There were mixed results for Fiji’s rugby league teams in Saturday afternoon’s third round of matches of the Rugby League World Cup.
Fijian fans who had packed into the Cbus Super Stadium celebrated the Fiji Bulikula, as they created history by securing their semifinal spot after a commanding 54-6 win over France.
But celebration turned to disappointment later, as Fijian fans were left stunned as the Fiji Bati men’s side lost their semifinal campaign, going down 78-0 to the New Zealand Kiwis.
The Kiwis led 48-0 at halftime, with eight tries in the first spell of 40 minutes, before running in five more in the second spell.
Tough win for Bulikula
On their way to clinching their first semifinal spot, the Fijian women dominated proceedings against the French outfit, who held their own for about 15 minutes in the first spell and scored one lone try in the second spell of 35 minutes.
The Bulikula had too much power and experience, running in 11 tries, with Tahlia Marshall getting two in the match.
Fiji led 22-0 at halftime, with four tries before they added seven more in the second half.
The Bulikula’s win means they will battle Australia in one of the two semifinals next weekend, with fellow Pacific islanders Fetū Samoa taking on New Zealand in the other.
Fullback Cassie Staples told the post-match conference it was a tough battle for them and France had given their all.
“The scoreboard didn’t really reflect the intensity of the game,” she said.
“It was a tough first half and the scoreboard did not reflect that.
“There were tough challenges and things we will need to work on.
“Proud of the girls, proud of what they did today.”
Assistant coach Isaac Michael said the team achieved what they had set out to do and will work on next week once they have rested and recovered.
“We came in today wanting to put in a complete 70-minute performance,” he said.
“Errors kind of broke the game for us and we will be looking into that and remedy that during the week.”
It took the Fijians just four minutes before they crossed the French line for their first try of the game.
Tahlia Marshall finished off a move on the right after playmaker Losana Lutu had dummied and sent the ball wide, with Marshall in free space to finish off.
Playmaker Losana Lutu said it was a tough first half and said the conditions were a challenge also.
“It is pretty hot but we still need to get the job done,” she said as the team walked off for the halftime break.
Luisa Yaranamua and Lutu combined well as the halves combination.
France managed to hold their own and countered with their own attacks after Fiji’s first try, forcing a knock-on from Fiji fullback Cassie Staples.
Led by captain Elisa Akpa and supported by Melissa Medina, Perle Ramazeilles, Haoua Kessely, Camille Boudaud and Lisa Diraison, the French attacked hard from the ensuing six-tackle count but Staples got to the ball over the line to save Fiji as France looked dangerous.
Fiji were found struggling to execute under pressure as France stepped up, showing a lot of spirit.
Captain Sereana Naitokatoka led the Fiji attacks with Leilani Ahsam, Elizabeth Naleba, Nanise Vakacavu, and Talei Holmes driving forward.
In the 20th minute, Lutu’s high bomb saw winger Maria Paseka outjump the defence of Margot Canal, catch the ball inflight and run in to score behind the posts, giving Fiji a 8-0 lead. Yaranamua’s conversion saw them move up to 10-0.
France had one of their best chances to get a try in the 24th minute, but winger Haoua Kessely got her hand over the sideline as she dived over to score in the corner in Staples’ tackle. The try was disallowed.
The following minute saw Talei Holmes and Latisha Smythe combining again, setting up middle plays, which resulted in replacement Aliti Namoce crashing her way to the line. Yaranamua’s kick saw Fiji lead 16-0, before Namoce broke through a hole and sent the ball to Lutu who ran across to the corner to score, for Fiji to lead 22-0 at halftime.
The Bulikula continued with where they left off at halftime, attacking the French defence again.
Two minutes in Yaranamua reached over the line but fell short, before the ensuing set play saw Naomi Tegu crash over in between the posts.
But a bunker review ruled Tegu had lost the ball in the tackle.
France celebrated their only try through Stecy Bessiere, who finished off a good run through the middle by Fanny Ramos, breaking the Fijian defensive line. Lisa Diraison added two points from her conversion as France trailed 6-22.
The Bulikula then turned the tide on, with livewire fullback Staples crossing over in the corner in the 39th minute, after Yaranamua set her up.
Marshall got her second six minutes later, before Latisha Smythe, Leilani Ahsam, Taina Naividi and Lorren Ieli added one try each, sending the Bulikula to the last four with a big scoreline.
Kiwis dominant against Bati
Keano Kini of the Kiwis celebrate scoring a try against Fiji.
photosport
Meanwhile, in the men’s clash the Kiwis shut Fiji off and had too much pressure, showing brutality to outscore and outplay the Fijians, who had held the Australian Kangaroos before a close loss last weekend.
The Kiwis scored 13 tries in total by the end of the match, as they dominated both on attack and defence.
It was the worst of three World Cup performances by the Bati, who looked lost and bewildered during the match.
Kiwis Ronaldo Mulitalo and Fiji’s Brandon Wakeham were both sent off in the 51st minute as tempers flared, following a Mulitalo high tackle on Ronald Philitonga.
Wakeham hit Mulitalo with a punch on the deck as he retaliated to the high tackle hit on Philitoga.
Fiji’s Jordan Miller was also sin-binned late in the second half.
The win means the Kiwis will join Australia as the two teams to qualify for the semifinal from Pool A.
Their opponents will be decided after the Samoa vs Tonga battle on Sunday night.
