Maori turns tables on Fiji
REPORT: Fiji's World Cup preparations suffered a setback Saturday when they were beaten 26-17 by a re-energised Maori team in Rotorua.
At half-time, it was 7-all, but the low score was no reflection of the frantic pace of the game with daring off-loads and bone-crunching tackles in which the Maori outscored Fiji four tries to two.
The Maori, more at home in temperatures nearly 20 degrees Celsius cooler than last week in Suva, kept faith in the 23 who were demolished 27-10, while Fiji made 10 changes.
For the Maori All Blacks, Sean Wainui, Rob Thompson, Alex Nankivell and Isaia Walker-Leawere scored tries with Otere Black landing three conversions.
Fiji's points came from tries to Veremalua Vugakoto and John Dyer with a conversion and penalty by Alivereti Veitokani and a conversion by Josh Matavesi.
The scorers:
For Maori:
Tries: Wainui, Thompson, Nankiville, Walker-Leawere
Cons: Black 3
For Fiji:
Tries: Vugakot, Dyer
Cons: Veitokani 2
Pen: Matavesi
Teams:
Maori: 15 Shaun Stevenson, 14 Jordan Hyland, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Alex Nankivell. 11 Sean Wainui, 10 Otere Black, 9 Bryn Hall, 8 Whetukamokamo Douglas, 7 Mitch Karpik, 6 Reed Prinsep, 5 Pari Pari Parkinson, 4 Tom Franklin, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Ash Dixon, 1 Ross Wright.
Replacements: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Haereiti Hetet, 18 Marcel Renata, 19 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20 Akira Ioane, 21 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22 Fletcher Smith, 23 Teihorangi Walden.
Fiji: 15 Kini Murimurivalu, 14 Patrick Osbourne, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu, 12 Jale Vatubua, 11 Filipo Nakosi, 10 Alivereti Veitokani, 9 Henry Seniloli, 8 Nemani Nagusa, 7 Mosese Voka, 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu, 5 Apisalome Ratuniyarawa, 4 Tevita Ratuva, 3 Lee-Roy Atalifo, 2 Veremalua Vugakoto, 1 Campese Ma’afu
Replacements: 16 Samuel Matavesi, 17 Joeli Veitayaki, 18 Luke Tagi, 19 Albert Tuisue, 20 John Dyer, 21 Serupepeli Vularika, 22 Sevanaia Galala, 23 Josh Matavesi
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
Assistant referees: Damon Murphy (Australia), Jordan Way (Australia)
TMO: James Leckie (Australia)