Valiant Spain fall just short against Fiji

MATCH REPORT: They may have lost 19-33, but a battling performance from Spain who, despite missing a selection of French based players, pushed Fiji further than many expected and perhaps many Spanish fans could have hoped.

Spanish sources are stating over 15,000 people came out to bask in the sun and watch Spain take the game to Fiji, with offloads and a fast pace set from the base of the ruck by Spain’s No.9 Tani Bay.

Spain lost a line-out deep into Fiji territory and a penalty off the scrum eight minutes in and this set piece frailty, with an inability to secure the ball off line-outs would hurt Spain during the game.

Ten minutes in though Spain had a penalty in front of the sticks and they were 3-0 up thanks to the boot of Gonzaló López.

However, a loose Spanish carry and Fiji with lighting speed spread the ball wide with a simple kick and chase by Ponipate Loganimasi outrunning the defence and it was 7-3 after thirteen minutes.

The predicted Fiji onslaught with flowing play didn’t come, with Fiji seemingly more focused on using the game to work on their line-out which brought little joy in the first half.

Instead it was Spain taking the risks with quick play and after 22 minutes, Tani Bay took off on a blindside run and his clever kick led to a penalty try for Spain along with 10 minutes in the bin for Simi Kuruvoilli.

A 10-7 lead for Spain was under threat as once again Spain’s achilles heel of not obtaining possession off the restart showed up and the rest of the half was all Fiji.

Two TMO decisions against Fiji who were judged to be closing off Spain’s defensive maul and pinged for obstruction twice meant they couldn’t get over the line, with Spain even playing eight minutes with thirteen men without conceding after El Salvador’s John Wessel and Biarritz Olympique’s player Ekain Imaz finding themselves in the bin.

With Fiji seemingly obsessed with not spreading the ball but opting for line-outs against 13 men, it remained 10-7 at half-time and Spain was 40 minutes away from a huge shock.

The belief only grew after two quick fire penalties had Spain 16-7 up with Gonzálo López immaculate off the tee, the pick of which was a booming penalty kick from his own half to put Spain 19-7 up and Spain were just 20 minutes away from the shock of the year-end Test.

That was to be as good as it got for Spain, as Fiji went away from the rolling maul set piece play and began opening up their game, with a flowing move coast to coast off a line-out on 55 minutes putting Sireli Maqala in the right hand side making it 19-12.

Fiji were ramping it up and would finally be given a try off the rolling mall to make it 19 all and by the 60th minute Fiji were punching holes at will, the first half effort of Spain when down men beginning to tell.

Fiji would be camped in the Spanish half for the rest of the game as the Fijian game flowing offloads had captain Nayacalevu under the posts and another try followed on the 70th minute, with Mayanavanua crossing over against an exhausted Spanish defence.

Spain lost, but it ended with the 15,000 rising to their feet to applaud Spain’s effort.

After the game, Fijian coach Mick Byrne complimented the Spanish team.

“The results of last year were outstanding for Fiji,” Byrne said.

“Our belief in our room is that we have the talent to compete and the belief is we belong in Tier One.”

As Fiji head to Ireland for a match-up, Spain faces the United States with both teams looking to get a positive performance before their Rugby World Cup qualification campaigns in 2025.

Based on their performance this, Spain are in prime position to end their World Cup absence.

The scorers

For Spain
Try: Penalty try,
Con: A penalty try does not require a conversion
Pens: Bontempo 4

For Fiji
Tries: Loganimasi, Maqala, Matavesi, Nayacalevu, Mayanavanua
Cons: Muntz 4

Yellow cards: Simione Kuruvoli (Fiji, 21), John Wessel Bell (Spain, 26), Ekain Imaz (Spain, 28)

Teams:

Spain: 15 John Wessel Bell, 14 Gauthier Minguillon, 13 Inaki Mateu, 12 Alejandro Alonso, 11 Martiniano Cian, 10 Gonzalo Lopez Bontempo, 9 Estanislao Bay, 8 Ekain Imaz, 7 Alex Saleta, 6 Vicente Boronat, 5 Imanol Urraza, 4 Ignacio Pineiro, 3 Lucas Santamaria, 2 Alvaro Garcia, 1 Thierry Futeu.
Replacements: 16 Santiago Ovejero, 17 Bernardo Vazquez, 18 Jacobo Ruiz, 19 Pablo Guirao, 20 Raphael Nieto, 21 Ike Irusta, 22 Gonzalo Vinuesa, 23 Alberto Carmona.

Fiji: 15 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 14 Jiuta Wainiqolo, 13 Sireli Maqala, 12 Waisea Nayacalevu, 11 Ponipate Loganimasi, 10 Caleb Muntz, 9 Simione Kuruvoli, 8 Albert Tuisue, 7 Saimoni Uluinakauvadra, 6 Vilive Miramira, 5 Ratu Rotuisolia, 4 Mesake Vocevoce , 3 Luke Tagi, 2 Sam Matavesi, 1 Eroni Mawi.
Replacements: 16 Mesulame Dolokoto, 17 Haereiti Hetet, 18 Jone Koroiduadua, 19 Temo Mayanavanua, 20 Elia Canakaivata, 21 Peni Matawalu, 22 Vilimoni Botitu, 23 Inia Tabuavou.

Referee: Morné Ferreira
Assistant referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron, Federico Vedovelli
TMO: Quinton Immelman

By Edward Anderson