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Fiji's World Cup preparation gets off to winning start after defeating Maori All Blacks for first time in 62 years

Fiji players sing their anthem (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
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Fiji’s World Cup preparations have gotten off to a winning start after overcoming the Maori All Blacks in convincing fashion with a 27-10 victory at ANZ Stadium in Suva.

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The win snaps Fiji’s long winning drought against the Maori All Blacks, with their last victory against the touring side coming in 1957.

The match featured plenty of typical flair from the Fijian side, with their home fans treated to an offloading spectacle as they ran in four tries to stay in control for the entire contest.

A pair of tries within 10 minutes of each other to fullback Alivereti Veitokani and No. 8 Viliame Mata pushed the Fijians out to a 12-0 lead as half-time approached, and the Maori All Blacks’ cause wasn’t helped when first-five Otere Black was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on Semi Kunatani.

A penalty slotted by Black’s opposite Ben Volavola early in the second half extended Fiji’s lead to 15-0, and just two minutes later, a scintillating try to Waisea Nayacalevu following a long sequence of offloads further extended Fiji’s buffer to 22 points.

The Maori All Blacks tried to come back with a mini fightback midway through the second stanza through an unconverted brace to wing Sean Wainui, but the Fijians sealed the result through an easily scored try to Nayacalevu to secure his double.

The result leaves the Maori with plenty to improve on in the second match of the two-leg series in Rotorua next weekend, with Clayton MacMillan’s side missing 26 tackles to Fiji’s five.

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As for Fiji, it is a good indication of where they stand as they build up to the World Cup in Japan in two months’ time.

Following the Rotorua clash, John McKee’s side head into the Pacific Nations Cup, where they will face Japan, Canada and Samoa, before going on to take on Tonga in the Pasifika Challenge II at Eden Park in Auckland on August 31.

They open their World Cup campaign against Australia in Sapporo on September 21.

Fiji 27 (Tries to Waisea Nayacalevu (2), Alivereti Veitokani, Viliame Mata; 2 conversions and penalty to Ben Volavola)

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Maori All Blacks 10 (2 tries to Sean Wainui)

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Phantom 35 minutes ago
Nations Championship: 'The data shows the north has finally caught up with the south'

Fact: the gap between the North and the South has narrowed considerably - that I get. However, determining that only selecting only Home grown players or playing in the home country is is the optimal strategy is a bit of a toss up and highly reliant on the economies of the home union. I do understand that England and to a lesser degree Ireland selects home based only. The top 14 is a massive threat to their domestic product. France would probably not be affected (the money is at home). Fiji, Argentina, Samoa, Italy and you could even argue Scotland have only benefitted from this. Their players either go overseas to learn at higher levels (Fiji, Samoa, Argentina) or players coming into their leagues to strengthen the home product and their National teams (Scotland, Italy, Japan).

South Africa used to limit its selection to the home based players, but the reality of a weak currency vs what players could earn oversees meant that you lost access to your best players at some stage of their careers, with very few exceptions. Kolbe left SA as he was considered too small for International Rugby (yes coaches/selectors view), but ironically in France he forced selectors to notice his endeavors and select him. He is only reaching 50 caps now despite being north of 30 - granted rotation and the odd injury also played a role, but for the most part it is having debuted or becoming a regular so late.



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