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Hello and welcome to ESPN's live coverage of the Pool A clash between Fiji and Uruguay!
Follow our man on the ground, Rob Bartlett (@RobBartlettESPN), who'll be providing us with his first hand insights straight from Leicester.
Fiji XV: Murimurivalu, Tikoirotuma, Goneva, Botia, Nadolo, Volavola, Kenatale; Ma'afu, Koto, Atalifo, Ratuniyarawa, Nakarawa, Waqaniburotu, Qera (captain), Matadigo.
Uruguay XV: Mieres, Gibernau, Prada, Vilaseca, Silva, Duran, Ormaechea; Corral, Arboleya, Sagario, Vilaseca (captain), Zerbino, Gaminara, Beer, Nieto.
You can read the preview for the game HERE.
Also see…
- England's XV to face Uruguay
- How Fiji's last outing went against Wales
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| 1 |
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Fiji in white, Uruguay in blue...
And we're underway! Fiji kick us off.
Andddd, we've already got the penalty of the evening for a Uruguay offside. Volavola kicks for the lineout.
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| 2 |
7 - 0 |
And we think we've already had the first try of the evening courtesy of Fiji's Botia. TMO!
PENALTY TRY!
Uruguay's Ormaechea has been sin binned after tackling with no arms, taking out Botia on the line. Nice build up from Fiji for the resulting try with a lovely assisting offload. Straight away Fiji finding holes in the Uruguay line, though.
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| 4 |
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Fiji penalty along half way after Uruguay's No.7 failed to release on the deck.
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| 5 |
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The Pacific Islanders have kicked for the lineout.
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| 7 |
12 - 0 |
Fairly sticky start so far. Uruguay continuing to give away the penalties with another just then as Sagario failed to bind properly in the scrum... Reset.
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| 8 |
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FIJI TRY!
Fiji scrum do extremely well and wheel away the Uruguayans and Kenatale's not on their radar. He sneaks down the right flank and the only man in blue to barge over is Duran, who is clearly not experienced at defending in his left corner and it shows as the Fijian drives past.
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| 11 |
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Big, big mismatch this scrum. Fiji much stronger. Uruguay continuing to give away the penalties and while they're showing committing, they need to get control or this could be a very long night for the South Americans...
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| 12 |
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Uruguay have just about managed a penalty in their own 22 and have a chance to release the pressure.
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| 13 |
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And they've managed another! They're going for the kick here, which Duran makes!
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| 14 |
12 - 3 |
Duran Parletti - penalty goal
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| 15 |
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And another! This time it's too deep for the kick at the posts but they've kicked well up the pitch and got the lineout in a decent position. Fiji penalised for a tackle in the air on Uruguay's Mieres.
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| 16 |
12 - 8 |
URUGUAY TRY!
Nice try from the Teros! Arboleya scores his fourth international try, and Uruguay's first World Cup try since 2003!
The men in blue battered their way through a seemingly weak Fijian defence, with try scorer Arboleya given the ball just three metres out. He still had work to do though, as multiple incoming white bodies flung themself at him but he just about made the line, just to the left of the posts! Great stuff.
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| 17 |
12 - 10 |
Ormaechea - conversion
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| 21 |
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For a game that's had three tries, it's still been pretty slow. We've got another scrum now, with Fiji to feed.
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| 22 |
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Ormachea pinches it from the scrum - good work on the floor! Fiji scrum is completely destroying the South Americans, but lack of control their from the Pacific Islanders there and Uruguay's scrum half was just the quicker to react. Can they make anything of it? They're in a decent position to build, inside the Uruguayan half...
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| 24 |
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Penalty after penalty here. Uruguay have made 11 while Fiji have made three. Stop and start first half isn't the greatest watch, which is surprising considering the fact we've already seen three tries...
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| 25 |
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And another! Uruguay concede the penalty deep in their 22 for offside. We're awaiting the scrum...
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| 26 |
17 - 10 |
PENALTY TRY - FIJI!
Fiji pack completely romp through the Uruguay pack again deep in the 22. Nadolo converts.
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| 27 |
19 - 10 |
Nadolo - conversion
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| 29 |
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And we almost have another try courtesy of Nadolo on the left flank, but he drifts out of play as he loses balance. Perhaps due to the rain.
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| 31 |
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Another penalty, but this time in Uruguay's favour. The Teros had the lineout on half way, but Nakawara pushes Zerbino in the air when both went up to collect. Uruguay's kicker Duran is fancying his luck here, as he lines up another kick...
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| 32 |
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Very wide...
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| 33 |
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Probably three kicks each back and forth before Nadolo lumps it with his left boot and it goes into touch. Uruguay lineout on half way.
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| 34 |
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Fiji collect from the lineup but they're soon penalised for the knock on. Scrum it is.
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| 35 |
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Fiji win - again - and Kenatale's little chip through down the left flank just can't find Nadolo. Nice idea.
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| 36 |
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Uruguay penalty now, and they kick up field again for the lineout. Chance for attack, maybe?
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| 37 |
24 - 10 |
For once Uruguay aren't beaten in the driving maul from the lineout. Duran receives at the back end and boots up field. Kicking seems to be Uruguay's only weapon at the moment.
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| 38 |
26 - 10 |
FIJI TRY
Nadolo heavily involved again. Drifts across, literally picks what Uruguayan defenders he wants to split before offloading. Nakarawa still had a bit of work to do but navigates past Mieres with relative ease in the end. 20 metre run unchallenged towards the line one he had dealt with the South Americans fullback.
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| 40 |
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| 40+1 |
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HALF TIME ANALYSIS
ESPN's Rob Barlett had this to say:
"The night looked an ominous one for Uruguay when the first warm-up lineout was dropped. Add to that the pouring rain, two early Fiji tries, a yellow card for scrum-half Agustin Ormaechea and a mounting penalty count and things looked horrific after only 15 minutes. However, Carlos Arboleya's superb diving try provoked passionate cries of "URUGUAY!" around the vociferous Stadium MK - it marked their first try of the tournament and first World Cup try since current head coach Pablo Lemoine grounded against England in 2003. It was a wonderful, heart-warming moment for a nation with only a handful of professional players in their side. Their error count continued to rise, though, late in the first half as Fiji regained control with a third and marvellous fourth try - but the loudest cheer of the night had long passed. "
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| 40+2 |
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| 40 |
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We're back underway!
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| 42 |
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And we've already got the first penalty of the game in favour of Uruguay. In their half though, and they've kicked for the lineout.
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| 43 |
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Uruguay take successfully from the lineout well but Fiji steal it back soon after. Uruguay just can't get the driving maul rolling.
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| 45 |
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Another penalty in favour of Uruguay due to Atalifo's high tackle. Similar scenario to the one a moment ago, kicked into touched...
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| 46 |
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Taken well again in the lineout and this time they don't surrender the possession to Fiji, they've even progressed well into the Pacific Islanders 22 here - could we be on the end of another South American try?
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| 48 |
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Nope! The incoming Uruguayan attack is easily nullified by Fiji and they're back to attacking themselves. Penalty count is up to 20 now, Fiji chucking in their fair share too. Uruguay called out for being offside and Volavola kicks into touch for the lineout.
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| 50 |
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Fiji pressure looks like it's about to play before Volavola's little offload back to the storming Nadolo is dropped. Fiji steal from the deck and kick up field. Fiji's Murimurivalu collects in the air and we're back to a Fiji attack...
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| 52 |
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| 54 |
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Not a lot going on at the minute besides some poor Fijian handling and more penalties from both sides. Uruguay have conceded another for tackling off fee just then, and Fiji's usual tactic - chucking it into touch for the lineout - isn't paying much right now for Pacific Islanders.
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| 57 |
26 - 15 |
We have another URUGUAY TRY!
Well, well, well. Some more poor Fijian handling leads to Uruguay securing their second World Cup try thanks to Ormaechea. The ambitious pass from Goneva can't find his teammate and Uruguay's men on their left flank are within close proximity and toe poke the ball up the field. They collect well once they arrive at the balls destination well within the Fijian 22 and when they thought they wouldn't make it, a couple of nifty offloads around the try line make the space for their scrum half to guide home the try. Very nice stuff from the Teros.
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| 62 |
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Uruguay give away another penalty - well within kicking range - but Volavola kicks out for the lineout from five metres out.
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| 63 |
31 - 15 |
Fiji have worked the ball just under the sticks here and we're moments away from a try...
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| 64 |
33 - 15 |
...and we're there. FIJI TRY!
Fiji managed to work the lineout well. Their forwards did a lot of the hard graft to open the space for the backs before eventual try scorer Cavubati managed to find his way through and ground for five points. Nadolo added the extras, too.
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| 65 |
40 - 15 |
Murimurivalu - try
Nadolo - conversion
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| 66 |
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FIJI TRY!!!
Great catch from Botia in the air deep in his 22 along the left flank. The centre bombs past a couple Uruguayans before offloading to Qera, who then finds Waqaniburotukula, and then Murimurivalu. Great counter attacking move and Murimurivalu can thank the rain for his try - pretty big slide towards the try line!
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| 67 |
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A bit of afters on after the try line has seen Ormaechea sent off for back chatting while Ma'afu is also in the bin. Tut tut.
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| 69 |
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Fiji's No.14 could've joined his team mate in the bin then for tackling without the ball - similar to Owen Farrell's yellow from the weekend - but he's lucky. Just a penalty this time, kicked into touch.
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| 70 |
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Uruguay move the ball well, right to left, but they just can't break the Fijian line. They've made little to no progress in terms of going forward but do hang onto the ball.
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| 71 |
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Scrum now for a knock on. Fiji to feed.
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| 72 |
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Break by Tikoirotuma down the left nearly results in something worthwhile but his offload is intercepted. Uruguay back to attacking now, which isn't something I've said often in this World Cup, if at all.
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| 73 |
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| 75 |
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Fiji scrum just outside their own 22...
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| 76 |
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Oooo, so nearly! What are Fiji doing here! Uruguay's stand in scrum half steals the ball from Fiji's and toe pokes it towards the try line. He very nearly makes it but he's just about caught out by Nadolo and co. Close call from the Pacific Islanders.
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| 78 |
45 - 15 |
FIJI TRY!!!
Nadolo scores at last! Uruguay are all over the place and he's the last man you want to see running at you with the ball in that scenario. He bursts through the Uruguayan line with ease and makes it seven tries for Fiji on a far from perfect evening despite the result.
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| 79 |
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Nadolo converts!
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| 80 |
47 - 15 |
Nadolo - conversion
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| 80+1 |
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FULL TIME ANALYSIS
ESPN's Rob Bartlett had this to say:
"After an enthralling, warming and extremely enjoyable opening 60 minutes at Stadium MK, this match descended into a chaotic, ugly and ill-tempered affair. Like buses, World Cup tries apparently come in twos as once again the crowd erupted as Ormaechea finished cleanly for Uruguay. However, his night would end prematurely; referee JP Doyle had warned both the Uruguayan scrum-half and Fiji's Campese Ma'afu numerous times to stay away from each other and, shortly after Tevita Cavubati's 63rd-minute try produced a couple of feisty scuffles, the evening took a turn for the worse. When Kini Murimurivalu bundled over the line for Fiji's fifth try, all hell broke loose. Ormaechea and Ma'afu had clearly decided to ignore Doyle's warning and the referee had no choice but to award two yellow cards - which, combined with Ormaechea's early sin-bin, meant he became the first player to be shown a red card at this World Cup. A sour end to an otherwise fantastic - and largely good-spirited - encounter."
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