SCRUM Magazine – September 2019

2015
England 35-11 Fiji: Their opening game of the last World Cup
may have ended in defeat, but it took a late try from Billy
Vunipola to put the gloss on an uninspiring England display.
They were run close by the Fijians, and the margin would have
been even less had Niko Matawalu’s try not been chalked
off by the TMO, and their kickers - Volavola and Nemani
Nadolo - not missed four attempts at goal between them.
It was, though, an encouraging start to a campaign that
brought just one win and ended with pool stage elimination.

2011
Fiji 49-25 Namibia: The Fijians opened their campaign
in New Zealand with another big win over Namibia, this
time a six-try routing with Vereniki Goneva helping himself
to four. Leone Nakarawa was also on the scoresheet,
while Seremaia Bai added 24 points from the boot.
The Fijians managed just 10 more points in three outings
thereafter and were hammered 66-0 by Wales in their final game.

2007
Fiji 38-34 Wales: One of the greatest days in Fijian rugby history

• they booked a quarter-final spot and silumtaneously dumped
  Wales out of the competition with a stunning performance in
  Lens. They scored three early tries to take control, while prop
  Graham Dewes sealed an historic win with a late score.
  Eventual winners South Africa accounted for the Fijians
  in the last eight, but they too were given a shock.

2003
Scotland 22-20 Fiji: A brace of tries from wing sensation
Rupeni Caucaunibuca had Fiji on the verge of eliminating
Scotland in Australia, before prop Tom Smith burrowed over
to deny the islanders a famous victory. The image
of Caucaunibuca in full flight rounding Scotland
fullback Glenn Metcalfe is one of the enduring
sights of the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

1999
Fiji 67-18 Namibia: Nine tries, more
than half a century of points and a
comprehensive win. Not a bad way to
start your Rugby World Cup campaign.
Fiji’s resounding win over Namibia in
their opening game of the 1999 edition was
emphatic, and they backed it up with another win, over the
Canadians, before falling to France in the final pool match.
That meant a play-off for a quarter-final berth, but England
proved too strong and went on to the last eight.

1995

Did not qualify

1991

Fiji 15-17 Romania: A match the Fijians would have

expected to win, but fell short. It was their third of the

pool stage and they had failed to register a try in the first

two, so a double for Opeti Turuva marked something of a

high point, but it was not enough to earn them victory.

1987

Argentina 9-28 Fiji: A first-ever victory at the Rugby World

Cup in their first ever match; Fiji scored four tries in seeing

off Argentina in Hamilton. It was the highlight of a tournament

that, for the islanders, also featured a 12-try anhiallation at

the hands of the All Blacks and a narrow loss (15-18) to Italy.

MEMORABLE RUGBY WORLD CUP MOMENTS

Matches played: 28

Wins: 10 Losses: 18

Win percentage: 36%

Total points scored: 624

Tries: 69 Penalties: 54

Conversions: 53

Drop-goals: 6

World ranking: 10

FIJI AT THE

RUGBY WORLD CUP

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