Flying Fijians topple Scotland in front of home crowd
Photo:
AFP / Josua Buredua
Flying Fijians head coach Mick Byrne says the 29-14 win against Scotland on Saturday was a result of hard work.
Byrne made the comments after the one-off Test match at the National Stadium in Suva.
With over 10,000 fans in attendance, including Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, Fiji turned the pressure on midway into the first half and continued that in the second spell to claim the win and avenge last year's loss in Scotland.
"Really pleased for our players," the former Scotland assistant coach said.
"The amount of work they put in in such a short period of time and they got the result today."
Captain Tevita Ikanivere paid tribute to the players, who fought until the last whistle to secure the win.
He said the disappointing three points loss to the Wallabies the weekend before was something that the team had at the back of their mind, as they took on the touring Scottish side at Laucala.
"Thank the brothers for giving their all today," he said.
"Hard fought battle. I thank the Scottish team for coming down to Fiji, the only Tier One nation that has come down to play us."
Scotland coach Gregory Townsend said the Fijians were better and he was disappointed for the loss.
"Fiji deserved to win. Disappointed for the overall performance, disappointed that we didn't work on the good start we had."
Scotland had taken an early lead but they were down 15-7 at halftime.
Fullback Kyle Rowe crossed the Fiji tryline three minutes into the game, and after messing up near the visitors' tryline the Fijians managed to get points on the board through the boots of flyhalf Caleb Muntz.
Skipper Ikanivere added more points through a try from a rare driving maul in the 36th minute, before winger Kalaveti Ravouravou finished off a backline movement when he ran untouched from a Salesi Rayasi pass.
In the second half, Scotland scored first again, through inside centre Tom Jordan, after the visitors had broken through midfield and quick recycling of the ball saw Jordan go over.
France-based Jiuta Wainiqolo then broke through to score in the 60th minute, having received and inside pass from Muntz.
Then a penalty try was awarded to the Fijians after Scottish winger Darcy Graham was ruled offside, and interfering with the ball, when the Fijian backline had spun the ball wide, with two players on the outside two metres from the tryline.
Graham was red carded, having received an earlier yellow card in the game, and Scotland were on the receiving end of a penalty try to their hosts.
And as the last seconds ticked away the Fijians were stopped short again, number eight Elia Canakaivata held up on the line as he bulldozed his way over.
A highlight of the day's program was the recognition of former Flying Fijians who had played against Scotland in 1997.
That included Joeli Veitayaki and Filipe Rayasi, whose sons Haeriet Hetit and Salesi Rayasi played for Fiji yesterday.
Hetit is Veitayaki's son while Salesi is Filipe's son.
The Flying Fijians will now prepare for the upcoming Pacific Nations Cup while Scotland will meet Manu Samoa at Eden Park on Friday night.
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