Test wins for Fiji, Japan and Scotland

Fijian Cibi war dance.
Photo: Photosport

Hooker Tevita Ikanivere scored two early tries as Fiji rode a strong start to beat Samoa 33-19 in the Pacific Nations Cup in Apia and continue their encouraging preparations for the World Cup in France.

Ikanivere, who had a fine season for the Drua in Super Rugby, opened the scoring with a quickly taken penalty in the seventh minute and added his second 10 minutes later off the back of a rolling maul.

In between his scores, centre Iosefo Masi grabbed a try on debut off a flick pass from his skipper Semi Radradra to help the visitors to a 17-0 lead inside the opening quarter.

Samoa, who beat Japan in the opening round of the competition last week and gave a debut to former All Blacks flanker Steve Luatua, finally got on the board with a try from former Wallabies flyhalf Christian Leali’ifano after 20 minutes.

A streak down the touchline for a try from winger Selestino Ravutaumada and two penalties from flyhalf Caleb Muntz, however, gave the Fijians a 30-5 cushion at halftime.

The home side grabbed the momentum as rain started falling in the Samoan capital in the second half with winger Tumua Manu and skipper Fritz Lee scoring tries to cut the deficit to 33-19 just after the hour mark.

Samoa kept hammering away at the Fiji defensive line as conditions deteriorated further but the visitors held them out for a second bonus-point victory in two weeks after their opening 36-20 victory over Tonga last Saturday.

The win kept Fiji top of the standings on 10 points ahead of Samoa on four before they make the trip to Japan for next week’s final round of the four-team competition.

“It was a pretty good game today,” said Radradra. “The first half we really did well, but we let them come back in the second. Hopefully we can make some improvements for next week.”

Lee said Manu Samoa would learn plenty from the contest.

“There’s a lot of things to work on but there’s definitely a lot of positives as well,” the number eight said. “We’ve got to move on towards the World Cup and we look forward to playing next week (against Tonga).”

Japan prevail against Tonga

Japan saw off a spirited Tongan side with a 21-16 Pacific Nations Cup victory at Hanazono Rugby Stadium near Osaka on Saturday that got their World Cup preparations back on track following a tight loss to Samoa last week.

Tries from Jone Naikabula and debutant Amato Fakatava in the first half and one from Semisi Masiwera in the second kept Japan in front for most of the game, but Tonga scored two tries of their own and were pressing for another until the end.

Winger Naikabula opened Japan’s account off an attacking scrum but just three minutes later a smart pickup by Tongan blindside Vaea Fifita around a weakly defended ruck set up scrumhalf Sonatane Takulua to run one in for the visitors.

The back and forth continued throughout, punctuated by a series of handling errors on both sides which left little room to build phases and pressure.

With less than two minutes until the final whistle, Japan led by just five when an interception by Tonga outside centre Afusipa Taumoepeau almost resulted in a try that would have levelled up the scores.

A last ditch try-saving tackle by replacement fullback Kotaro Matsushima, however, saved Japan and they held on to secure the victory.

Japan lacked the flair that characterised their 2019 World Cup performances and they appeared to feel the absence of loose forward Michael Leitch, who was banned for a red card offence during last week’s loss to Samoa.

The win moved Japan to second place in the Pacific Nations Cup standings behind Fiji, who they meet in the final round of the competition next week at the Prince Chichibu Stadium in Tokyo.

Scotland beat Italy

Darcy Graham returned to test action with two tries as Scotland beat Italy 25-13 in their Rugby World Cup warm-up test at Murrayfield on Saturday.

The speedy winger, who missed the Six Nations Championship earlier this year because of a knee injury, proved the difference in a scrappy game as both countries played their first international since Scotland’s 26-14 win over the Italians in the Six Nations at Murrayfield in March.

Scotland outscored Italy by three tries to one with replacement Josh Bayliss adding a last-minute try and Ben Healey, battling for a place in the World Cup squad, kicking over two penalties and two conversions.

Monty Ioane scored Italy’s only try with the rest of their points coming off the boot of Tommaso Allan.

Italy had got off to the brighter start but Scotland were first to score in the 13th minute. After rucking close to the visitors’ line, flyhalf Ben Healey kicked cross-field to find Graham with plenty of space on the right wing to go over for the opening try.

But Healey failed with the conversion and Italy clawed their way into a 6-5 half-time lead after Allan put over a pair of penalties.

Scotland missed opportunities when they lost possession in Italy’s 22-metre area twice in the early exchanges of the second half before a scrum infringement allowed the home side to go 8-6 ahead as Healey put over the penalty.

Graham’s speed as he chased a Healey kick in the 56th minute forced an error from Italy’s debutant scrum half Martin Page-Relo and a scrum five metres out, which provided the platform for Scottish halfback Ali Price to pop up a pass for Graham, coming through at pace, to squeeze through a gap in the Italian defence for a second try.

Italy scored their try six minutes later after sustained pressure on the line, finally swinging the ball wide out to the left wing where Ioane dived over.

It was the first test back for Italy for the Australian-based winger since November last year and his try reduced Scotland’s lead to 15-13.

Healey kicked off another penalty before a fast break at the end of the game allowed Bayliss to go over and put some gloss on the scoreline for the Scots.

Scotland will continue their World Cup warm-up campaign with a test at Murrayfield next Saturday against France while Italy travel to Dublin to take on Six Nations winners Ireland.

– Reuters