Fiji win to join Wales in group at World Cup

FIJI secured their place alongside Wales, Australia and Georgia in Group D of the 2019 Rugby World Cup after victory over Tonga in Nuku’alofa.

With another crowd of 10,000 people packed into Teufaiva Stadium, the first half was a very tense affair with few scoring opportunities. Tonga appeared to have the upper hand in the scrum and close exchanges, while Fiji launched some promising attacks but could not find a way through a strong and willing home defence.

The first half would end tryless, Fiji fly-half Ben Volavola opening the scoring with a penalty before scrum-half Sonatane Takulua cancelled that out with a kick of his own after 21 minutes.

Takulua had an opportunity to edge the hosts ahead but missed a second penalty attempt on the half hour so the two rivals went into half-time locked at 3-3.

The second-half began in a different fashion and prop Siegfried Fisihoi sent the home crowd into a frenzy when he scored the first try within six minutes of the restart, Takulua making no mistake with the conversion to put Tonga ahead 10-3.

Fiji’s response was swift, though, with full-back Timoci Nagusa doing some great work in the lead up to second-row Leone Nakarawa, pictured, running in for a try to cut the deficit to two points after Volavola was unable to add the conversion.

With both Toutai Kefu and John McKee starting to make changes off the bench the score remained at 10-8 until the 65th minute when Volavola kicked his second penalty to edge Fiji into a one-point lead.

The fly-half then added a third with six minutes to go after a period of Fijian pressure.

The four Group D sides will be joined by Canada or Uruguay, who are battling it out to be the Americas 2 qualifier.