The Vodafone Fijiana XV’s impressive display against Hong Kong China sets a strong foundation for their upcoming WXV3 match against Samoa on October 12 in Dubai. The team, led by coach Mosese Rauluni, dominated their opening match with a convincing 38-3 victory.
Rauluni admitted that the first half was somewhat sluggish as they allowed their opponents excessive possession and conceded penalties. “We capitalized a bit more in the second half, but we still made minor mistakes that put us under pressure,” he noted.
The coach expressed satisfaction with the win, especially following their previous Test match defeats to Scotland (15-59) and the Netherlands (10-12). “This victory boosts the players’ confidence as we prepare for the challenging game against Samoa in two weeks,” he said, emphasizing the need for solid set-pieces and improved physicality in both ball carries and defense.
Captain Karalaini Naisewa praised the team’s performance and highlighted the importance of correcting their errors ahead of the next match. “The weather conditions in Dubai are similar to those at home, so we aim to enhance our game in the coming week,” she stated. Naisewa acknowledged the difficulty of the upcoming match against Samoa and emphasized the need for the team to elevate their fitness levels to secure a win.
The scoring began with prop Anasimeci Korovata breaking through the Hong Kong China defense for Fiji’s first try, giving them a 5-0 lead, although Luisa Tisolo missed the conversion. Sevens star Kolora Lomani added a second try through a well-coordinated attack, which Tisolo also missed, bringing the score to 10-0. Hong Kong China responded with a penalty kick from fly half Fung Hoi Ching, narrowing the gap to 10-3.
Naisewa added a try from a maul, and Tisolo successfully converted to extend the lead to 17-3. Winger Repeka Tove scored the fourth try in the corner, with Tisolo converting it for a 24-3 advantage. Flanker Sulita Waisega then crossed the try line, and Tisolo’s conversion brought the score to 31-3. Naisewa capped the match with her second try from another maul, and Tisolo’s additional points secured the final score at 38-3.
In other news, the national under-18 schoolboys team triumphed over Australia with a score of 26-14 in their opening match at Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka last Saturday. Their next match is scheduled for 3 PM tomorrow.