Fijiana women's rugby team on the attack against Tonga in Brisbane on Friday night. Fiji won 48-3. Photo: Oceania Rugby
Fijiana dominates against Tonga
Fiji dumped Tonga 48-3, scoring eight unanswered tries, in the first round of the Oceania Rugby Women's Championships at Sunnybank Rugby Union Club in Brisbane on Friday night.
The Fijiana side were dominant, continuing with where they left off as the Fijian Drua in the Super W Competition, which ended in April.
Captain Karalaini Naisewa said they were happy with the win, setting the pace for them as they battle to secure a place in the 2025 World Rugby Cup.
But she added they will need to regroup and play better, especially following their game plan set for them.
"It's not the game plan we had, but we will try and come out next week at a higher level," she told the media after their win.
"We would like to improve on our game plan and our structure and also to keep dominating with our defence.
"It's just one game at a time, as we try and first win this competition to qualify for the World Cup so we are treating every game as a final. It's first things first as we look forward to all the upcoming games."
Tonga were not able to handle the Fijian pressure and although they tried hard throughout the game, they ran out of steam in the end.
One of the issues they had was fitness, something captain Vineta Teutau said affected them.
"We are really grateful to be given this opportunity to play at the Oceania Rugby Women's Championship," she said.
"It's definitely a fitness game against Fiji but they're pretty quick compared to our girls.
"It's a good start for us as most of us are debutants for Tonga and I'm just really proud for each and everyone of them for taking on this game against the Fijiana.
Tonga and Fijiana women facing up in Brisbane last Friday night in the Oceania Women's Rugby Championship competition. Fiji won 48-3. Photo: Oceania Rugby
"We definitely will look back at the game and see what we can learn, the mistakes and what we can work on and just work of that."
Tonga were first on the scoreboard with a successful penalty kick in the 10th minute but the Fijians then took off with openside flanker Sulita Waisega and outside centre Vani Arei bagging two tries each.
Other tries came from Vika Matarugu, Adita Miliana, Atelaite Buna and Litia Marama.
Both teams will be back in action on Wednesday, in round two of the competition.
Fiji takes on Papua New Guinea while Tonga meets Samoa in a Polynesian battle.
PNG and Samoa did not play on Saturday as the game was cancelled.
That was because flights affected the PNG team's arrival in Brisbane.
Samoa are the defending champions.
The winner of the competition goes straight to the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England next year.
The second round matches are scheduled as follows on May 29, 2024: Fiji vs.Papua New Guinea at 5:30pm (Brisbane time) and Samoa vs.Tonga at 7:00pm.
Drua's hopes 'hanging by a thread'
The Fijian Drua's chances of qualyfing for a quaterfinal sport in the Super Rugby Competition is 'hangning by the thread'.
That's what FBC Sport says about the Fijian Drua's hopes of qualifying for the play-offs in the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific competition.
Drua's 39-3 defeat at the hands of the Highlanders in Dunedin on Sunday means the team must win this coming weekend's game against the Rebels in Lautoka.
To borrow the title of the Sitiveni Rabuka book about the 1987 military coup, it is 'No Other Way' for the Fijians.
A loss will mean they are out of the running.
They remain at eighth at the moment. A win will see them consolidate that spot, but they will then face either the Blues or the Hurricanes in the quarterfinals.
Captain Tevita Ikanivere, who opted for the lineout when his team was awarded a kickable penalty in the opening minutes of the game, said they could not get any rhythm moving forward.
He said his team will need to improve considerably against the Rebels at home, where his side have won five of their six matches this season.
"It's going to be a big game. We'll just learn from our mistakes and get our rucks sorted so we can beat the Rebels," he said.
"We couldn't get any flow today because the Highlanders did a good job of disrupting our ruck."
Having started with some promise early, Drua went deep into the Highlanders' 22 metre zone and stayed there for about seven minutes.
They were awarded penalties, but they opted for the lineout consecutively.
It played against them after they were not able to convert those into points.
Highlanders countered and scored at the other end of the ground.
The Drua's hopes of winning in Dunedin on Sunday were dashed by three Fijians in the Highlanders' colours in wingers Jona Nareki and Timoci Tavatavanawai plus fullback Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.
The trio caused havoc on attack and stood their ground in defense, with Tavatavanawai coming out with some good steals off the ground.
The home side ran in five unanswered tries.
Nareki claimed two, while Tavatavanawai Kneepkens claiming one each.
Drua, who have lost all seven of their away matches this season, must win in Lautoka.
Highlanders 39 (Tries: Nareki 2, Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Broughton, Tavatavanawai; Cons: Gilbert 4; Pens: Gilbert 2) def Drua 3 (Pens: Armstrong-Ravula).
Retiring international and Moana Pasifika player Sekope Kepu (middle) with Christian Leali'ifano (left) and Solomone Funaki celebrating their win over the Waratahs in Auckland on Saturday. Photo: Moana Pasifika
Kepu scores against former team as Moana Pasifika wins
Retiring former captain Sekope Kepu scored Moana Pasifika's fourth try in his final home game and against his former team as they won 27-12 in Auckland on Saturday.
The Waratahs were pushed to stay at the bottom following the loss. Saturday's four-tries-to-two defeat at Go Media Stadium left them with no mathematical hope of scraping into the finals.
Moana Pasifika, on the other hand, hang on keep their Super Rugby Pacific playoff hopes alive, even if it is a slim chance.
Wiped out of every one of their contracted front-rowers, the Waratahs always faced an uphill battle competing physically with the bruising Moana Pasifika forward pack.
And so it proved as the Pacific Islanders ran in the first four tries to open up a match-winning 27-0 lead inside the hour mark.
Winger Fine Inisi collected a double after fullback Kyren Taumoefolau crossed for the opening try in the 15th minute.
Inspirational former Waratahs and Wallabies prop Kepu brought the house down when he stormed over to put the icing on the cake.
The Waratahs had to settle for two late consolation tries to back-rower Langi Gleeson and strike centre Izaia Perese.
Kepu told the media later he was honoured to have been given the chance to play against his former Waratahs team.
"To me this game has given me so much. Tonight was pretty special, to go and have a run against you guys, I still bleed blue," he said after he received a signed Waratahs jersey from his former mates.
Tonight we just wanted to make our families and our friends proud here at home/
"I am grateful for what the Tahs have given me and what Moana has given me, the revival of trying to build something here for our Pasifika brothers has been something very special to me."
Kepu announced he will retire from the game after the last round of Super Rugby matches next weekend.
Saturday's win was also Moana's fourth win of the season, which is the best record for them so far since their debut in 2022.
Moana Pasifika 27: Tries - Taumoefolau, Inisi 2, Kepu; Conversions - Havili 2, Penalties - Havili 1 def Waratahs 12: Tries - Gleeson, Perese; Conversions: Bowen 1.
City wins 12th title
Auckland City FC have won the OFC Men's Champions League for a record 12th time after a 4-0 victory over Tahiti's AS Pirae at Stade Pater in Papeete on Saturday.
OFC Media said Albert Riera's side, also looking to make it three triumphs on the spin, were in clinical form, scoring twice in the first-half to set them on their way in front a partisan home crowd.
It was the host nation side who started the brighter, with the energetic Désiré Ngiamba a constant menace to Auckland City down their left-hand side. Nathan Lobo was particularly troubled by Ngiamba, receiving a yellow card for a shirt pull as the full-back threatened to break free.
As they have done so many times this campaign, the New Zealand side made it count when given their opportunities. Only 6 minutes were on the clock when Adam Mitchell nodded down Cam Howieson's free-kick and Michael Den Heijer was on hand to side-foot in from yards out.
Pirae responded positively to the setback but for all their possession, were struggling to break down Auckland City's well-drilled rearguard.
A moment of brilliance from midfielder Gerard Garriga doubled the defending champions' lead on the half-hour mark. The Spaniard through ball split the Pirae defence, finding Liam Gillion and the winger made no mistake in rounding Francois Decoret and burying into the empty net.
The second period was only three minutes old when Auckland City put the result all but beyond doubt. Stipe Ukich - Player of the Match in his side's semi-final victory over AS Magenta - cut in from the left, creating space for himself before deftly clipping a right-footed effort into the far corner to make it 3-0.
Just over ten minutes later and the champions added a fourth. Cam Howieson's free-kick from the left flying over the grasp of Decoret in the AS Pirae goal and onto the head of central defender Christian Gray, who nodded home from a couple of yards out.
For all of their effort, AS Pirae continued to struggle in finding a way to test Conor Tracey in the Auckland City goal. Ngiamba continued to work hard, with an effort from just inside the box landing narrowly over the top of the bar.
Captain Alvin Tehau was next up to threaten, latching onto a deflected pass before hitting the outside of the post from a tight angle. Heirauarii Salem followed that up with a curled effort, fizzing just over the bar as the Tahitian side looked to give the home crowd something to cheer.
It wasn't to be for Pirae, as Auckland City's structure and intensity proved too difficult a barrier to break down - yet another sign of their champion credentials.
An incredible achievement for Auckland City, adding a 12th OFC Men's Champions League title to their trophy cabinet, as well as securing a place in the inaugural FIFA Intercontinental Cup, to be played later this year.
Auckland City FC: 4 (Michael DEN HEIJER 6', Liam GILLION 30', Stipe UKICH 48', Christian GRAY 59′) beat AS Pirae: 0.
Fiji's Aminiasi Saratibau (middle) with team Fiji officials after causing a major upset at the 2024 Boxing 2nd World Qualification Tournament in Bangkok. Photo: Team Fiji Photo: Team Fiji
Fijian boxer wins while rest of Pacific team lose out
Fiji's Aminiasi Saratibau has caused a major upset at the 2024 Boxing 2nd World Qualification Tournament in Bangkok.
Olympics.com says the Fijian boxer defeated favourite Juan Ortiz of Colombia midway through round two of their men's 80 kilogram bout on Saturday.
That means Saratibau, who is chasing a spot to the Paris Olympics, will feature in the last 16 this week.
Saratibau lost a close semi-final to Australia's Callum Peters at last year's Pacific Gamesin Honiara.
But on Saturday he was in top shape to cause the upset.
Coach Cam Todd said it was a great fight from the Fijian boxer.
"He did well and shocked his opponent," Todd said.
Ortiz had qualified from the first World Qualification Tournament in Busto Arsizio, Italy in March.
But the major upset for Fiji is the withdrawal of team captain and top favourite Jone Davule, who has been ruled out of the Olympic Games qualification tournament.
Coach Todd says Davule was stopped by the medical staff from fighting after examinations showed he had a recurring injury to his jaw, which was broken at the Pacific Games in the Solomon Islands last November.
"Jone unfortunately had a recurring injury," Todd told FBC Sports.
"He injured his jaw at the Pacific Games when it was broken and the doctors here felt like they didn't want him competing so they didn't allow him to compete, for safety reasons, which is really unfortunate."
He was to have met Zambia's Mwengo Mwale .
Fiji also recorded losses for Elia Rokobuli, who lost on points in his debut match, and Nehaal Chand.
Todd said Rokobuli both lost on points.
Tonga's Taufa Lavemaau lost to Moldova's Vasile Cebotari while Mozambique's Tiago Muxanga stopped Kendu Steven of Papua New Guinea midway through round one.
Another Tongan hopeful Roman Viney lost 5-0 to Austrian boxer Osaro Aimufua in the men's 80kg.
PNG Boxers John Ume and Allen Oiake also lost their respective bouts on Sunday.
Ume lost to a Swedish opponent while Oaike lost to a Mozambique boxer.
PNG National Boxing team asssistant coach Peter Morrison told Loop PNG that the boxers have been eliminated and would not be participating in any further fights.
Female fighter Sheila Yama is the only hope left for Team PNG.
Meanwhile, Kiribati's female boxing rep, Teretia Toauriri, will carry her country's hopes at the event.
She faces a Swedish opponent, who is a former two-times world champion, in her first fight.
Kiribati Boxing says while their boxer will be the underdog, they were confident she will put up a good show.
"With the pride of Kiribati in her heart and fists, she is determined to make her nation proud," Kiribati Boxing said.
The qualification continues throughout the week, with finals winners qualifying for the Paris Olympics.
Silktails continue losing run
The Fiji Kaiviti Silktails rugby league team continue their losing run in the Jersey Flegg Cup, losing 52-18 to the Newcastle Knights on Saturday.
FBC Sports reported that despite their valiant efforts, the Silktails struggled to counter their tough opponents.
Newcastle took a commanding 24-10 lead at halftime and returned even stronger after the break.
The Silktails will the Canberra Raiders in round 13 of the competition next Saturday.
Hunters suffer loss
The PNG Hunters lost 40-26 to the Mackay Cutters in a Hostplus Cup round 11 match on Sunday.
That saw the team's three-game winning streak come to an end.
The National newspaper reported the Hunters had led 26-10 at the 54 minute mark.
But the Cutters upped the pressure and romped home to score five unanswered tries.
Hunters led 20-10 at halftime.
The loss means the team drops to eighth on the points table.
They face the Souths Logan Magpies at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby on Saturday.