Fiji ease past Canucks
Wales clash with Japan on Thursday in Cardiff
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Sunday, 16, Sep 2007 03:43
Wales' hopes of qualfying for the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup have been dented after Fiji's 29-16 win over Canada.
Fiji have joined Australia on ten points in pool B after the bonus point victory over the Canucks.
The southern hemisphere side scored four tries through Kele Leawere and Vilimoni Delasau while Kameli Ratuvou bagged a brace.
Nicky Little kicked three conversions and a penalty to give the Fijians their second win of the tournament.
Canada scored a try through Ryan Smith while James Pritchard kicked three penalties.
After both sides exchanged penalties to make the score 3-3, Saracens winger Ratuvou galloped his way through the Canadian defence and found second row Leawere who touched down.
Little converted to extend Fiji's lead to 10-3 but Pritchard reduced the deficit with his second penalty on 26 minutes.
Two minutes later, Sisa Koymaibole's charge took Fiji on the brink of the line with Ratuvou bundling the ball over from close range to make it 15-6 at the break.
Fiji continued where they left off in the first half with winger Delasau dancing past prop Rod Snow for his side's third try, with Little converting.
Just before the hour mark the Canadians scored their first try when Smith evaded Little's tackle to score from close range, with Pritchard booting over the extras to make it 22-13.
Another Pritchard penalty sliced the gap to six points until Ratuvou outsprinted the Canucks' defence to score after a series of drives forward.
Fiji are next in action against Australia next Sunday while Canada take on Japan two days later.