The Fiji Times

Lomani rates reserves

The FIJI Water Flying Fijians were taken to the wire by a determined Georgian side in their 17-12 victory at Stade de Bordeaux in Bordeaux, France on Sunday. Georgia took a 9-nil lead in the first spell and Fiji came back in the second half with the help of impact players. Flying Fijians scrumhalf Frank...

Georgia coach hails Fiji

Georgia head coach Levan Maisashvili gave credit to the FIJI Water Flying Fijians for coming from a 9-0 deficit to win 17-12 during their Rugby World Cup pool C match at Stade de Bordeaux on Sunday. Fiji had to work overtime to secure the win and keep its quarter-final hopes alive. Trailing 9-0 at half-time,...

Portugal first | Raiwalui not bothered by ‘outside noise’

Fiji Water Flying Fijians head coach Simon Raiwalui is not being carried away by the potential of a Rugby World Cup quarter-final spot and is instead putting all his focus on Portugal first. He knows a win against the Os Lobos must be achieved first at any cost. They will play in Toulouse on Monday,...

One point away | 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final

The Fiji Water Flying Fijians are just one point away from reaching the quarter-final of the 2023 Rugby World Cup which would be a first in 16 years. Australia secured a bonus point win yesterday in their 34-14 win over Portugal, moving the Wallabies to second on the standings in Pool C with 11 points...

Samoa’s Lam to miss England showdown after ban

(Reuters) – Samoa winger Ben Lam will miss his side’s final Rugby World Cup Pool D clash with England in Lille this weekend after he received an effective two-game suspension on Monday. Lam received a red card for a dangerous tackle on Japan back row Lappies Labuschagne after 48 minutes of Samoa’s 28-22 defeat and accepted...

Permutations ahead of final pool matches at the Rugby World Cup

By Nick Said MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) – The final pool stage matches of the Rugby World Cup will be played between Thursday and Sunday with six of the eight quarter-final places still up for grabs in France. Only England and Wales have sealed a spot in the knockout rounds, meaning it is all to play...

South Africa wing Mapimpi ruled out of World Cup

By Nick Said MARSEILE, France (Reuters) – South Africa wing Makazole Mapimpi has been ruled out of the remainder of the Rugby World Cup in France with a fractured eye socket, director of rugby Rassie Erasmus confirmed on Monday. Mapimpi was injured in a clash of heads with Augustine Pulu in the Springboks’ 49-18 Pool...

Disappointed Rugby Australia expect Jones to stay on until 2027

By Nick Mulvenney SAINT ETIENNE, France (Reuters) – Rugby Australia are bitterly disappointed with the World Cup campaign but expect Eddie Jones to stay on as coach until the end of his contract in 2027, chief executive Phil Waugh said on Monday. The Wallabies’ hopes of avoiding a first ever opening-round exit are hanging by...

Springboks sweat on Mapimpi injury in wake of Tonga win

By Nick Said MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) – South Africa will send wing Makazole Mapimpi for scans on a fracture to his cheek-bone in the wake of Sunday’s 49-18 victory over Tonga that took the defending champions to the brink of a Rugby World Cup quarter-final place. Should they progress, it may be without the 2019...

Springboks beat feisty Tonga 49-18 to close on quarters

MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) -Defending champions South Africa scored seven tries and moved a step closer to the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals with a bruising 49-18 victory over impressive Tonga in their Pool B clash on Sunday. Many of the 60,387 in the crowd were rooting for the Pacific Islanders, but while Tonga put on a...

Job done for Jones as Wallabies enter World Cup purgatory

SAINT ETIENNE, France (Reuters) – Wallabies coach Eddie Jones said he was disappointed that Australia’s World Cup destiny was no longer in their own hands but thought his players deserved credit for getting a bonus- point win against Portugal on Sunday. The 34-14 victory left their hopes in the hands of the Portuguese, who must...

Tonga need more time to build on gutsy showing says coach

MARSEILLE, France (Reuters) – Tonga received a huge boost after a gutsy showing against South Africa at the Rugby World Cup on Sunday with coach Toutai Kefu insisting more time together and extra matches for the small island nation will further increase their competitiveness. Tonga were feisty and physical but undone by their errors as...

Total rugby, not total failure as Portugal lose to Australia

SAINT-ETIENNE, France (Reuters) – Having reached the World Cup final in 1987 with Les Bleus, Patrice Lagisquet knows a thing or two about French flair and while his Portugal side failed to beat Australia in Pool C, they took it boldly to the Wallabies. Portugal played ball in hand and even led 7-3 early on...

Dupont undergoes light training as France prepare for Italy

(Reuters) – Antoine Dupont trained on Sunday, a day after returning to the France World Cup squad following surgery on a broken cheekbone as the scrumhalf steps up his bid to take part in the quarter-finals. The French captain trained with health manager Bruno Boussagol before kicking balls and running a few sprints. The 26-year-old...

Australia still just alive after bonus-point win over Portugal

SAINT ETIENNE, France (Reuters) -Australia did just enough to keep their miniscule World Cup hopes alive with an unconvincing but hardfought 34-14 bonus-point win over a lively Portugal team in their final Pool C match on Sunday. Losses to Fiji and Wales had left Australia’s campaign on life support and the Wallabies now need Portugal...

England captain Farrell looking forward to Curry return

(Reuters) – England flanker Tom Curry is fit and raring to go should he be selected against Samoa having played only three minutes in the Rugby World Cup following an early red card picked up against Argentina. England have already booked their place in the quarter-finals but the game against Samoa in Lille on Saturday...

Argentina claim the underdog status for Japan showdown

NANTES, France (Reuters) – Argentina, despite their World Cup pedigree, appear determined to claim the underdog tag for their blockbuster Pool D showdown against Japan in Nantes next Sunday. Both teams go into the match with two wins from three games and the permutations are simple: the winning team goes through to the quarter-finals and...

RWC 2023 | Fiji to reset and refocus

We will need to regroup and refocus before their next match against Portugal, says FIJI Water Flying Fijians second row Isoa Nasilasila. The national side faces Portugal in Toulouse on October 9, a win to ensure a place in the quarter-finals. “We knew that the Georgians would come out and put a lot of pressure...

RWC 2023 | Focus on next game; need to give Portugal ‘utmost respect’

FIJI Water Flying Fijians hooker Sam Matavesi says they will need to give Portugal the “utmost respect” when they face off on October 9. The match will be the decider to whether Fiji progresses any further at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. The side was taken to the wire against Georgia yesterday, coming...

For dad and country | Nayacalevu gifts father a birthday try

Waisale Vuidravuwalu watched from the stands of Stade de Bordeaux as his son and FIJI Water Flying Fijians captain Waisea Nayacalevu scored in the corner. It was a proud moment for the Serua man as the try helped Fiji down a spirited Georgia side 17-12 yesterday. It was also a special occasion as Vuidravuwalu celebrated...

Athletics challenges | Miller banks on old hands for leadership

I will be depending on senior and experienced athletes to lead this side to the Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands in November, says Athletics Fiji head coach Albert Miller. Miller said Team Athletics Fiji to the games this year would field a young side, many of whom had never represented the country at any...

Fiji will not look past Portugal in quarter-final hunt

BORDEAUX, France (Reuters) – Fiji coach Simon Raiwalui will not allow himself to think about a Rugby World Cup quarter-final just yet but, having seen his side roll up their sleeves and fight for a gritty 17-12 win over Georgia in Bordeaux, he knows they are almost there. Fiji will have their knockout phase place...

Scotland’s Townsend faces decisions for Ireland showdown

LILLE, France (Reuters) -Scotland coach Gregor Townsend got the performance he wanted and perhaps a selection headache after his side romped to a 12-try 84-0 victory over Romania on Saturday to keep their World Cup quarter-final hopes alive. Scotland head to Paris next week for a showdown with Ireland where a victory could put them...

Romania will improve if they learn from harsh lessons – coach

LILLE, France (Reuters) – Romania were handed another harsh lesson at the Rugby World Cup, but if they learn from their experiences they can expect to become better, coach Eugen Apjok said after Saturday’s 84-0 mauling by Scotland. Romania have had a tough tournament in France, hammered 82-8 by Ireland, 76-0 by South Africa and...

Captain Dupont back in France squad after cheekbone surgery

PARIS (Reuters) – Antoine Dupont is returning to the France World Cup squad after the captain underwent surgery on a broken cheekbone, the French federation said on Saturday. The mercurial scrumhalf has been cleared to resume physical activity, the federation said in a statement. “Following the post-surgery medical check-up that took place yesterday, Antoine has...

All Blacks need to improve even on Italy display, says Cane

LYON, France (Reuters) – All Blacks captain Sam Cane was delighted to get his first taste of the World Cup in New Zealand’s third Pool A game and said there was still room for improvement after Friday’s spectacular win over Italy. Cane, a late withdrawal from the opening loss to France due to a back...

Proud Chile coach happy to learn from World Cup experience

NANTES, France (Reuters) -Chile bowed out of the Rugby World Cup with a 59-5 defeat by Argentina in their final Pool D clash in on Saturday, but they are richer for the experience and ready to return in Australia in four years time, coach Pablo Lemoine said. Chile lost all four games, scoring 27 points...

Italy tries to digest All Black avalanche

(Reuters) – The morning after the humiliating night before Italian rugby fans were not in any rush to read the sports newspapers after their crushing defeat by New Zealand at the World Cup on Friday. Losing to the All Blacks was always the likely outcome, but a 96-17 thrashing was not what Italy expected. La...

It’s not all on Eddie, says Wallabies assistant coach

SAINT ETIENNE, France (Reuters) – Australia’s calamitous World Cup campaign is not just down to Eddie Jones and it would be unfair if he alone took the blame for the Wallabies failing to reach the knockout stages, assistant coach Neal Hatley said on Saturday. Fiji made that scenario all but certain by rallying to beat...

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Suva to host semis