What's happening
Scotland - Fiji
November 1 Match
WHAT'S HAPPENING? (posted 2nd November 2003)
What an exciting game the Scotland Fiji clash was in Sydney yesterday afternoon, with
the Scots just sneaking a victory by 2 points over the Pacific Islanders 22-20. The win
for Scotland puts them through to the quarter final next week, while Fiji is now out of
the tournament.
Fiji came out barreling in the first half, with Rupeni Caucaunibuca the star! Caucaunibuca
blistered down the field twice to score during the first half, and he would have scored
a hat trick if he hadn't lost the ball forward before he could put it down - the result of a
Cameron Mather thumper of a tackle. Nicky Little's conversions put the Fijians at 14 points,
and fortunately for Scotland- Chris Paterson managed to slot two penalty tries in as many minutes,
keeping the Scots in touch with the half time score 14-6. The score could have been a lot higher
in Fiji's favour had they capitalised more on the opportunities they'd had during the first forty minutes.
But half an hour into the match, Fiji's hooker Greg Smith was injured, and the Fijian team was rattled
and struggled to maintain their form.
While Fiji dominated the first half, the second half was Scotland's. Three penalty goals from
Paterson put the Scots in the lead 15-14 with less than a quarter of the match to play. Nicky Little
kicked a successful penalty goal though minutes later when Cameron Mather was pinged for being offside to
again see Fiji in the lead!
With three minutes left on the clock it was do or die time for the Scots. Their prop, Tom Smith saved
the day for his team scoring a close range try. With the score locked at 20 a piece it was a pressure
conversion kick, but Chris Paterson's attempt was successful and Scotland took the lead and the game 22-20.
The win means that Scotland maintains its previous RWC record of always making the quarter finals. Next week
they'll play the Wallabies in Brisbane in the knock out QF.
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