Valladolid dressed up to host a big game. Spain’s visit to the city of rugby par excellence was received with enthusiasm in the city and all seasoned with Fiji’s claim that it is not exactly a second course.
After the anthems and the war dance of the ‘Flying Fijinaos’, hostilities began and although Fiji wanted to impose its law by weight and in contacts, lPablo Bouza’s men held on without making too many mistakes, although at times they were weak in their hands and somewhat sold on the touches, but striking first thanks to an indiscipline on the part of the Oceanians that allowed Gonzalo López to make it 3-0 in the 10th minute with a good execution with sticks.
Fiji’s response was immediate, posing the oval in the goal area in the 12′ for the 3-7 that heralded a busy first half and exchange… and it almost was, although it was not reflected on the scoreboard. Minutes later, in the 20th minute, the Lion’s
Fiji stepped on the accelerator and got two tries, but the review in the TMO of Morne Ferreira left those plays effective and they reached the break with the aforementioned advantage and a Spanish team well above the forecasts in terms of performance, especially managing to stop a team of a superior category.
In the second half, The indiscipline of the oceanic team gave them options to add to the Spanish team and Gonzalo López was impeccable for them in 43′, 47′ and 52′ to make it 19-7 and move away on the scoreboard. The reaction of the Fijians was expected but it did not come and Spain withstood the attacks with skill and good defense, a chapter that the Spanish coach especially wanted to rehearse.
In the 55th minute, the attack of the ninth team in the World Rugby ranking woke up and Wainiqolo’s unconverted try adjusted the score and foreshadowed strong emotions with the score at 19-12 with 25 minutes left. It was time to see if Spain had the strength to continue withstanding the push of the rival team.
Just four minutes later Matavesi finished a forward play and with Caleb Muntz’s conversion he tied the game at 19 in the 59th minute. From that moment on, Fiji’s fast, anarchic and effective game appeared to sign a speed play that dismantled Spain and with Nayacalevu’s try left the score at 19-26 and control of the match for the visiting team. Spain lost steam and saw how the Fijian comeback was effectivefor the superiority in contacts, for the speed of hands and an imposing physical display, which although it took a while to arrive, became evident in the final stretch.
The oceanic team continued adding and Spain held on as long as it could, but With one more try from Turagacoke, the Fijians scored 0-26 and broke the game to 19-33 with eight minutes remaining. Zorrilla tried to cheer up, but the tank was in reserve and the only thing left to do was endure the excellent image and the exceptional staging of the ‘XV del León’.
Valladolid passed with flying colors the exam to host the match that could be historic in February against the Netherlands and that could take Spain to the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
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