SPORTS

Fiji Airways Fijian 7s Team Upset New Zealand To Progress

Baber during halftime told the players the importance of accuracy and the need to connect their pass­es all the time.
16 Apr 2019 00:05
Fiji Airways Fijian 7s Team Upset New Zealand To Progress
Fiji’s Asaeli Tuivuaka fends off New Zealand’s Joe Webber on day two of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Singapore on 14 April, 2019. Photo credit: Mike Lee – KLC fotos for World Rugby

The Fiji Airways Fijian 7s team bounced back to upset favourites New Zealand 19-5 in the Cup quarterfinal of the Sin­gapore 7s yesterday.

Coach Gareth Baber made posi­tional changes with Livai Ikan­ikoda being moved back to half­back, Vilimoni Botitu manning the playmaker’s berth while Sevuloni Mocenacagi played at rover with Josua Vakurunabili joining the for­wards.

Baber during halftime told the players the importance of accuracy and the need to connect their pass­es all the time.

The Kiwis started strongly with a try to Tim Mikkelson which was not converted for a 5-0 lead.

The Fijians struck back when Aminiasi Tuimaba pulled in two defenders before offloading it to Vakurunabili for a try in the corner as the scores were tied at 5-5.

The Kiwis were unfortunate when Meli Derenalagi was denied a try by the referee and resulted in Boti­tu copping a yellow card for tapping the ball away.

However, sensing an upset win, the Fijians kept applying the pres­sure as the Kiwis were reluctant to commit themselves and a long pass to Regan Ware being ruled forward.

From the scrum Ikanikoda pow­ered his way past Kurt Baker and Akuila Rokolisoa to score the sec­ond try before adding the conver­sion.

New Zealand had a chance to score their second try but Rokolisoa lost the ball forward while on the try-line.

In the second half Botitu ran away from a Sam Dickson tackle to score the third try with Ikanikoda land­ing the conversion from far out.

There were a number of errors committed by both teams as they failed to register any points.

QUARTERFINAL RESULTS

Challenge Trophy- Scotland 38-10 Spain, Wales 19-17 Hong Kong, Ja­pan 14-33 Canada, France 24-14 Ken­ya, Cup- South Africa 21-12 Samoa, USA 12-0 Argentina, New Zealand 5-19 Fiji, Australia 12-31 England

Edited by Sheldon Chanel

Feedback: leonec@fijisun.com.fj

 



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