The FIJI Water Flying Fijians concluded their European tour with a challenging match against Ireland, suffering a 52-17 loss in Dublin. The Irish team showcased a dominant performance, applying consistent pressure from the game’s outset.
Fiji’s Jiuta Wainiqolo nearly scored a try in the 10th minute, but fell just short of the try line. This miss proved costly as Ireland quickly capitalized, with tries from Captain Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Craig Casey, and Mack Hansen, along with successful conversions by debutant flyhalf Sam Prendergast, which enabled them to build a substantial 28-3 lead by halftime. Fiji managed to put points on the board through a penalty kick from Caleb Muntz.
In the second half, Ireland continued their scoring spree with another try from Hansen, followed by contributions from Bundee Aki, Gus McCarthy, and Ronan Kelleher, leading to their comfortable victory. Fiji did show resilience, with Kitione Salawa and promising player Setareki Turagacoke scoring tries, and Muntz successfully converting one of them.
The match featured impressive lineups from both teams. Ireland’s starting roster included stars like Jamie Osborne and Joshua van der Flier, while Fiji fielded players such as Waisea Nayacalevu and Josua Tuisova.
Despite the significant defeat, Fiji can draw on the experience gained from their European tour, which serves as valuable preparation for future competitions. The emergence of young talent like Setareki Turagacoke offers hope for the team’s development and performance in the future.
In summary, while the match result was disappointing for the Flying Fijians, there are positive takeaways as they look to build on their experiences and develop their younger players going forward.
Leave a comment