The first-day results: Colombia 13 Fiji 67; Ireland 109 Kazakhstan 0
These runaway victories simply had to be expected. We have seen similar margins at many a World Cup of the past, and they involved far fewer nations than the eighteen contesting this brand-new WXV.
The disparities were shown most clearly in that second game. For all their recent troubles, the Irish showed far more know-how than their Kazakh opponents, whose union had stopped supporting 15s rugby after their last RWC appearance in 2014. And it showed.
As a glaring example: Ireland, in unfamiliar white tops and black shorts, needed less than two minutes to open their account. Playing with speed and efficiency, they found their way to the line through Christy Haney. But then we had a worrying indication of the Kazakhs’ unfamiliarity with the 15s game. Several of them started wandering forward after the try was awarded, as if they were still playing 7s.
That was merely the start of a torrent of tries. By a cute chance of fate, the two players to register four tries, Beibhinn Parsons and Eve Higgins, had both returned from the successful 7s squad to bolster Irish chances. Not to be outdone, Maeve Healy, Linda Djougang, Molly Scuffil-McCabe, Grace Moore, Aoife Dalton (2), Brittany Hogan and Lauren Delaney all added to the harvest.
Another inevitability came when Doriane Domenjo flourished two cards, to Anna Chebotar and the skipper Karina Sazontova. Fortunately both were yellows.
Kazakhstan, known as the Nomads, were unfortunate to meet a top seed first up. Next week it will be Kenya, where they can hope to find their way into the game more effectively. Familiarity breeds success.
Did Scott Bemand feel any nerves? It’s just possible, but he’ll be delighted with this first showing of a renewed Irish squad.
Teams:
Ireland
1 Linda Djougang, 2 Neve Jones, 3 Christy Haney, 4 Dorothy Wall, 5 Sam Monaghan (co-captain), 6 Grace Moore, 7 Edel McMahon (co-captain), 8 Brittany Hogan, 9 Molly Scuffil-McCabe, 10 Dannah O’Brien, 11 Beibhinn Parsons 12 Aoife Dalton 13 Eve Higgins 14 Natasja Behan 15 Meabh Deely
Bench: 16 *Sarah Delaney 17 Sadhbh McGrath 18 *Collis 19 *Eimear Corri 20 Maeve Og O’Leary 21 Aoibheann Reilly 22 Nicole Fowley 23 Leah Tarpey
Kazakhstan
1 Natalya Kamendrovskaya, 2 Moldir Askhat, 3 Tatyana Dadajanova, 4 Anna Chebotar, 5 Darya Simakova, 6 Tatyana Kruchinkina, 7 Karina Sazontova (captain), 8 Symbat Zhamankulova, 9 Daiana Kazibekova, 10 Kundyzay Baktybayeva, 11 Alyona Melnikova, 12 Darya Tkachyova, 13 Lyudmila Ivanova, 14 Liliya Kibisheva, 15 Yeva Bekker
Bench: 16 Yelena Yurova, 17 Balzhan Akhbayeva, 18 Karina Tankisheva, 19 Yuliya Oleinikova, 20 Daria Kuznetsova, 21 Svetlana Malezhina, 22 Kuralay Turalykova, 23 Irina Balabina
Referee: Doriane Domenjo (FFR)
ARs: Ano Kuwai (JRFU) and Ella Goldsmith (RA) TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
with thanks to rugbyreferee.net
Colombia v Fiji
Of all the romantic encounters in WXV the match between Fijiana and the Tucanes may have been the most appealing.
It took Mereoni Nakesa only three minutes to power over the line for Fiji.
Colombia responded with a fine attack, but as they tried to recycle in the shade of the posts, they were found guilty of holding on. On nine minutes the same, but worse; a knock-on stopped them just three metres from the line.
Fijiana showed their paces with a wonderful back-hand pass from the captain Sereima Leweniqila to set Vani Arei free to the line.
The Tucanes got off the mark with a penalty by their reliable No 15, Maria Arzuaga.
But Fiji’s power and pace put them right on top. Their full-back, Luisa Basei, had an acre of space to stroll into. So the game was all but over after 40 minutes.
Half-time: Fiji 31 Colombia 3
Sadly, the second half turned into a procession. Even when a searching long grubber into the left corner looked threatening, the Fijiana defence had it covered. Result, a free-running try at the other end by Adita Milinia.
Luisa Basei showed the value of a reliable place-kicker; she managed six conversions from the eleven tries scored by Fijiana.
Congratulations to Camila Lopera, the captain, on scoring Colombia’s only try. The one other contribution was a second penalty from Arzuaga.
This was our chance to appreciate what a threat the Pasifika players will become, thanks to the promise of more frequent test matches. The talent is there in abundance; they combine size, power and Sevens skills to a high degree. They just haven’t had the chance to express themselves regularly till WXV came along.
Result: Colombia 13 Fiji 67
Teams
Fiji:
1 Anna Korovata, 2 Bitila Tawake, 3 Karalaini Naisewa, 4 Doreen Narokete, 5 Mereoni Nakesa, 6 Merevesi Ofakimalino, 7 Sulita Waisega, 8 Sereima Leweniqila (captain), 9 Setaita Railumu, 10 Jennifer Ravutia, 11 *Iva Sauira, 12 Vani Arei, 13 Merewai Cumu, 14 Adita Milinia, 15 Luisa Basei
Bench: 16 *Unaisi Lalabalavu, 17 Tiana Robanakadavu, 18 Salanieta Nabuli, 19 Nunia Daunimoala, 20 Adi Fulori Rotagavira, 21 Evivi Senikarivi, 22 Salanieta Kinita, 23 Merewairita
Neivosa
*uncapped
Colombia: 15 Maria Arzuaga, 14 Leidy García, 13 Maribel Mestra, 12 Isabel Ramirez, 11 Juliana Soto, 10 Camila Lopera (captain), 9 Laura Villota Noguera; 1 Tatiana Delgado, 2 Camila Cardona, 3 Carolina Naranjo, 4 Paola Delgado, 5 Laura Gutierrez, 6 Valeria Muñoz, 7 Angela Alzate, 8 Valentina Álvarez.
Bench: Silvia Olave, Natalia Barajas, Gisel Gomez, Sara Velez, Tatiana Hernandez, Stefania Sarmiento, Luisa Fernanda Zurique, Angie Manyoma.
Officials:
Referee: Amelia Luciano (USA)
ARs: Adele Robert (BEL) and Sunny Lee (HKCR) TMO: Andrew Hosie (RC)
with thanks to rugbyreferee.net
