nasova
Cons – K. Valetini 6
Pens – K. Valetini 2
YC – E. Waqa
RC – M. Doge
CANADA
1 Cali Martinez, 2 Dewald Kotze, 3 Cole Keith, 4 Piers von Dadelszen, 5 Callum Botchar, 6 Mason Flesch (capt.), 7 Sion Parry, 8 Matthew Oworu, 9 Jason Higgins, 10 Peter Nelson, 11 Josiah Morra, 12 Spencer Jones, 13 Noah Flesch, 14 Nic Benn, 15 Shane O’Leary
Replacements: 16 Jesse Mackail, 17 Emerson Prior, 18 Conor Young, 19 Izzak Kelly, 20 Matt Heaton, 21 Brock Gallagher, 22 Talon McMullin, 23 Kainoa Lloyd
FIJI
1 Eroni Mawi, 2 Tevita Ikanivere (capt.), 3 Mesake Doge, 4 Mesake Vocevoce, 5 Isoa Nasilasila, 6 Etonia Waqa, 7 Elia Canakaivata, 8 Viliame Mata, 9 Simione Kuruvoli, 10 Kemu Valetini, 11 Taniela Rakuro, 12 Inia Tabuavou, 13 Seta Tamanivalu, 14 Kalaveti Ravouvou, 15 Ponipate Loganimasi
Replacements: 16 Zuriel Togiatama, 17 Haereiti Hetet, 18 Samu Tawake, 19 Temo Mayanavanua, 20 Motikiai Murray, 21 Sam Wye, 22 Caleb Muntz, 23 Joji Nasova
Date: Sunday, September 14
Venue: DSG Park, Denver
Kickoff: 18:30 local
Weather: sunny, 73°F (23°C), wind E 4-6mph (6-10km/h)
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
Assistants: Craig Evans (Wales) & Lex Weiner (USA)
TMO: Tual Trainini (France)
