A powerful second half performance from the Vodafone Flying Fijians laid the platform for a convincing 38-16 victory at Apia Park in Samoa yesterday .
Trailing 16-14 at half time, the Akapusi Qera-captained side managed to dismantle the tough Samoan defence to score 24 unanswered points and come away from Apia Pacific Nations Cup champions for 2017.
Fiji skipper Qera said it was perfect finish to their campaign.
“It was a tough battle for us,” Qera said after the match.
“I just want to thank the boys for all the effort they put in today and to come away with the win is a bonus.
“It has been a long seven weeks of hard work I just want to thank the boys for helping us win the title again today,” he said.
Qera said as rugby players, their goal was to win silverware and yesterday’s victory was no difference.
“Yes, we are happy to win the title again especially after playing a tough Samoa team like we met today,” Qera said.
The France-based forward said playing Samoa a week after battling Tonga was tough for them.
“We knew it was going to be tough for us, but we managed to outclass them on the day.”
Samoa captain David Lemi, who scored the only try from the hosts, conceded defeat saying they lost to a better side. Lemi said while they tried hard in the second half the Fijians improved their performance and shut them down with their tough defence.
“Congratulations to the Fijians for a good win but for Samoa we need to regroup and continue our work towards trying to qualify for the 2019 Rugby World Cup,” Lemi said.
Fiji halfback Henry Seniloli played a man of the match performance yesterday scoring three tries, two in the opening 40 minutes to keep his team in the game after Samoa first five eighth Tusi Pisi converted three penalties and Lemi’s try to give his team the lead at the break.
It was a one-way traffic in the second half as the Fijians ran riot scoring three tries to Seniloli, Jale Vatubua and Apisai Ratuniyarawa with Ben Volavola converting all tries plus adding a 53 metre penalty to come away winners 38-16.
The Stallions started the game well scoring the first points of the game.
Nippy playmaker Peceli Nacebe opened the floodgates when he dodged his way through the Namosi wall of defence to score a wonderful try in the first minute of the game.
Fullback Apisalome Waqatabu added the extras with the conversion.
The try was a wake-up call for Namosi as they bounced back at the restart with their big forwards leading the forward surge pressuring the Stallions.
The visitors forced the Stallions to commit errors and later winning a penalty in the 11th minute of play for fullback Viliame Maiono to score Namosi’s first points.
Namosi continued to apply pressure with their forwards bulldozing their way forward through pick and drive phases gaining possession and territory.
Indiscipline crept in the Nadroga camp with open side flanker Vasikali Mudu and hooker Atunaisa Navuma being sin-binned – giving Namosi the advantage as super sub Samu Suguturaga completed a wave of pick and drive phases to dive over for a try.
Namosi’s try gave the players the confidence as they continued to pressure the hosts with attacking rugby before Maiono added another six points from two penalties to leave the halftime scores at 13-7.
Nadroga started the second spell with a bang with a try to Navuma in the first minute of the second spell.
The Stallions started to gallop their way in when they amazed the spectators with their trademark open and free flowing rugby before nippy playmaker Nacebe completed a wonderfully worked back pass to score under the crossbar.
Waqatabu added the extras from the conversion.
Nadroga turned the tables as they rattled Namosi’s forwards with bustling runs complemented with offload tackles and pick and drive phases resulted to Navuma’s second try that was converted by Waqatabu.
A big scrum by Nadro inside Namosi’s 10m line forced the visitors on the backfoot allowing number eight Eremasi Radrodro to score from the base of the scrum.
Waqatabu dissected the posts with a conversion taking the scores to 33.
Namosi though did not give up and scored another try from a pick and drive through replacement prop Atu Maiono before Radrodro put the final nail in Namosi’s coffin with a spectacular try in the 78th minute with Waqatabu adding the extras.
Namosi captain Mesake Tui said the game was tough.
He congratulated Nadroga for the win and thanked his players for their effort.
Meanwhile, Suva defeated Namosi 24-22 in the under-20 final.
