FIJI FINISH NATIONS CUP ON A HIGH
MATCH REPORT: It was the Nemani Nadolo show as Fiji ended a difficult Nations Cup with a 38-24 win over Georgia.
The giant Fijian helped himself to a hat-trick of tries in the match and this turned out to be the deciding factor.
Sadly, in each of their previous Group B matches they were forced to stand down due to COVID-19 outbreaks in the camp causing the matches to be cancelled.
But after a welcoming round of negative tests, Vern Cotter’s men were finally unleashed at Murrayfield and got off to a fast start.
The giant Leicester wing crossed the whitewash inside of the two-minute mark and debutant John Dyer followed him closely, scoring in the sixth minute.
It was then the turn of Josua Tuisova to score Fiji’s third try and soon after Georgia opened their account with a try from Giori Melikidze barging over the Fijian line with Tebo Abzhandadze’s trusty boot keeping the Georgians within 9 points at the break.
Fiji, as is their want, managed to frustrate themselves during the early stages of the second half before Mesulume Kunavula scored in the 54th minute and this opened the floodgates for two more Nadolo tries who finished off two fine moves and grab his hat-trick while Ben Volavola added the extras.
Beka Saghinadze managed to keep the score-line respectable by scoring two tries in quick succession enabling Georgia to finish the tournament on an encouraging note.
However the Georgians ultimately suffered their fourth-straight defeat to finish the tournament in eight position while Fiji managed to finish one better at seventh.
The Scorers:
For Fiji
Tries: Nadolo 3, Dyer, Tuisova, Kunavul
Con: Volavola 4
For Georgia
Tries: Melikidze, Saghinadze 2
Con: Abzhandadze 3
Pen: Abzhandadze
Teams:
Fiji: 15 Kini Murimurivalu, 14 Josua Tuisova, 13 Semi Radradra (Captain), 12 Levani Botia, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Ben Volavola, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Albert Tuisue, 7 Mesulame Kunavula, 6 Johnny Dyer, 5 Temo Mayanavanu, 4 Tevita Ratuva, 3 Mesake Doge, 2 Samuel Matavesi, 1 Peni Ravai
Replacements: 16 Tevita Ikanivere, 17 Haereiti Hetet, 18 Samuela Tawake, 19 Chris Minimbi, 20 Manueli Ratuniyarawa, 21 Simione Kuruvoli, 22 Seru Vularika, 23 Waisea Nayacalevu
Georgia: 15 Soso Matiashvili, 14 Akaki Tabutsadze, 13 Giorgi Kveseladze, 12 Merab Sharikadze (Captain), 11 Sandro Todua, 10 Tedo Abzhandadze, 9 Vasil Lobzhanidze, 8 Tornike Jalaghonia, 7 Beka Saghinadze, 6 Otar Giorgadze, 5 Kote Mikautadze, 4 Lasha Jaiani, 3 Beka Gigashvili, 2 Shalva Mamukashvili, 1 Mikheil Nariashvili
Replacements: 16 Jaba Bregvadze, 17 Guram Gogichashvili, 18 Giorgi Melikidze, 19 Grigol Kerdikoshvili, 20 Mikheil Gachechiladze, 21 Gela Aprasidze, 22 Demur Tapladze, 23 Davit Niniashvili
Referee: Mike Adamson
Assistant referees: Sam Grove-White, Andrea Piardi
TMO: Brian MacNeice
Source: Rugbypass