Fiji crush abject France
Fiji ran in seven tries to claim a 42-6 over France and move top of Pool B at the World Cup.
Last Updated: 01/11/08 10:31am
Fiji ran in seven tries to claim a 42-6 over France and move top of Pool B at the World Cup.
Winger Akuila Uate bagged a hat-trick and former Kangaroo Jarrod Hayne a brace of tries for the Pacific Islanders during a dominant performance.
Iowans Divavesi and Semisi Tora also got across the whitewash and captain Wes Naiqama landed seven goals.
Fiji are now top of Pool B and will progress to the next phase providing they beat Scotland on November 5.
France were off the pace throughout and mustered just a John Wilson try - converted by Thomas Bosc - in the first-half.
After Naiqama had opened the scoring with a second-minute penalty, Hayne got the opening try on six minutes by evading a couple of tacklers on his way to the line.
France were dealt another blow when hooker James Wynne was forced from the field with a dislocated elbow.
Fiji continued to control possession and it was not long before Divavesi added their second try after enjoying the bounce of the ball.
Response
France responded on the half-hour mark through Wilson but Uate struck for the first time on 34 minutes and another Naiqma penalty put Fiji 18-6 up at the break.
And it was one-way traffic in the second half, Uate adding his second in the two minutes after the restart with a run from dummy half that took him past three Frenchman.
With France starting to take increasing risks with their passing, Fiji rounded off a superb display with a further three tries in the last 20 minutes.
Tora marked his debut by going in under the sticks and Hayne added his second from long range.
The result was iced by Uate, who weaved his way past three defenders to score from 80 metres out and complete his hat-trick.
