Latest news with #TevitaIkanivere
RNZ News
13-07-2025
- 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.
Associated Press
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Fiji 29, Scotland 14
Suva, Fiji HFC Bank Stadium Saturday Fiji 29 (Tevita Ikanivere, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Jiuta Wainiqolo tries; penalty try; Caleb Muntz 2 conversions, penalty), Scotland 14 (Kyle Rowe, Tom Jordan tries; Fergus Burke 2 conversions). HT: 15-7
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- 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.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Scotland suffer costly loss to Fiji in Suva
Fiji: 29 (15) Tries: Ikanivere, Ravouvou, Wainiqolo, Penalty Try Cons: Muntz 2 Pens: Muntz Scotland: 14 (7) Tries: Rowe, Jordan Cons: Burke 2 Darcy Graham was sent off as Scotland suffered a bruising loss to four-try Fiji in Suva, with their hopes of getting a favourable World Cup draw seriously dented. Advertisement Despite scoring after only three minutes, the Scots spent most of the game on the back foot, conceding penalty after penalty. Graham was sin-binned in the first half for tackling a player before he had the ball and saw red after a second yellow-card infringement, which also resulted in a penalty try. The loss to Fiji, ranked ninth in the world, will cost Scotland world rankings points and likely push them outside the top six when the World Cup draw is made in December. Taking on Fiji in their own back yard was never going to be an easy feat, but Scotland got off to the best possible start as Graham put Kyle Rowe through a gap with the full-back scoring after only three minutes. Advertisement That was about as good as it got for the visitors. Marched back by repeated infringements and ferocious ball-carrying, hooker Ewan Ashman was binned and Caleb Muntz kicked a penalty. The final five minutes of the first half were costly. Graham was carded and Fiji scored twice to take the lead at the break. Firstly, a Fijian line-out crashed through the Scottish barricades and captain Tevita Ikanivere touched down. Moments later, they had another line-out deep in Scotland's camp but this time they went wide and winger Kalaveti Ravouvou cantered over. Into the second-half and again, it was the Scots who drew first blood. Ashman broke and was tap-tackled just short, but the ball was shovelled wide for Tom Jordan to score. Fergus Burke nailed the conversion and the gap was narrowed to one point. Advertisement Scotland would not be back in point-scoring territory for a long time. Jiuta Wainiqolo's individual magic put the hosts back in the driving seat, with the Toulon winger dancing through three tackles on his way to the line. Graham's red card really ended the game for Scotland. Trying to intercept on his own line, he was too eager and went early. In an offside position, he was the only defender and although he intercepted and cleared, it was brought back for a penalty try and a second yellow. Although the visitors were able to get into the Fijian 22m a few times, the damage was done and now Scotland face another tough World Cup group in 2027. Advertisement Fiji: Rayasi, Ravouvou, Maqala, Tuisova, Wainiqolo; Muntz, Kuruvoli; Mawi, Ikanivere (c), Doge, Nasilasila, Mayanavanua, Tagitagivalu, Canakaivata, Mata. Replacements: Matavesi, Hetet, Tawake, Vocevoce, Tuisue, Wye, Armstrong-Ravula, Botitu. Scotland: Rowe, Graham, Redpath, Jordan, Steyn; Burke, Dobie; Sutherland, Ashman, Millar Mills, Sykes, Gilchrist, Ritchie, Darge (c), M Fagerson. Replacements: Turner, Hepburn, Hurd, Williamson, Bayliss, Horne, Hastings, Smith. Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
Al Arabiya
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Darcy Graham red-carded as Fiji beats Scotland 29-14 on the 2nd match of its Pacific tour
Suva, Fiji (AP) Fiji conceded a try after two minutes but rallied to score four tries and beat 14-man Scotland 29-14 in a one-off test match on Saturday. Scotland was a man down from the 66th minute 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 for an early tackle. The TMO ruled out a penalty try on that occasion but Fiji immediately scored its 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 Fiji its final 15-point margin. Scotland also lost hooker Ewan Ashman to a yellow card in the ninth minute in an undisciplined performance. Winger Kyle Rowe scored the first try of the match only two minutes after the kickoff and New Zealand-born flyhalf Fergus Burke converted for a 7-0 lead. Fiji which lost 21-18 to Australia last weekend narrowed the lead with a penalty to flyhalf Caleb Muntz in the 20th minute then took its first lead at 8-7 with Ikanivere's try. Kalaveti Ravouvou sawed through the Scotland defense 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 center 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 medalist Jiuta Wainiqolo to increase its lead to 22-14 before the penalty try sealed its win. The win was Fiji's second over Scotland in five official tests and adds evidence that Fiji deserves to be included among the top 12 nations in world rugby in next year's inaugural Nations Cup. Scotland was playing the second match on its tour of the Pacific and will take on Samoa in Apia on Friday. Last weekend Scotland beat New Zealand Māori 29-26 at Whangārei New Zealand.
