The Australian Schoolboys have sealed the Pacific Cup after a 35-10 win over the Fijian Schoolboys at Viking Park, Canberra, on Saturday.
However, the final score doesn’t reflect the impressive performance put up by the Fijian team.
Following a heavy defeat in the first game, Fiji showed significant improvement in the second test, displaying a much more disciplined and determined effort on the field.
The match began at a fast pace, but Fiji faced a setback when Nemani Bativou and Asaeli Bulai were both sent to the sin bin in quick succession.
Taking advantage of the situation, Australia scored their first try through hooker Adrian De’Klerk, converted by Elijah Breen, leading 7-0.
Despite being down to 13 men, Fiji showcased their traditional flair as loosehead prop Esira Livicala scored in the 27th minute, bringing the score to 7-5 after a missed conversion.
Australia responded swiftly, with Glassie scoring his first try just two minutes later. Breen’s conversion put the hosts ahead 14-5 going into halftime.
Fiji made an early impact in the second half with a try from fly-half Carter Mucunabitu in the 50th minute, narrowing the gap to 14-10. However, Australia’s superior discipline and strength in set-pieces proved vital.
Lock James Finegan scored at the 56-minute mark, followed by two more tries from Glassie in the final quarter. Kirsten converted the last kicks to secure the win.
Despite a late yellow card in the 79th minute and three sin bin infringements, Fiji showed glimpses of brilliance through Livicala and Mucunabitu.
However, their lack of discipline and missed conversions were costly.
Nevertheless, Fiji can take encouragement from their improved structure, defensive resilience, and physical competitiveness over the 70 minutes.
This performance highlights their potential as they continue to progress towards future international campaigns.
