Latest news with #Testmatch
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Flying Fijians topple Scotland in front of home crowd
Fiji's Jiuta Wainiqolo (L) runs the ball towards the try line during the rugby Test match between Fiji and Scotland at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva on July 12, 2025. 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.
France 24
5 days ago
- Sport
- France 24
Barrett says All Blacks impressed by young France talent
New Zealand scored six tries to two in Wellington after fielding a starting line-up boasting 708 Test caps which had too much quality for a France team with just 60. Coach Fabien Galthie made 10 starting changes to his French side who had pushed the All Blacks unexpectedly close in a 31-27 loss in the first Test in Dunedin. Galthie chose to leave most of the stars from his Six Nations champions at home and instead brought 22 uncapped players for the three-match series. Some New Zealand pundits, such as former All Black Justin Marshall, said France were being "disrespectful" in bringing an experimental squad, while other critics said it devalued Test rugby. But veteran fly-half Barrett was having none of it after France shared the second-half spoils 14-14, fighting back from being 29-3 down at half-time. "Look, we respect whatever team is put out on the park," Barrett said. "It's a French rugby team and we're all aware of the depth that France have." Barrett said he understood Galthie's strategy of building for the future and said that France's domestic Top 14 league was a deep resource of Test-class performers. "A lot of young talented players are getting opportunities here, which is valuable for them," said Barrett, looking ahead to the third and final Test next Saturday in Hamilton. "And with that comes a lot of freedom that we have to be very wary of, so we've got a lot of respect for the 15, the 23, every weekend. © 2025 AFP
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Graham shown red as Scots sink to Test loss in Fiji
Fiji have conceded a try after two minutes but rallied to score four tries and beat 14-man Scotland 29-14 in a one-off rugby Test match. Scotland were a man down from the 66th minute on Saturday when winger Darcy Graham was sent off after receiving a second yellow card. Graham was first sent to the sin bin in the 35th minute. The TMO ruled out a penalty try on that occasion but Fiji immediately scored their first try through captain Tevita Ikanivere. The second yellow card came when Graham was ruled to have deliberately impeded Fiji and prevented a certain try from being scored. The penalty try that resulted gave the hosts their final 15-point margin. Scotland also lost hooker Ewan Ashman to a yellow card in the ninth minute in an undisciplined performance. "I think we deserved that win. We worked so hard these past two weeks," said Ikanivere. "The last (Fiji) president said there's only a few things that bring Fijians together and rugby is one. It was great today to see everyone enjoying themselves and enjoying Fiji." Fiji beat Scotland 29-14 in Suva #tosoviti — fijivillage (@fijivillage) July 12, 2025 Winger Kyle Rowe scored the first try of the match only two minutes after the kick-off and New Zealand-born flyhalf Fergus Burke converted for a 7-0 lead. Fiji, who lost 21-18 to Australia last weekend, narrowed the lead with a penalty to flyhalf Caleb Muntz in the 20th minute, then took their first lead at 8-7 with Ikanivere's try. Kalaveti Ravouvou sawed through the Scotland defence to score in the 39th minute and Fiji took a 15-7 lead to halftime. Scotland opened the second half with a slick try to centre Tom Jordan, converted by Burke, which cut the lead to a point at 15-14. Fiji replied with a superb try to the Toulon winger and Olympic sevens gold medallist Jiuta Wainiqolo to increase their lead to 22-14 before the penalty try sealed the win. It was Fiji's second over Scotland in five official Tests and adds evidence that Fiji deserve to be included among the top 12 nations in world rugby in next year's inaugural Nations Cup. With Reuters.
The Guardian
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Steve Borthwick meets with referee amid fears of player welfare in Argentina
England go after a series win in the shadow of the Andes with Steve Borthwick urging rugby officials to do a better job of looking out for players after two incidents concerned him in the first Test against Argentina. Henry Slade's tour was ended by a fractured hand in La Plata yet England claim the referee, Angus Gardner, was trying to tell him to get up and not wanting to stop the game. When Charlie Ewels later suffered a finger dislocation 'that went through the skin' they similarly felt rushed to treat him. Borthwick met Luc Ramos, the Frenchman in charge of the second Test, on Friday to flag his concerns. World Rugby is on a mission to speed up the game, but England's head coach says that must not be at the expense of player welfare. 'What was slightly concerning last week was that in both those incidents the referee was trying to play through, trying to carry on, trying to tell the player to get up, we're carrying on,' he said. 'Player welfare is our priority: our number-one priority, our number-two priority, our number-three priority. We've got to be conscious of that. These men work exceptionally hard, they're full of courage. We need to make sure their welfare is looked after. I hope that's the case on Saturday.' Gardner came in for criticism when officiating the pivotal Six Nations match between Ireland and France. Antoine Dupont suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament but the referee chose not to review the incident, which the French rugby federation president, Florian Gill, said he found 'disturbing'. The Australian will run the line on Saturday at the Estadio San Juan del Bicentenario, where England put their faith in the greenest midfield they have fielded for a decade. Luke Northmore makes his debut, a week after Seb Atkinson made his. Not since the centres Slade and Sam Burgess won their first caps together, against France in 2015, have England put such faith in youth. 'We know what a dangerous side Argentina are and how we are going to counter them defensively,' Borthwick said. 'What you've also seen with this England team is that it is one which runs hard and is conditioned to run hard. Luke does exactly that. His post-contact metres are very good. He gives us an opportunity with his power.' As for Atkinson being the senior man in the middle at the age of 23, Kevin Sinfield said he has no worries. 'From the moment he came into camp we were all taken aback at how talented he was,' said England's skills coach. 'He can run like not many others can. He knows the game, so tactically he's where he should be, and technically he's very good too. He has such maturity for a young guy. Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion Argentina: Elizalde; Moroni, Cinti, Piccardo, Mendy; Carreras, Benítez Cruz; Gallo, Montoya (capt), Gómez Kodela, Petti, Rubiolo, Grondona, González, Matera. Replacements: Bernasconi, Vivas, Delgado, Paulos, Isa, Grondona, Moyano, Roger. England: Steward; Roebuck, Northmore, Atkinson, Muir; Ford (co-capt), Spencer; Baxter, George (co-capt), Heyes, Ewels, Coles, Curry, Underhill, Willis. Replacements: Dan, Rodd, Opoku-Fordjour, Cunningham-South, Pepper, Dombrandt, Van Poortvliet, Murley. 'He was outstanding last week and, without looking too far ahead, you think of the autumn series and the players that then become available [post Lions]. These guys at the minute hold the shirts. If Seb goes well again it will be pretty tough to take that 12 shirt from him.' That is some carrot, though Sinfield is wary of the challenge heading England's way on the basis that, in his estimation, it is easier to react to a disappointment than to build on a real positive. 'But great players and great teams do that. We've got a young, inexperienced group and that is the message we are trying to get across.' Argentina have changed seven of the side beaten 35-12 and are intent on marking the game in which Pablo Matera will become a record-breaking Puma, with his 111th cap, by turning in a far improved performance. It may not be an occasion for the fainthearted.
