What's happening
Fiji - USA

October 15 Match

WHAT'S HAPPENING? (posted 15th October 2003)
The USA Eagles trotted out for their first game of the 2003 Rugby World Cup at Suncorp stadium in Brisbane against Fiji. The crowd was dressed for the occasion, again the Brisbane crowd very pro-Fiji, and the anthems were sung by the Rugby World Cup choir. While the voices are spectacular, in my opinion, someone has just GOT to put a bomb up whoever is responsible for determining that these anthems will sound more like hymns than stirring patriotic statements. Puhleeeeeeze - I have never heard the Star Spangled banner sung more sweetly, but I've certainly heard is sung with passion and verve. The Fijian Cibi (I know I called it a haka last time - my bad) got the pace going before the kick off. But, it was the Eagles, out to secure their first win in RWC since beating Japan in 1987, who were keen to get the game going right from word go. Three minutes into play Fiji looked dangerous with Rambini stepping through three defenders and then chipping the ball forward. USA's Emerick was there though to save what looked like a full on try about to happen.

In the seventh minute of play Mike Hercus, the USA Aussie export five eight put the first points on the board for the match with a penalty kick when Fiji was penalised for being offside. The USA led 3-0. Good thing Hercus kicked the conversion because his kicking in general play was not good to say the least. Constantly Hercus kicked but was unable to find touch resulting in giving players like the devastating Fijian Delasau a run with the ball. Fleet of foot Delasau doesn't need to be handed opportunities like that from the opposition!

Though the Fijians threw themselves at the USA, the Eagles defence was solid. Meanwhile, the Fijian lineout was in all sorts of trouble. Sixteen minutes into the game there had been twelve lineouts already - all Fijian throwins but the USA was winning the ball from the lineout. The Fijians dominated possession at this stage having had the ball for 69% of the time, but they were unable to take advantage of their position even when Delasau rumbled and side stepped his way through seven defenders in one run.

Greg Smith, the hooker for Fiji was pinged for playing the ball off his feet allowing Hercus to kick another penalty goal for the USA Eagles. Great Balls of Fire - the score line read 6-0 in favour of the USA!

Delasau must have been getting a bit frustrated at his Fijian peers and almost ran in a one man band try in the twenty sixth minute. But again, he was pulled up by the excellent defence of the USA.

Half an hour into the game I'd probably seen more kicking than I did during the entire Super 12 season this year. 19 lineouts so far? Told ya so! In the thirty third minute Nicky Little putted a penalty kick over for Fiji and the score was 3-6. Fiji had a great opportunity to score near their tryline from their own scrum feed. But Rawaqa stuffed it up when the ball was swung wide by obstructing the ball. Frustrating! The teams went into the half time break with the score unchanged.

I could almost hear the Fijian team getting revved by their coach from here at halftime, but both teams had a rocky start to the second half wtih a number of unforced errors. The Fijians though were much better in the clean out right from the restart. In the 44th minute the first try of the match was finally scored! The Eagles' Hercus kicked a great torpedo punt through to van Zyl who picked it up and scored right under the posts. Hercus then converted the try and the score read 13-3 to the USA. Holy Cow Batman! This was a game and a half!

The next few minutes of the game kind of resembled a pinball machine there was that much back and forthing with possession and kicking, but in the fifty fifth minute Fiji scored under the posts. Delasau had a good run, passed the ball, then Greg Smith flicked the ball to Napi Naevo to score. The try was converted and the score was even on 13 a piece.

What an exciting game! Fiji started to get their momentum going and the penalties started to flow their way. For the next 15 minutes Fiji dominated in possession and in the forwards but it wasn't until the fifty eighth minute that Little converted a penalty kick to put Fiji in front 16-13. In the 66th minute Little kicked a penalty goal for Fiji - it hit the goals posts but bounced back to go through giving him a 5 from 5 kicking record and Fiji a 19-13 lead. With 13 minutes to go in the clash a USA lineout within Fiji's 22 metre line led to the USA getting the ball and swinging it wide. They had plenty of room and numbers, but Emerick fluffed the catch for the USA.

The Eagles weren't about to give up though and they showed plenty of ticker throughout the match. With 10 minutes to go Eloff did a great tackle on Fiji's number 15 to stop a certain try. Cross was replaced by Sika making his world cup debut.

With only minutes to go on the clock both teams were kicking the ball like mad things - well, I thought they were mad :)) For the life of me I can't figure out why the USA was giving possession away when they needed to score a converted try, and I was stuffed why Fiji would be giving the ball away instead of winding down the clock! I guess that's why I'm not playing :))

With less than a minute to go after the USA had put phase after phase together, Kort Schubert - who had a grand game for the USA - scored in the corner. The USA was within one point of Fiji, and if the conversion was successful they'd be walking away with a huge upset win! Unfortunately for the Eagles, Hercus missed the conversion attempt, his kick just going right of the goal posts. The Fijians snuck away with a one point win. The USA team should take a bow - they gave it their best shot and never gave up. The Fijians should go away and bitch slap themselves silly though - never underestimate your opponents, and it was clear from the performance they gave in the first half that they had indeed done just that.

What a top game!