| No. | Name | |
|---|---|---|
15Kini Murimurivalu, FB | ||
14Aseli Tikoirotuma, W | ||
13Vereniki Goneva, C | ||
12Levani Botia, C | ||
11Nemani Nadolo, W 6 | ||
10Ben Volavola, FH | ||
9Nemia Kenatale Ranuku, SH | ||
1Campese Ma'afu, P | ||
2Sunia Koto Vuli, H | ||
3Lee-Roy Atalifo, P | ||
4Api Ratuniyarawa, L | ||
5Leone Nakarawa, L | ||
6Dominiko Waqaniburotukula, FL | ||
7Akapusi Qera, FL | ||
8Masi Matadigo, N8 | ||
| Replacements | ||
16Vili Veikoso, R | ||
17Peni Ravai, R | ||
18Taniela Koroi, R | ||
19Tevita Cavubati, R | ||
20Netani Talei, R | ||
21Henry Seniloli, R | ||
22Josh Matavesi, R | ||
23Timoci Nagusa, R | ||
FIJI
URUG*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold
Match Commentary
ESPN's Rob Bartlett had this to say:
"After an enthralling, warming and extremely enjoyable opening 60 minutes at Stadium MK, this match descended into a chaotic, ugly and ill-tempered affair. Like buses, World Cup tries apparently come in twos as once again the crowd erupted as Ormaechea finished cleanly for Uruguay. However, his night would end prematurely; referee JP Doyle had warned both the Uruguayan scrum-half and Fiji's Campese Ma'afu numerous times to stay away from each other and, shortly after Tevita Cavubati's 63rd-minute try produced a couple of feisty scuffles, the evening took a turn for the worse. When Kini Murimurivalu bundled over the line for Fiji's fifth try, all hell broke loose. Ormaechea and Ma'afu had clearly decided to ignore Doyle's warning and the referee had no choice but to award two yellow cards - which, combined with Ormaechea's early sin-bin, meant he became the first player to be shown a red card at this World Cup. A sour end to an otherwise fantastic - and largely good-spirited - encounter."
Nadolo scores at last! Uruguay are all over the place and he's the last man you want to see running at you with the ball in that scenario. He bursts through the Uruguayan line with ease and makes it seven tries for Fiji on a far from perfect evening despite the result.
Great catch from Botia in the air deep in his 22 along the left flank. The centre bombs past a couple Uruguayans before offloading to Qera, who then finds Waqaniburotukula, and then Murimurivalu. Great counter attacking move and Murimurivalu can thank the rain for his try - pretty big slide towards the try line!
Fiji managed to work the lineout well. Their forwards did a lot of the hard graft to open the space for the backs before eventual try scorer Cavubati managed to find his way through and ground for five points. Nadolo added the extras, too.
Well, well, well. Some more poor Fijian handling leads to Uruguay securing their second World Cup try thanks to Ormaechea. The ambitious pass from Goneva can't find his teammate and Uruguay's men on their left flank are within close proximity and toe poke the ball up the field. They collect well once they arrive at the balls destination well within the Fijian 22 and when they thought they wouldn't make it, a couple of nifty offloads around the try line make the space for their scrum half to guide home the try. Very nice stuff from the Teros.
ESPN's Rob Barlett had this to say:
"The night looked an ominous one for Uruguay when the first warm-up lineout was dropped. Add to that the pouring rain, two early Fiji tries, a yellow card for scrum-half Agustin Ormaechea and a mounting penalty count and things looked horrific after only 15 minutes. However, Carlos Arboleya's superb diving try provoked passionate cries of "URUGUAY!" around the vociferous Stadium MK - it marked their first try of the tournament and first World Cup try since current head coach Pablo Lemoine grounded against England in 2003. It was a wonderful, heart-warming moment for a nation with only a handful of professional players in their side. Their error count continued to rise, though, late in the first half as Fiji regained control with a third and marvellous fourth try - but the loudest cheer of the night had long passed. "
Nadolo heavily involved again. Drifts across, literally picks what Uruguayan defenders he wants to split before offloading. Nakarawa still had a bit of work to do but navigates past Mieres with relative ease in the end. 20 metre run unchallenged towards the line one he had dealt with the South Americans fullback.
Fiji pack completely romp through the Uruguay pack again deep in the 22. Nadolo converts.
Nice try from the Teros! Arboleya scores his fourth international try, and Uruguay's first World Cup try since 2003!
The men in blue battered their way through a seemingly weak Fijian defence, with try scorer Arboleya given the ball just three metres out. He still had work to do though, as multiple incoming white bodies flung themself at him but he just about made the line, just to the left of the posts! Great stuff.
Fiji scrum do extremely well and wheel away the Uruguayans and Kenatale's not on their radar. He sneaks down the right flank and the only man in blue to barge over is Duran, who is clearly not experienced at defending in his left corner and it shows as the Fijian drives past.
PENALTY TRY!
Uruguay's Ormaechea has been sin binned after tackling with no arms, taking out Botia on the line. Nice build up from Fiji for the resulting try with a lovely assisting offload. Straight away Fiji finding holes in the Uruguay line, though.
And we're underway! Fiji kick us off.
Andddd, we've already got the penalty of the evening for a Uruguay offside. Volavola kicks for the lineout.
Follow our man on the ground, Rob Bartlett (@RobBartlettESPN), who'll be providing us with his first hand insights straight from Leicester.
Fiji XV: Murimurivalu, Tikoirotuma, Goneva, Botia, Nadolo, Volavola, Kenatale; Ma'afu, Koto, Atalifo, Ratuniyarawa, Nakarawa, Waqaniburotu, Qera (captain), Matadigo.
Uruguay XV: Mieres, Gibernau, Prada, Vilaseca, Silva, Duran, Ormaechea; Corral, Arboleya, Sagario, Vilaseca (captain), Zerbino, Gaminara, Beer, Nieto.
You can read the preview for the game HERE.
Also see…
- England's XV to face Uruguay
- How Fiji's last outing went against Wales