THIRD PLACE PLAY-OFF: FIJI 44-30 NAMIBIA

Five first-half tries did the damage for an impressive Fiji and meant that third place at the World Rugby U20 Trophy was wrapped up long before Namibia staged a second-half fight-back of their own.

The Fijians had led 44-0 early in the second half, but Namibia finished the stronger and put some respectability back on the scoreboard, much to the delight of their vocal supporters in the crowd, with four tries of their own.

An early scrum five metres from Namibia’s line brought the first try for Fiji, hooker Vuniani Mokalou having the strength to get over the line from close range with centre Jone Manu adding the conversion to make it 8-0.

Only some strong and committed defence kept Fiji from adding to that early try and it took a bit of magic from Wame Naituvi to finally break Namibia’s resolve, the winger receiving the ball just inside his own half and beating his opposite man before stepping inside the last defender to run in the try.

A third try wasn’t long in coming, a series of pick and goes on the Namibia line resulting in a try for scrum-half Ratu Peni Matawalu, the younger brother of Fiji international Nikola stepping right before darting back to dive over the line.

Two tries in quick succession on the stroke of half-time effectively wrapped up the victory for Fiji, the first from close range through prop Lorenzo Mario, the second a typical counter-attack score with Frank Lomani and Matawalu combining to send winger Viliame Tuidrak over in the corner.

Fiji picked up where they left off when play resumed and a good break from Tuidrak took him to within a metre of the line, prop Eroni Mwai going over from close range two phases later to take the islanders out to 44-0.

Namibia managed to steady the ship and hit back with two tries of their own, the first off the back of a driving maul through Obert Nortje and then a great run in from winger Unomasa Kavita had the crowd on their feet again.

They weren’t finished there, though, with prop Hans Breedt atoning for his earlier yellow card by crashing over from close range not once but twice and Namibia – who were already guaranteed their best finish in the U20 Trophy – will wonder what might have been with a better start.

(Source: http://www.worldrugby.org)