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Fiji resoundingly end Samoa's winning run in Suva

Fiji's Frank Lomani (L) celebrates a try with teammate Inia Tabuavou during the World Rugby Pacific Challenge 2024 match between Fiji and Samoa at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva on August 23, 2024. (Photo by LEON LORD / AFP) (Photo by LEON LORD/AFP via Getty Images)

Defending champions Fiji opened the Pacific Nations Cup with a resounding 42-16 victory over Samoa.

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There might have been some anxiety at the National Stadium in Suva when the visitors turned with a 16-15 deficit at halftime.

Instead, Fiji scored 27 unanswered points, a Samoan rut setting in when D’Angelo Leuila dispatched a kick-off to start the second half out on the full. A ruck penalty followed a scrum penalty and then a successful kick by Caleb Muntz.

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To add insult to injury Fijian lock Temo Mayanavanua was sinbinned in the 36th minute following a high tackle.

Samoa never regained the lead after Muntz’s second penalty goal and didn’t look like scoring in the last half an hour after winger Pisi Leilua shelled a Garryowen from Leuila that could have resulted in a try and combative flanker Senio Toleafoa bobbled the ball while stretching over the line.

Fixture
Pacific Nations Cup
Fiji
42 - 16
Full-time
Samoa
All Stats and Data

The match took a seismic turn in the 54th minute. Fijian blindside Meli Derenalagi strode clear in an electrifying 40m burst. Frank Lomani loomed in support, but a jersey pull by Samoan winger Pisi Leilua denied the livewire halfback a chance to take a possible try-scoring pass. Leilua was sinbinned. From the following lineout, openside Kitione Salawa powered over.

With a 25-16 lead, Fiji found their groove.  Second-five Epeli Momo dribbled a kick behind the blue wall that fellow winger Selesitino Ravutaumada hacked infield. The urgent Lomani pursued with just reward.

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Samoan right-wing Tuna Tuitama was dismissed to the sinbin for a tip tackle at which point Fiji was rampant. Their growing belief was best epitomised when debutant Vuate Karawalevu crossed out wide following a superb pass in traffic by fellow youngster Isiah Ravula-Armstrong.

Earlier Samoa made a horror start when they failed to secure the initial kick-off and conceded a penalty gifting Fiji a scrum. Salawa scored supporting a robust charge by Elia Canakaivata.

With Fiji hot on attack, Samoan openside Murphy Taramai won a turnover that triggered a momentum shift.

Samoa enjoyed 63% of territory in the first spell, forcing Fiji to make 89 tackles to 42 as they surged to a 13-5 lead.

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Samoa’s solitary try in the 17th minute was a cracker. Halfback Melani Matavao charged up the middle of the ruck, casting aside a hooker and a prop before offloading with his right arm in the air to Pisi Leilua.

D’Angelo Leuila was on target with all four kicks. Second-five Alapati Leiua and loosehead prop Aka Seiuli were full of running.

In the 28th minute, an aimless punt by Muntz just outside his 22 was knocked on by Samoan fullback Tomasi Alosai inside his 22. From a stable scrum, center Iosefo Baleiwairiki beat four players and was toppled narrowly short of the strip. Baleiwairiki bounced back to his feet quickly and wouldn’t be stopped a ruck later. Lomami provding a bullet pass.

Muntz and Lomami combined for 19 first-half tackles as Samoa employed a predictable one-pass approach to try and blunt Fiji. When errors compounded, ideas appeared disspared to as Fiji cruised to their biggest win in two decades against Samoa.

Lomani was named man of the match. Salawa, who’s played 27 games for Fijian Dura, had a memorable outing and Mutnz was tested with 17 tackles, becoming more assured throughout. Sam Slade topped the Samoan tackle count with a dozen and Taramai was typically tireless.

Kiwi James Doleman officiated his 12th international. Fiji has won 17 of their last 21 tests in Suva and enjoys a 32-21 advantage in all matches against Fiji stretching back to 1924.

Fiji: 42 (Kitione Salawa 3, Iosefo Baleiwairiki, Frank Lomani, Vuate Karawalevu; Caleb Muntz 3 con, 2 pen) Samoa: 16 (Pisi Leilua try; D’Angelo Leuila 3 pen con) HT: 15-16

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M
Mzilikazi 33 minutes ago
How Dupont-less France tossed a grenade into Ireland's Grand Slam celebrations

This performance from Ireland does not surprise me. Go back to the Emgland game last year, and the way Ireland played there. Some poor defence, especially at the death, allowing the Smith drop goal, which was from an virtually .unmissable position.


Then the AB loss in the autumn, when Ireland played as poorly as I have seen this current group play. I agree with you, Nick, when you cite the falloff in attacking/try scoring ability which started with the Lancaster / Nienaber transition.


The loss of injured players is also a factor, but I would only mention it in passing, not overplay that one. After all, France were missing their first choice centre pairing.


The Prendergast v Crowley debate. I have been in the “Crowley to start” camp from the get go, and for this game specially, I feel that strategically Crowley should have started. The Munster man just has that bit more to his game, that bit more toughness and variation. I would suspect the French coaching group were delighted to be looking at how they played the Irish staring 10 for this game.


Prendergast is a supreme passer of the ball, and ultra cool and balanced, probably the better goal kicker. But in that first half(as far as I have got in the game so far), he was caught twice in possession, once really bulldozed back by the French forwards. In addition, he made some poor kicking choices, and only once took the line on. He was too easy to read, never a line breaking threat. I have read he played out the full 80 at 10. That leaves me seething. The Irish coaching group repeating the mistake made in the RWC QF in France, with Crowley again not used to advantage.

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S
SK 1 hour ago
How Dupont-less France tossed a grenade into Ireland's Grand Slam celebrations

I think France have made really good improvements. They have found several players on the bench and in the wider squad who are able to now operate at the level of their starters, they have power and devastation on the bench and can change the game. Their gameplan has also evolved and they are able to stay in the fight for longer. Fitness and conditioning seems to have become primary work ons. They have worked massively on breakdown where they forced so many turnovers and always slowed down Irelands ball. How many times did you see a French hand on the ball fighting the first and second cleaner tooth and nail for access before being shoved off of it? They become like a pack of rabid dogs on turnover and transitions, they counter so much better now and you can see elements of the Bordeaux and Toulouse game written all over the team. Its almost like a swarm when they counter. They have great alignment between the Top 14 and the national team and they have a group of players who are well versed in playing this style. You could see clearly in this game why both Galthie and Erasmus now fancy a 7-1 stack against Ireland. It is by and large to overpower them and demolish their breakdown. Irelands attack has devolved. Its now more metronomic than creative. It involves phase after phase of attritional attack and hordes of possession but it lacks creativity and purpose after the second or third phase. The Ireland attack of old kept teams guessing. You didnt know if they were gonna go wide or close in, you had to worry about the offload, the inside pass, the blindside and the hooker on the wing. Now it seems like they move the ball side to side while patiently waiting for the dam wall to break. They also lack pace and bite in the outside channels without Hansen and Lowe. Nash and Osborne were not on it and they struggled to contain the outside French backs who were incredible. France had more leaders that stood up, more grit and more power and it all proved too much for Ireland to handle.

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