Published in The Fiji Times on Monday, October 1, 1999
Fiji scored a convincing 67-18 victory on Saturday against unknown force Namibia in only its second rugby win in three Rugby World Cups.
Fiji’s first win was in 1987 against Argentina.
It lost 18-15 to Italy and then was trounced for Rugby world Cup score-line against New Zealand.
It got through to a memorable quarter-final match against France where rugby pundits believed Fiji should have won the match if fullback Severo Koroduadua had not dropped the ball after a great run with the ball in one hand.
Fiji lost all three matches in France in 1991 and that made Saturday’s win over Nambia a double feat.
The moment Waisale Serevi drew a gasp from the crowd after collecting a pass off the grass tops before sending Imanueli Tiko galloping away for a try.
Fiji ‘s second, he had them in his spell.
Fiji’s nine-try performance was a result of their ambidextrous ability and only when Serevi made a rare passing blunder with his left hand, the spell burst.
Fiji Rugby Football Union president Doctor Apenisa Kurisaqila, who represented Fiji in the 1950s in the hey day of Fijian rugby, said he had never seen such wonderful rugby passing and running for a long, long time.
Fiji’s plan was simple.
And this has always been the thinking of many critics, to send the ball to the fast backline and let them do the running.
But the forwards after winning the ball had a number of great running themselves especially the flankers Setareki Tawake and Apisai Naevo.
Centre Viliame Satala and Fero Lasagavibau thrived on their sevens rugby skills and they are already in high demand here.
But the downside of Fiji’s game was the 16 penalties against the team and the yellow card against Satala for the high tackle.
Also cited for a high tackle was Jacob Rauluni.
