Fiji A defeat Tongans in soggy Suva
May 18, 2008
The Fiji A side lifted their game in the second half to down their
Tongan counterparts 25-10 in heavy conditions at the National Stadium in
Suva on Saturday night. Locked 10-10 at the breather, Rayne Simpson’s
team showed an excellent level of fitness to dominate the latter parts of
the game and seal the win four tries to two.
“We’ve been working hard on our set pieces,” Simpson said
afterwards, “and I thought we controlled them well today, and that set
the platform for the win. The whole pack did a great job.” “The
plan was to keep it tight in these conditions but to go wide if we got the
opportunity.”
The Tongans were first off the mark with a try to crafty right wing
Sione Sete. Fiji hit back with a penalty goal by fly-half Alex Rokobaro
from in front of the sticks, and were awarded a penalty try in the 31st
minute to give them a 10-3 lead. The Tongan backs combined well to conjure
up their second try from fullback Mateo Malupo to leave the sides level at
half-time. The second half clearly belonged to Fiji as halfback Vuga
Tagicakibau squeezed through to touch down on 51 minutes, then inside
centre John Stewart finished off a smart move through the middle to take
the score to 20-10. Fiji No.8 Samu Vunisa ran well off the back of
the scrum and made plenty of ground, and wing William Umu also produced
some impressive skills in the wet.
Having been held up twice in the in-goal area, the Fijians threw one
last move together but the Tongans ripped away possession and kicked
ahead. Fiji centre Isikeli Vuruna scooped up the ball 35 metres out and
forced his way past three tackles attempts before touching down in the
corner for a quite brilliant try to complete the scoring.
FIJI A: 15 Kini Murimurivalu, 14 Alipate Buto (William Saukuru 69), 13
Isikeli Vuruna, 12 John Stewart, 11 William Umu, 10 Alexander Rokobaro (Anare
Vakawaletabua 56), 9 Vuga Tagicakibau (Peni Rokodiva 56), 8 Samu Vunisa (Waqabaca
Kotobalavu 56), 7 Jese Cirikisuva, 6 Joseva Levula, 5 Tevita Tuiloa (Ofa
Unaloto 77), 4 Temo Vakaloloma, 3 Jeke Lalai (Manasa Saulo 77), 2 Saula
Qalomai (Seru Cakobau 77), 1 Serupepeli Qaranivalu. Coach: Rayne Simpson
Tries: Penalty try, Tagicakibau, Stewart, Vuruna; Conversion: Rokobaro;
Penalty goal: Rokobaro.
TONGA A: 15 Mateo Malupo, 14 Sione Sete (Feleti Hausa 65), 13 Viliami
Takai, 12 Patrick Maka, 11 Pauni Atiola (yellow card 63-72, Sione Hausia
74), 10 Mahe Fangupo, 9 Sekope Maea, 8 Casanova Kauvaka, 7 Inoke Taufa (Tevita
Molliteka 60), 6 Finau Tupa, 5 Tevita Taugi (Paula Kata 53), 4 Sapu Hehea,
3 Mosa Afu (Samiu Vea 72), 2 Tone Tuleufuka (Lepaola Tauveli 70), 1 Lonely
Kengike (Ikuna Manuofetou 41). Coach: Fe’ao Vakata Tries: Sete, Malupo.
Scoring sequence (Fiji’s scores shown first): 12min – TRY TONGA,
Sete; conversion Malupo (missed) – 0-5 17min – PEN GOAL FIJI, Rokobaro
(missed) – 0-5 20min – PEN GOAL FIJI, Rokobaro – 3-5 31min – PEN
TRY FIJI; conversion Rokobaro – 10-5 35min – TRY TONGA, Malupo;
conversion Malupo (missed) – 10-10 Half-time 52min – TRY FIJI,
Tagicakibau; conversion Rokobaro (missed) – 15-10 59min – TRY FIJI,
Stewart; conversion Murimurivalu (missed) – 20-10 63min – Yellow card
Tonga, Atiola 87min – TRY FIJI, Vuruna; conversion Murimurivalu (missed)
– 25-10 Full-time
From the Fiji Times Online:
Halves spearhead Fiji U20
RODNEY DUTHIE, Saturday, May 17, 2008
HALVES pair Vuga Tagicakibau and Alex Rokobaro will form a
pivotal combination for the Fiji under-20 side against their Tongan
counterparts at the National Stadium this evening. The two players, like
their teammates, are being groomed to be the future faces of the Flying
Fijians.
New Zealand-based Tagicakibau will start at halfback while
Rokobaro will control the game from the flyhalf's position. The team will
be led by former Marist Brothers High School student Jese Cirikisuva.
Fiji U20 coach Rayne Simpson said though the team to the
Junior World Championships has been finalized, there was still more work
to be done before they head to Wales. "So we are looking forward to
the three warm-up matches that are coming up," Simpson said. "We
feel this is a good chance for us to map out our best combinations and
iron out the loose bits before the World Championships."
The Fiji U20 will travel to Sydney to play Australia on
May 25 before they take on North Surburb Colts on May 28.
Fiji U20: 1 Serupepeli Qaranivalu, 2 Saula Qalomai, 3 Jeke
Lailai, 4 Temo Vakaloloma, 5 Tevita Tuiloa, 6 Joseva Levula/Waqabaca
Kotobalavu, 7 Jese Cirikisuva (capt), 8 Samuela Vunisa, 9 Vuga Tagicakibau
(v/capt), 10 Alex Rokobaro, 11 William Unu, 12 John Stewwart, 13 Sikeli
Vuruna, 14 Alipate Buto, 15 Kini Murimurivalu. Reserves: Seru Cakobau,
Manasa Saulo, Ofa Unaloto, Joseva Levula/Waqabaca Kotobalavu, Peni
Rokodiva, Anare Vakawaletabua, 22 William Saukuru.
From FijiLive Sports
Rokobaro enjoys drills at dunes
Fiji Times - Thursday, April 17, 2008
AUSTRALIA-based Alex Rokobaro is determined to make Fiji proud at the
International Rugby Board Junior World Cup in Wales in June. Rokobaro is
one of the eight overseas players roped in by coach Rayne Simpson to boost
Fiji's bid against the likes of Australia, England and Canada whom they
will face in pool play. The 18-year-old Marist College student was
spotted by Simpson in Australia.
Rokobaro said he didn't know what to expect before arriving in
Fiji. The utility got his first taste of the torrid training session
as the Junior Flying Fijians hit the sand dunes in Kulukulu in Sigatoka on
Tuesday. Rokobaro said training at the sand dunes was tough but
enjoyed every moment.
"It will definitely help in my fitness," quipped the
youngster. "My mother paid my air fare to get to Fiji. My
father Ben hails from Yasawa though I haven't been there. So when I first
came in I didn't know what to expect. However, things have turned out
well. "
The Junior Flying Fijians ended their training camp in Sigatoka
yesterday. According to Simpson there is still a lot of work to be done
ahead of the tournament in wales which kicks off on June 7. He said the
sand dune session was part of the team's building and conditioning
program. "Apart from the physical challenges, the other important
thing is to start team bonding," Simpson said.
"The fitness level of players is improving. However, there is a
need to put more work in between camps. I'm hopeful the boys will stick to
their training program out of camp." Simpson said the next camp
will be held in Suva starting on April 28.
Fiji will play England in on June 7 in Newport, meets Australia on June
11 and against Canada on June 11.
Fiji U20 squad:
Forwards-Saula Qalomai, Seru Tabaiwalu Cakobau, Penijamini Makutu,
Serupepeli Qaranivalu, Jeke Lalai , Manasa Saulo, Alexander Mar, Tevita
Tuiloa, Unaloto Ofa, Temo Vakaloloma Cama, Waqabaca Kotobalavu, Levula,
Jese Cirikisuva, Uraia Vecenadavui, Samu Vunisa, Sireli Kaloucava.
Backs: Peni Rokodiva, Vuga Tagicakibau, Alexander Rokobaro, Anare
Vakawaletabua, Kasami Natubavivi, John Stewart, Eroni Tara, Isikeli Vuruna,
Kolinio Vunaki, Venaia Navutovuto, Seremaia Tagicakibau, Henry Speight ,
William Umu, Pate Buto, Kini Murimurivalu, William Saukuru, and Sakiusa
Malai.
Players input impresses Simpson
INDRA SINGH
Thursday, February 14, 2008, Fiji Times Online
The five are Malakai Kaci, Alexander Rokobaro, Eroni Tava, Lai
Kaumaitotoya and Venaia Navutoto.
The young Flying Fijians broke camp yesterday after a hectic three days
training camp in Suva in preparation for the Junior World Cup to be played
in Wales in June. "They play at a higher level in Australia and
have bought in some new things to the team," Simpson said.
"They have adapted very well and I have been impressed.
"These overseas-based players have also been learning a lot from
their local counterparts."
The former Sharks coach was impressed with the fitness level of the
players and said it showed the youngsters were being honest in following
their training programs. "We have been working on a lot of
basics and one of the main areas is passing which we have been trying to
get the players well adjusted to," he said. "This is an
important facet of play. We are 60 per cent where we wanted to be and by
the start of the tournament we will be right where we want to be."
Simpson was to have named 42 players in the Elite Development Squad
last night who will come back into camp next month. Following that
there will be two more camps in April before the team gets together in
May.
The side will play a one off Test against Tonga on May 17 in Lautoka
before leaving for Australia.
While there, two matches against North's and Sydney University will be
played before the side leaves for Wales.
Fiji is pooled with Australia, England and Canada for the June 6-22
tournament
Overseas-based players, Alexander Rokobaro, left, Eroni Tava, Malakai Kaci
and Lai Kaumaitotoya during an U20 training session at Buckhurst Park.
|
