Rugby College: Fiji qualify for 2015 Rugby World Cup and will play England in first game of ...

Saturday, 28 June 2014

Fiji qualify for 2015 Rugby World Cup and will play England in first game of ...

By

Mike Dawes

Published:

06:29, 28 June 2014

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Updated:

07:27, 28 June 2014

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Fiji qualified for next year’s World Cup by crushing the Cook Islands 108-6 in Saturday’s last qualifying match for the Oceania region.

The Fijians will make a seventh World Cup appearance in eight tournaments, and will play host England in the opening match, after sweeping aside their opponents and running in 17 tries.

The Cook’s – ranked 46 in the world and with only 500 registered players – sustained their ambitious hopes of qualifying for the first time when they led 6-5 after 27 minutes against a Fiji team beset by handling errors.

But when Fiji’s giant ball-runners began to hold passes and to combine in thrilling attacks, the outsiders were thoroughly overwhelmed.

Through: Fiji qualified for the 2015 Rugby World Cup after beating Cook Islands

Score: Akapusi Qera dives over for a try during Fiji

Score: Akapusi Qera dives over for a try during Fiji’s massive win over Cook Islands

Dejected: The Cook Islands players react after their 108-6 hammering in Lautoka

POOL A

Australia
England
Wales
Fiji
(playoff winner)

(Top two advance to quarter-finals)

Fiji

will now play in Pool A at the World Cup, alongside England, Wales,

Australia and a qualifier and will meet England in the tournament’s

opening match at Twickenham.

A

landslide victory seemed on the cards when Fiji scored after only 1

minute, 11 seconds, through fullback Matuisela Talebula who went on to

become one of his team’s five multiple tryscorers. Center Nemani Nadolo

scored three tries and Talebula, Adriu Delai, Nikola Matawalu and Timoci

Nagusa all bagged doubles – Delai, Matawalu and Nagusa as replacements.

But Cook Islands flyhalf Sam Vaevae slotted two penalties to grab a 6-5 lead and momentarily shake Fiji’s confidence.

When

passes began to stick Fiji’s superiority became immediately obvious and

overwhelming and they added four tries in 13 minutes to lead 29-6 at

halftime.Â

‘We knew the Cook

Islands would come at us in the forwards in the first 20 minutes,’ Fiji

captain Akapusi Qera said. ‘We expected that and we managed to

compensate and come out with the win.

Delight: Akapusi Qera, the Fiji captain, celebrates after his team

Delight: Akapusi Qera, the Fiji captain, celebrates after his team’s victory

On guard: A member of the Fiji Police Force stands to attention with the Webb Ellis Cup before the game

Sign: The Webb Ellis trophy has been on tour in Fiji ahead of the qualifier against Cook Islands

‘It’s

a big game for us as a team and as a nation. It’s a big thing for a

rugby player growing up to qualify for the Rugby World cup and that’s

what motivated us in the second half.’

The

second half belonged wholly to Fiji who added 13 more tries. When they

clocked 90 points, they had inflicted the Cook Islands’ heaviest-ever

international defeat and they went on with two late tries to ease past

100 points.

Cook Islands

captain, Stade Francais prop Stan Wright said his team tried hard but

were simply overwhelmed by a team which was bigger, stronger, faster and

more experienced.

‘As you

can see by the scoreline it was a hard game and we were simply

outclassed by a better side,’ Wright said. ‘The gap between the elite

and us showed out there today and we’ve got quite a bit of ground to

cover to get up to their level.

‘We’re

not a big nation and we need more guys putting their hands up to play

for the Cook Islands because we lack depth and we need more players.’