Fiji came within a missed last-minute conversion of an embarrassing defeat by the United States in Brisbane on Wednesday as they scraped home 19-18, having trailed 13-3 at one point thanks largely to fly-half Nicky Little’s 14 points.
In a match littered with errors the Fijians scored a try through Api Naevo — his second of the tournament — while the Eagles touched down twice through South African-born winger Riaan van Zyl and Kort Schubert, whose last-minute try in the corner saw Mike Hercus narrowly drop short the conversion.
If Fiji had got a roasting from coach Mac McCallion at half-time — trailing 6-3 — it didn’t show as a crossfield kick by Hercus caught fullback Alfred Uluinayau at sixes and sevens and Van Zyl crept in behind him to collect the ball and touch down with Hercus converting it, extending the Americans’ lead to 13-3.
The Fijians finally converted one of their endless breaks when Naevo — an injury concern before the match — rounded off a fine break from Marika Vunibaka to touch down under the posts and Little — having slotted a penalty earlier — converted to make it 13-13 with 34 minutes remaining.
The Pacific islanders at last took the lead for the first time in the 59th minute with another Little penalty and the luck was clearly all with them as the fly-half added another in off the post with 14 minutes to go.
The Americans drew first blood when Mike Hercus slotted over a penalty. While the Fijians were dominating the offensive moves time and again they committed elementary errors as twice Filimoni Delesau broke brilliantly but lost the ball, allowing the Americans to clear to safety.
The Fijians almost paid for their wastefulness as a superb back move by the Americans saw right winger David Fee set free but he was brought to ground by Alfred Uluinayau 15m from the line.
However, the Americans didn’t come away empty-handed as the Fijians committed another infringement and Hercus — a former Aussie under-21 international — converted the penalty to give the rank outsiders a 6-0 lead after 25 minutes of the first half.
Fiji’s sole weapon in attack, Delesau, roared back on another mazy run but the 26-year-old winger stopped within sight of the line.
Fiji finally got on the scoreboard in the 33rd minute when Little slotted over from 40m out after the Americans were caught offside.
A try that was ruled out for obstruction, and experienced hooker Greg Smith not throwing in straight, summed up perfectly Fiji’s nightmare of a first half and left them with plenty of room for improvement in the second half. — Sapa-AFP