Fiji bundled out of Cup quarters

The Digicel Fiji 7's team has bowed out of the New Zealand 7's tournament after going down to Samoa by 12-5 in the cup quarter-finals.

Fiji was kept at bay throughout the match and the team was scoreless in the first half.

Samoa started the match against the Fijians with great confidence after last night's shocking loss to Australia.

The defending IRB champions meant business from the opening whistle and Afa Aiono ran in two tries for Samoa.

Lack of discipline also cost the Fiji 7's team in the first half when vice captain Seremaia Burotu was shown red card for a dangerous tackle on Afa Aiono.

Samoa led 12-0 at half time.

Samoa slowed down the pace in the second half and didn’t allow Fiji possession most of the time.

Joeli Lutumailagi brought some relief to the Fiji rugby fans after he crossed the Samoa try line for the first time in the second half but lack of cohesion and depth in the Fiji team let them down.

The final score again, Samoa 12-5 Fiji.

Fiji will now play in the plate semi-final against Argentina at 5.38pm.

In other cup quarter-finals today, England beat Argentina 14-7, Australia beat South Africa 14-7 while host New Zealand beat Wales 26 - 5.

The cup semi finals will see Samoa play England at 6.35pm and New Zealand will play Australia in the second semi-final at 7pm.      

Meanwhile, Scotland will play Kenya in the first Bowl semi-final and Tonga will take on Cook Islands in the second bowl semi-final.

In the Shield Semi-finals, USA will play Canada and France will take on PNG.


Story by: Dhanjay Deo