In a thrilling encounter at the Perth 7s, Fiji demonstrated remarkable resilience by edging Spain with a nail-biting 26-24 victory. The highlight of the match was Kavekini Tanivanuakula, who made a significant contribution off the bench in the second half, scoring two essential tries that proved pivotal to Fiji’s success.
The match kicked off with a burst of energy from Spain, who quickly took the lead with their first try just one minute into the game. Fiji faced challenges when Joseva Talacolo received a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on, which allowed Spain’s Jeremy Trevithick to score again and extend their lead. Despite being a player down, Fiji managed to keep the scoreboard active, with tries from Sevuloni Mocenacagi and Vuiviawa Naduvalo. However, a costly mistake allowed Spain to add another try just before halftime, leaving them with a 19-14 advantage.
In the second half, Tanivanuakula leveled the match at 19-19 with a remarkable sprint of 80 meters to the try line. Just when it appeared that Fiji was gaining control, Spain made one last effort to score, finding the try line again, but their conversion attempt failed.
Earlier in the tournament, Fiji also secured an impressive victory over Argentina, winning 26-10 and establishing their strong presence during the pool stages. Looking ahead, Fiji is set to face South Africa in their final match at 10:52 PM, with fans encouraged to tune in and catch the action live on FBC TV. The team’s determination and fighting spirit continue to inspire, as they aim for continued success in this competitive tournament.