The Spanish rugby team has closed the window for international matches in November with a plethora of defeats when it falls this Saturday in a friendly against Fiji (33-41) in Malagawhere, however, he exhibited a fantastic moment of form that led him to compete to the limit with the quarterfinalist of the last World Cup.
Despite Fiji’s initial dominance, with Alberto Carmona from Malaga bringing delirium to the stands thanks to his saving tackle two meters from the try line, The first score was Spanish and was made by Tani Bayvery attentive to pose the oval after a charge from his forwards.
The Polynesians replied through Elia Canakaivatawho collected a pass with the foot of Isaiah Armstrong, and took the lead – after a penalty hit by Gonzalo López Bontempo from almost 60 meters – thanks to a spectacular individual action by Jiuta Vainiqolowho served Simione Kuruvoli on a plate.
A ball caught in a ‘ruck’ by Raphael Nieto led to Spain’s last attack of the first half, who went into the break with an advantage (15-14) thanks to Alejandro Laforga’s landing on the right flag, enabled by a tense pass from scrum-half Tani Bay, the most outstanding player of the national team.
An irruption by Kuruvoli on the closed side put Fiji ahead at the beginning of the second period and seemed to decide the match definitively, but Spain still had efforts to turn the score around again thanks to Tani Bay, who completed his double after intercepting a transmission from the opponent.
With a quarter of an hour left, Vicente Boronat completed a powerful ‘touche-maul’ chain of the Spanish lead and stretched the advantage beyond a converted try (33-24), although those fifteen minutes in which physical force decides the matches were lethal for the national team.
Exhausted by a huge defensive effort, The ‘Lions’ could not stop Atunaisa Sokobale’s attack ten meters from their goal line, they lost the race with Joji Nasova after a creeping kick and were sentenced with a penalty blow from Armstrong which certified the 0-17 partial and the, very honorable, 33-41 final.
Technical sheet
33 – Spain: Futeu, Ovejero, Pirlet; Foulds, Ray Suarez; Pichardie, Ariceta, Nieto; Tani Bay, Vinuesa; Carmona, López Bontempo, Mateu, Laforga; and Bell. Miejmolle, Vázquez, Domínguez, Piñeiro, Boronat, Pérez Meroño, Triki and Yago Fernández also played.
41 – Fiji: Hetet, Ikanivere, Hoyt; Nasilasila, Turagacoke; Vocevoce, Canakaivata, Sowakula; Kuruvoli, Armstrong; Wainiqolo, Botitu, Maqala, Nasova; and Tuicuvu. Tagivetaua, Sokobale, Doge, Mayanavanua, Murray, Baselala, Muntz and Ravouvou also played.
Score: Min 21, try by Tani Bay converted by López Bontempo (7-0). Min 24, Canakaivata try converted by Armstrong (7-7). Min. 27, penalty blow by López Bontempo (10-7). Min 31, Kuruvoli try converted by Armstrong (10-14). Min. 40, Laforga try (15-14). Min. 47, penalty blow by López Bontempo (18-14). Min 48, Kuruvoli try converted by Armstrong (18-21). Min 52, try by Tani Bay converted by López Bontempo (25-21). Min. 55, penalty blow by López Bontempo (28-21). Min. 60, Armstrong’s penalty shot (28-24). Min. 64, Boronat try (33-24). Min. 68, Sokobale try converted by Armstrong (33-31). Min. 74, Nasova try converted by Armstrong (33-38). Min. 78, Armstrong’s penalty shot (33-41).
Referee: Damián Schneider (Argentina). He temporarily excluded the Fijian Tagivetaua (min. 79).
Incidents: Friendly match (‘Test Match’) of the autumn international window played at the Ciudad de Málaga stadium in front of just over 10,000 spectators. Almost full.
Related news
Your opinions matter! Comment on the articles and subscribe for free to our newsletter and to the information alerts in the app or the channel WhatsApp.
Looking to license content? click here
