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Last Updated: Sunday, 16 September 2007, 11:54 GMT 12:54 UK
Fiji v Canada as it happened
Latest: Fiji 29-16 Canada

LATEST ACTION (all times BST)

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By Phil Harlow

606: DEBATE

80 mins: TRY Fiji 29-16 Canada
Canada commit almost every player on the pitch to a series of drives in the shadow of the Fiji posts, getting ever closer to the try and the win.

But it all changes in a second as they spill the ball in contact. Fiji launch a counterattack with full-back Kameli Ratuvou getting the ball in his 22 and outstripping Dth van der Merwe to race 80m for his second try. A real sickener for Canada, and the look on their players' faces says it all.

Nicky Little rubs salt in the wound with the conversion.

78 mins: Fiji give away a crazy penalty on halfway, giving Canada the chance to kick to touch deep in Fiji's 22. It's going to be a nerve-wracking final few moments in Cardiff.

76 mins: Fiji work the ball out to the left wing in a threatening attack but Canada get enough men to the ball to close the space down.

The ball comes back to Seremaia Bai who attempts a drop-goal, but it is woeful effort, barely getting off the ground and finishing up approximately 20m to the right of the posts.

73 mins: PEN Fiji 22-16 Canada
Canada do at least cut the gap with James Pritchard curling in a penalty from wide out on the right and Fiji's discipline lets them down.

Have they got the time and the quality to carve open a try-scoring opportunity and snatch an unlikely victory?

70 mins: A superb break from Aaron Carpenter sends him straight off the back of the ruck and into the Fiji 22. He bounces off one tackler before setting up the ruck.

The ball goes wide to Canada's backline who have a massive overlap. Full-back Mike Pyke, who still has two team-mates outside him, makes a meal of it, cutting back against the grain and finding himself tackled by Isoa Neivua on the tryline.

Referee Tony Spreadbury sends the decision upstairs to the video official who eventually decides that Pyke made a double movement and the try is disallowed. A hammer blow for Canada.

68 mins: Canada gain possession after Kameli Ratuvou spills an up-and-under. they get 10m out from the Fiji line, but Mike James concedes a penalty for holding onto the ball on the floor.

That is a big blow for Canada who looked to be on the verge of building a genuine try-scoring opportunity.

66 mins: Fiji have also lost their way a little as the match becomes more scrappy. They keep the ball alive but are just sending it from one wing to another without making much ground.

63 mins: Canada are doing their utmost to continue their momentum, but little errors - kicks out on the full, knock-ons at the base - are undermining their aspirations.

58 mins: TRY Fiji 22-13 Canada
It's slow ball from Canada, but they make their long period of pressure count as Ryan Smith crosses next to the posts.

The forwards go through the phases, making a couple of inches at a time, before the ball comes out to the fly-half who hints at a dummy which is enough to take him past Nicky Little and over the line.

James Pritchard kicks the extras to give Canada some hope.

55 mins: Canada are battling bravely, and certainly haven't given this up. A quick chip down the touchline from James Pritchard catches Fiji half asleep and Canada win a penalty.

They drive to within inches of the Fiji line, but referee Tony Spreadbury decides that Jamie Cudmore was just short of the line and awards a 5m scrum.

50 mins: Fiji win another penalty in a similar position, and this time Nicky Little puts into touch.

From the line-out, Fiji launch centre Seru Rabeni through the middle and he careers through two tackles before spilling the ball. Fiji can't quite put this game to bed at the moment.

47 mins: Nicky Little returns the compliment, missing with a straightforward penalty attempt after Canada creep offside.

45 mins: James Pritchard misses with a penalty after Fiji infringe at the breakdown. Canada desperately need those to go over, given their lack of try-scoring opportunities.

42 mins: TRY Fiji 22-6 Canada
There is only one side in it in terms of creativity. The impressive Akapusi Qera makes an outside break down the left flank before being tackled.

The ball is recycled ball and spun right to Vilimoni Delasau who stutter-steps to beat Rod Snow to cruise over for a fine try.

Nicky Little converts to extend his side's lead.

40 mins: Canada attack the right-hand side from a central scrum and Ryan Smith almost makes the break.

The ball is recycled but hands in the ruck lead to a penalty being conceded. Fiji kick to the touch and the whistle goes for half-time.

37 mins: Canada win a penalty on halfway and kick to the corner. They win the line-out and look to be building pressure only for a poor pass from scrum-half Morgan Williams to end up with a knock-on in midfield.

36 mins: Fiji are not having to do anything special, with Canada lacking the ideas or invention in midfield to create anything.

31 mins: Canada's attempted tactical kicking is really letting them down at the moment. Aimless punts down the middle are meat and drink to Fiji's dangerous runners, and they are in for a feat on the present showing.

27 mins: TRY Fiji 15-6 Canada
Fiji are starting to go through the gears, and their handling - backs and forwards alike - is a joy to behold.

Quick and accurate passing stretches the Canada defence and a lovely pop from Ifereimi Rawaqa finds Sisa Koymaibole in support. The number eight is stopped just short but the ball quickly comes out to Kamelu Ratuvou and he busts Sean-Michael Stephen's tackle on the line to score.

Nicky Little hits the post with his conversion.

25 mins: PEN Fiji 10-6 Canada
Fiji are overenthusiastic in defence, rushing out of their line in midfield and James Pritchard - with just a single-step run-up - knocks over the resulting penalty without any fuss.

21 mins: TRY Fiji 10-3 Canada
It was only a temporary respite for Canada, as their lock Kele Leawere goes through a tackle to stretch over the line.

The damage was done earlier in the move, with Fiji's power skittling Canada's defence and when Seru Rabeni got the ball in space and found Leawere, the try was in no doubt.

Nicky Little adds the conversion.

19 mins: Another superb backline move from Fiji finds acres of space out wide and full-back Kameli Ratuvou slices his way into it. He is within sight of the line, but a tremendous tackle from the covering Morgan Williams knocks the ball from his grasp and saves a certain try.

17 mins: Canada are persisting in kicking from deep, but most of their kicks are far too long to cause Fiji any problems. Fiji's wingers and full-backs have all the time in the world to call their mark.

16 mins: Canada concede an amateurish penalty for offside, but they are not punished on the scoreboard as Nicky Little's attempt goes wide of the posts.

14 mins: A powerful break from Mike Pyke puts Canada in behind the Fiji defence but Craig Culpan takes contact and gets himself isolated, and is quickly stripped of possession.

10 mins: A lovely flowing move from Fiji's backs after they get quick, clean ball off the top of the line-out from Akapusi Qera.

The ball flows through the hands of Mosese Rauluni, Nicky Little, Seremaia Bai and Seru Rabeni before finding Isoa Neivua in space. He beats one man before sending a pass back inside, only for Canada's Craig Culpan to collect it.

England and Ireland's backs could do a lot worse than try to emulate at that simple handling move.

6 mins: PEN Fiji 3-3 Canada
Canada's lead doesn't last very long as Dave Biddle is pinged for getting himself offside.

The offence is some 45m out but straight in front of the posts, and Nicky Little has no problem with distance or direction.

3 mins: PEN Fiji 0-3 Canada
Fiji scrum-half Mosese Rauluni is penalised for a high tackle and Canada's James Pritchard guides his effort from an acute angle right between the posts to give his side a deserved lead.

1 min: Canada kick off to get the match under way and they dominate possession in the early stages, mounting a series of attacks off the back of their powerful drives.

1257: The national anthems are sung in a sparsely populated Millennium Stadium. There are empty seats everywhere, and you have to wonder about the wisdom of transplanting this match to Cardiff. The players surely deserve something a bit better.

1252: A quick reminder on the players on show in Cardiff this afternoon:

Fiji: Ratuvou; Delasau, Rabeni, Bai, Neivua; Little, Rauluni; Dewes, Koto, Railomo, Leawere, Rawaqa, Naevo, Qera, Koyamaibole.
Replacements: Sauturaga, Qiodravu, Talei, Qovu, Daunivucu, Kunavore, Ligairi.

Canada: Pyke; Van der Merwe, Culpan, Spicer, Pritchard; Smith, Williams (capt); Snow, Riordan, Thiel, Burak, James, Cudmore, Biddle, Stephen.
Replacements: Carpenter, D Pletch, M Pletch, Tait, Yukes, Fairhurst, Monro.

1250: We're a few minutes away from the start of the 17th match of this Rugby World Cup.

Fiji eventually won the day against Japan last week in an entertaining match-up, while Canada had Wales on the ropes before running out of steam in the second half.



SEE ALSO
Fiji v Canada
14 Sep 07 |  Rugby Union
Rugby World Cup photos
16 Sep 07 |  Rugby Union
Japan 31-35 Fiji
12 Sep 07 |  Rugby Union
Wales 42-17 Canada
09 Sep 07 |  Welsh
Fiji RWC team guide
04 Sep 07 |  Team guides
Canada RWC team guide
04 Sep 07 |  Team guides
Rugby union positions guide
05 Feb 07 |  Laws & Equipment


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