Wing Nemani Nadolo scored 17 points in Fiji’s 47-15 win against Uruguay in Milton Keynes on Tuesday. MARIETTE ADAMS reports.
The Fijians dominated this Pool A dead-rubber from start to finish, yet Uruguay, despite their amateur status, provided a couple of excellent plays.
Fiji outscored Uruguay seven tries to two in a contest where ill discipline abounded, producing three yellow cards, an automatic red card, two penalty tries and a few scuffles. And in the thick of it all was Uruguay’s feisty scrumhalf Agustin Ormaechea.
Uruguay started the worst possible way. They conceded the quickest penalty try in World Cup history in the third minute, and then lost Ormaechea to the sin bin for preventing a certain try being scored.
With a man over, Fiji bagged a second try through scrumhalf Nemia Kenatale, who picked the ball up at the back of a scrum and raced down the blindside to go over in the corner.
Flyhalf Alejo Duran got three points back for Uruguay with a penalty, before Ormaechea returned from his 10-minute break to set up the South Americans’ first World Cup try in 12 years. Hooker Carlos Arboleya ran a brilliant line to breach Fiji’s defence for the five-pointer and given the long wait, they celebrated wildly.
However, Fiji’s dominance in the scrums and at the breakdowns, earned them a second penalty try before lock Leone Nakarawa scored their fourth on the stroke of half-time for a 26-10 lead.
The second half started off more calmly, with Uruguay getting the first points close to the hour mark.
Following a loose pass by Kenatale, the ball was toed through by Uruguay to secure possession. After recycling quickly, Ormaechea snuck down the blindside to dot down in the left-hand corner.
Solid defence also kept the Fijians at bay and they only managed to add to their tally late in the final quarter.
Fiji broke the shackles with tries by captain Akapusi Qera and fullback Kini Murimurivalu, and it was after the latter’s effort that Ormaechea got his marching orders. After picking a fight with prop Campese Ma’afu behind the posts both were yellow-carded, with Ormaechea’s second resulting in a red card.
Nadolo, who was kept quiet throughout the game, finished proceedings with a self-converted effort in the last minute of play, bringing to a close Fiji's 2015 World Cup campaign.
Fiji – Tries: Penalty try (2), Nemia Kenatale, Leone Nakarawa, Akapusi Qera, Kini Murimurivalu, Nemani Nadolo. Conversions: Nadolo (6).
Uruguay – Try: Carlos Arboleya, Agustin Ormaechea. Conversion: Alejo Duran. Penalty: Duran.
Fiji – 15 Kini Murimurivalu, 14 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 13 Vereniki Goneva, 12 Lepani Botia, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Ben Volavola, 9 Nemia Kenatale, 8 Sakiusa Matadigo, 7 Akapusi Qera (c), 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu, 5 Leone Nakarawa, 4 Apisalome Ratuniyarawa, 3 Leroy Atalifo, 2 Sunia Koto, 1 Campese Ma'afu.
Subs: 16 Viliame Veikoso, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Taniela Koroi, 19 Tevita Cavubati, 20 Netani Talei, 21 Henry Seniloli, 22 Josh Matavesi, 23 Timoci Nagusa.
Uruguay – 15 Gaston Mieres, 14 Santiago Gibernau, 13 Joaquin Prada, 12 Andres Vilaseca, 11 Rodrigo Silva, 10 Alejo Duran, 9 Agustin Ormaechea, 8 Alejandro Nieto, 7 Matias Beer, 6 Juan Manuel Gaminara, 5 Jorge Zerbino, 4 Santiago Vilaseca (c), 3 Mario Sagario, 2 Carlos Arboleya, 1 Alejo Corral.
Subs: 16 German Kessler, 17 Oscar Duran, 18 Mateo Sanguinetti, 19 Mathias Palomeque, 20 Franco Lamanna, 21 Juan De Freitas, 22 Jeronimo Etcheverry, 23 Francisco Bulanti.
Photo: Paul Gilham/Getty Images
