The Fiji Airways Men’s 7s side opened their Perth Sevens campaign with an impressive 26–10 victory over Argentina in their opening Pool A clash, producing a composed second-half performance to secure a confident start to the tournament.
Argentina struck first after capitalising on early possession, with Pedro De Haro crossing to give his side the lead.
Although the conversion was missed, Argentina extended their advantage soon after to place early pressure on the Fijians.
Fiji responded through Terio Veilawa, who finished off a strong attacking move under the posts before adding a second try just before the break.
The successful conversions saw Fiji overturn the deficit and take a 14–10 lead into half-time.
The second half saw Fiji lift their intensity, dominating territory and possession.
A potential try to Joji Nasova was ruled out following a forward pass, but Fiji maintained pressure and were soon rewarded when Joseva Talacolo and Iowane Teba combined to create space for a powerful run, allowing Fiji to continue building momentum.
Fiji extended their lead when a strong carry from the scrum resulted in another try, pushing the score further out of Argentina’s reach despite a missed conversion.
Argentina attempted to fight their way back into the contest, but Fiji’s defence held firm, with Waisea Naduvalo producing a crucial turnover to halt an attacking move. Substitute Maisamoa then sealed the result late in the match, sprinting clear to score before converting his own try.
A late yellow card to Maisamoa during extra time did little to change the outcome, as Fiji closed out the match comfortably with Argentina unable to add further points.
Fiji's next pool match will be against Spain at 7.36pm, and South Africa at 10.52pm.
The Cup semi-finals kick off at 4.57pm Sunday, with the Cup final scheduled for 9.04pm.
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Fiji Airways Men's 7s vs USA
(Perth 7s Match 1 Pool A)
7' Argentina kicks
6.37' Argentina gets the restart
6.38' Argentina gets the penalty
5.51' Lineout throw by number 9 Argentina, throw not straight
5.45' Fiji has the ball, puts pressure
5.35;' Fiji's scrum, passes ball wide
5.12' Talacolo steps outside
4.43' ref stops time at hafway mark, Argentina player down. Gets back up. Walks it off.
4.39' Argentina's ball, runs down the field
4.24' Argentina's Pedro De Haro scores for Argentina
3.34' Conversion unsuccesful by Argentina
3.20' Mocenacagi has the ball, passes to Veilawa, loses ball
3.03' Argentina sweeps it up
2.50' Argentina scores
2.06' Argentina kicks
1.57' Naduvalo has the ball, Teba receives from Naduvalo, Veilawa has possession, gets away from tackle, runs down to the scoreline
1.08' Terio Veilawa scores for Fiji under goal post
Score Fiji 5 - Argentina 5
Conversion successful
Fiji 7 - Argentina 10
0.00' Veilawa scores again
Fiji 12 - Argentina 10
Conversion successful
Halftime score Fiji 14 - Argentina 10
Seocnd half starts
6.51' Fiji gets the free kick in the middle
6.15' Bose has the ball, creates space. passes to Matana then to Naduvalo
5.46' Naduvalo scores
5.42' Ref calls NO TRY from the last pass
No try to Fiji
Score still Fiji 14 - Argentina 10
5.39' Argentina's scrum, Fiji pushes, Argnetina still in possession, passes wide to Marcus Moneta, knock on
4.41' Ref times out. Another scrum. Fiji's scrum
4.23' Bose runs through defense from scrum, pushes through, manages to get over the try line with two tacklers
3.42' Conversion unsucessful
Score Fiji 19 - Argentina 10
Argentina has the ball, tries to get the break passes wide to Alvarez, Naduvalo steals the ball, passes to Sevuloni, passes ball but receiver drops the ball
1.58' Knock on by Argentina, Fiji's ball
1.46' Weilagi limps out, Maisamoa runs in to replace
1.35' Maisamoa runs down to score
0.53' Maisamoa converts his own try successfully
Score Fiji 26 - Argentina 10
0.31' Fiji kicks, Argentina's ball, taps
0.00' Argenitna keeps possession of ball at full time
(Extra)
0.25' Fiji offside, knocked down in the tackle, Maisamoa gets yellow card
1.12' Argentina's scrum, knocks on
FULL TIME Fiji 26 - Argentina 10
