Fiji ensured that their 2015 Rugby World Cup campaign would not be a winless one thanks to a 47-15 victory over Uruguay in their final pool encounter at the Stadium:mk this evening.
The Pacific Islanders headed into the match in the knowledge that they could not qualify for the quarter-finals following defeats at the hands of England, Australia and Wales.
However, their performances in those games had been widely lauded and they continued that positive form with just three minutes on the clock in Milton Keynes. Levani Botia looked destined to score the opening try in the corner, but an illegal tackle from Agustin Ormaechea - which resulted in a yellow card for the Uruguayan - subsequently provided referee JP Doyle with little option but to award a penalty try.
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Up against 14 men for the next 10 minutes, Fiji went on to make their numerical advantage count when Nemia Kenatale scampered down the right flank to touch down, although on a negative note, Nemani Nadolo was unable to make the conversion from a wide position.
Uruguay, who like their opponents knew that they will be heading home after the pool stage, had offered little in an attacking sense up until this point. However, in the space of two minutes, Pablo Lemoine's men had got themselves to within two points of Fiji. A penalty from Alejo Duran contributed three points, before Carlos Arboleya stretched just far enough to score his country's first try at a World Cup since Lemoine himself crossed against England 12 years ago.
Yet, rather than inspire the South Americans to put further points on the board, a string of errors instead saw Fiji extend their lead to 26-10 before the break. A collapsed scrum resulted in a second penalty try being given in the 27th minute and then with two minutes of the first half left to play, Leone Nakarawa broke clear to score between the posts and secure the bonus point for his team. On both occasions, Nadolo was accurate with the extras.
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Fiji were the dominant team in terms of possession during the opening exchanges of the second half, but having been unable to find a way through, it was Uruguay that scored the game's next try against the run of play in the 58th minute. Matias Beer spearheaded the breakaway with his feet, but the bounce did not fall his way and it seemed that the chance had gone until Ormaechea swooped down the short side to go over.
But, just as they had done in the opening 40 minutes, Fiji responded to the Uruguay try by scoring two of their own in the 65th and 66th minute to put the outcome beyond doubt. Tevita Cavubati powered over for the first, while the second saw Kini Murimurivalu finish off a sweeping move. In the aftermath of Murimurivalu's try, Uruguay's Ormaechea was red carded for an alteration with Campese Ma'afu, who was handed a yellow card for his troubles.
There was still enough time remaining for Nadolo to score and convert a seventh try in the 78th minute for Fiji, which brought an end to the drama that had been played out in front of a stadium-record 30,048 people.
Liam Apicella
