It’s Pool C and D crossover time as Fiji take on Wales and we’ve covered the game with the Who, What, Where, When and How of the big game which saw a huge win to Fiji.
The 2017 Rugby League World Cup is a big deal for us, being huge rugby league fans and love a minnow or two, and we’ll be covering all of the games throughout.
So visit our 2017 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP MATCH CENTRE
Now onto the Fiji and Wales game.
FIJI v WALES MATCH REVIEW
RESULT – Who Won?
FIJI 72
Tries: E. Vunakece (6), S. Vunivalu (14), H. Raiwalui (16), V. Kikau (22), S. Faingaa (27), T. Milne (31), M. Montoya (34), V. Kikau (40), J. Hayne (42), S. Vunivalu (51), T. Milne (56), S. Vunivalu (61), J. Lovodua (65), B. Nakubuwai (69)
Goals: A. Koroisau 4 Conv, T. Milne 3 Conv, S. Vunivalu 1 Conv
WALES 6
Tries: M. Knowles (12)
Goals: C. Davies 1 Conv
THE DOWLING-TAMATI #RLWC2017 PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT
We’ve decided that a tournament as big as the 2017 Rugby League World Cup needs a Player of the tournament, and who better than International relations specialists Kevin Tamati and Greg Dowling to name our award.
We award points on a 5-4-3-2-1 scale every match, and the results for this game is below. For the running total from all of the games visit our 2017 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP MATCH CENTRE.
5 Points – Jarryd Hayne
4 Points – Taane Milne
3 Points – Viliame Kikau
2 Points – Suliasi Vunivalu
1 Point – Akuila Uate
MATCH PREVIEW
Who: FIJI v WALES
Where and When: Sunday 5th November at Townsville
When is it on TV? Channel 7Mate LIVE @ 6:30pm
What’s the Story?
Fiji were super impressive last time out against the USA, they blitzed the Americans early with some of the best rugby league from week 1 of the Rugby League World Cup. Another win on Sunday will get them another step closer to topping Pool D and progressing to the quarrter finals.
One does wonder if there could be some off field distractions thanks to the bombshell rumour yesterday that Jarryd Hayne is going to walk out on the Titans. The walkout should be no surprise, given his track record, but let’s hope for Fiji’s sake that the hunt for a new club doesn’t affect him on the field like it appeared to on the Gold Coast this year. Hayne was great for Fiji last weekend.
Wales got a sizable reality check last weekend about how tough this Rugby League World Cup will be when they were thrashed 50-6 by PNG in Port Moresby. Whilst the playing conditions and the level of noise should be lower playing in Townsville, the opposition hasn’t given their great win last weekend.
A loss here will rule them out of Pool C winning contention as the game in Port Moresby will leave at least side on two wins (or possibly a win and a draw for the purists) and be uncatchable for Wales. Noting only one team goes through in Pools C and D.
Who Will Win and Why?
It doesn’t get any easier for Wales after their big loss in Port Moresby, and you only have to look at Fiji’s 1 – 6 to see the firepower at their disposal. Then there’s the big men in the forward pack.
Wales will try hard as they did in PNG last weekend, but nothing beat the quality on offer for Fiji. Unless jarryd hayne puts his Midas-Titans touch on Fiji.
Fiji by 38
Who to watch for?
With a backline full of NRL stars, why not follow some of the talent in the forward pack on offer for Fiji.
One in particular is Penrith NSW Cup forward Viliame Kikau who was excellent last weekend against the USA. The big second rower impressed in the NRL State Championship and has doe the same for Fiji so far. Combine him with Brayden Williame and huge unit Tui Kamikamica and there’s a back row to be feared against any opposition.
Akuila Uate is also one to watch, as he was brilliant last weekend and seems to enjoy playing in the centres.
TEAMS
Who’s in the Teams?
FIJI
1 Kevin Naiqama (C) 2 Suliasi Vunivalu 3 Taane Milne 4 Akuila Uate 5 Marcelo Montoya 6 Jarryd Hayne 7 Henry Raiwalui 8 Ashton Sims 9 Apisai Koroisau 10 Eloni Vunakece 11 Viliame Kikau 12 Brayden Wiliame 13 Tui Kamikamica 14 Joe Lovodua 15 Jacob Saifiti 16 Junior Roqica 17 Ben Nakubuwai 18 James Storer 19 Pio Seci 20 Salesi Faingaa 21 Sitiveni Moceidreke
WALES
1 Elliot Kear 2 Rhys Williams 3 Michael Channing 4 Christiaan Roets 5 Regan Grace 6 Courtney Davies 7 Danny Ansell 8 Craig Kopczak (C) 9 Steve Parry 10 Philip Joseph 11 Rhodri Lloyd 12 Joe Burke 13 Morgan Knowles 14 Matty Fozard 15 Matthew Barron 16 Ben Evans 17 Dalton Grant 18 Josh Ralph 19 Ben Morris 20 Gavin Bennion 21 Andrew Gay
