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Magical Fiji strike to relegate tier one side from Under-20s World Cup for first time since 2012
The headlines are focused on the final between Australia and France at the World Rugby Under-20 Championship on Saturday, but there was just as much on the line in the Scotland versus Fiji game, a contest that decided which of the two would be relegated to the World Rugby Trophy next season.
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Fiji were playing in their first World Rugby Under-20 Championship since they were relegated from the competition in 2014, while Scotland have been an ever-present in the tournament since its formation in 2008. Despite recording eight 9th/10th place finishes at the competition in their 11 previous campaigns, Scotland had never been involved in the relegation play-off until this season.
In that 11-year history, a tier one side has only been relegated twice before. Italy faced the drop in 2009 and 2012, although in 2009 the Italians were among four sides relegated as the competition reduced in size from 16 teams to 12. On both occasions that Italy were relegated, they bounced back immediately, winning the Under-20 Trophy the following year.
In what proved an entertaining affair in Rosario, Fiji saved their best performance for last at the Argentina-hosted tournament as they triumphed 59-34 and consigned Scotland to their first ever relegation.
Scotland kept pace with Fiji early on, as full-back Osea Waqa helped set up tries for Isaac Ratumaitavuki and Veresa Tuqovu, only for Jack Blain and Matt Davidson to strike back for the Six Nations side. Blain, in particular, was a consistent threat for Scotland early on, although Fiji’s strong finish to the half laid the foundation for Scotland’s downfall.
Reaction: @fijirugby's Tevita Ikanivere speaks about the importance of that win and what it means to Fiji to be a part of next year's tournament #WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/ORgYgiD5yp
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) June 22, 2019
Waqa went over for a score of his own after his work as a creator earlier on. He ran a scything counter-attack through three would-be Scottish tacklers before wings Kaminieli Rasaku and Osea Natoga got in on the action to give Fiji a commanding 38-15 lead at half time.
The second half saw a spirited Scottish comeback, as hooker Ewan Ashman collected a brace, something which remarkably took him to seven tries in the tournament, while Blain grabbed his second of the game also.
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U20 | FT | Scotland are defeated by Fiji in this afternoon's 11th place play-off and as a consequence drop into next year's @WorldRugby U20 Trophy competition. #AsOne
???????[34-59]?? #WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/M7pvKBkTDE
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) June 22, 2019
Thankfully for Fiji, Waqa also went over for his second try of the game, which established a lead on the scoreboard that Scotland couldn’t quite reel in. Anasa Qaranivalu and Ilaisa Droasese then both cruised over late on, adding plenty of gloss to Fiji’s impressive performance.
For Fiji, it’s a time to celebrate as promising talents like Waqa, Natoga, Tiri Shaw, Alivereti Loaloa and Chris Minimbi, who are all eligible for another year of age-grade rugby, will once again get to test themselves in the top-tier tournament next season.
What have we just seen?!?! @fijirugby score one of the tries of the tournament with some insane handling skills #WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/MxgJBt5xKk
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) June 22, 2019
With an on-island academy being funded by World Rugby’s targeted investment, Fiji’s avoiding of relegation is a success story for the scheme and an indicator of what can be done for tier two and smaller nations with the right investment.
Conversely, there will be tough questions to answer in Scotland as the northern hemisphere side will have to spend at least one season in the Under-20 Trophy where they will be competing against the likes of Japan, Hong Kong, Namibia and Uruguay.
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The only way Scotland’s place in the Championship could be saved would be if they were to host the Championship next season, as the host nation is always guaranteed a spot at the tournament.
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Comments on RugbyPass
This just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
16 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
16 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
16 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
16 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
16 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
16 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
16 Go to comments