The Vodafone Fijiana XV team showcased an impressive performance against Hong Kong China, winning 38-3 in their opening match, which sets a promising tone for their upcoming WXV3 match against Samoa on October 12 in Dubai. Head coach Mosese Rauluni noted that while the team had a strong second half, they were initially too passive, giving their opponents too much possession and conceding penalties.
Rauluni expressed satisfaction with the victory, especially following two recent test match losses to Scotland (15-59) and the Netherlands (10-12). He emphasized that this win boosts the players’ confidence as they prepare for a challenging match against Samoa. He pointed out the need for improved set-pieces, physicality in ball carries, and better defensive play.
Captain Karalaini Naisewa, who scored twice during the match, praised the team’s efforts and highlighted the importance of refining their performance ahead of the game against Samoa. She acknowledged the similarity of the weather conditions in Dubai to those in Fiji, encouraging the team to work on their errors in training.
The match saw a strong start for Fiji, with prop Anasimeci Korovata scoring the first try. Luisa Tisolo’s conversion attempt was missed, but Fiji quickly built momentum. Kolora Lomani added another try, followed by a penalty from Hong Kong China’s Fung Hoi Ching, bringing the score to 10-3. Naisewa then scored from a maul, with Tisolo converting to extend the lead. Further tries from Repeka Tove and Sulita Waisega, along with successful conversions by Tisolo, culminated in a final score of 38-3 after Naisewa’s second try.
In other news, the national under-18 schoolboys team triumphed over Australia with a score of 26-14 in their first match at Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka, last Saturday. Their next match is scheduled for 3 PM tomorrow.