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Last Updated: Oct 7, 2007 - 12:48:30 PM |
PARIS - Fiji threatened the biggest shock in the history of World Cup rugby on Sunday before falling to a 37-20 loss to South Africa.
With New Zealand and Australia preparing to catch flights home after their surprise quarter-final losses to France and England, the Fijians had a glimpse of glory in Marseille.
Tries by Jaque Fourie, John Smit and JP Pietersen appeared to have put the Springboks on the way to a routine victory in Marseille. The Fijians, traditionally better at seven-a-side rugby than 15-a-side, refused to lie down.
Even down to 14 men after centre Seru Rabeni had been sin-binned, they hit back from 20-6 down at the Stade Velodrome to tie the score at 20-20 with 20 minutes to go.
Wingers Vilimoni Delasau and Sireli Bobo crossed in the 57th and 59th minutes and lock forward Ifereimi Rawaqa was stopped only inches short.
Eventually the South Africans, now flying the Tri-Nations flag in this championship as they take the winner of Sunday's remaining quarter-final between Argentina and Scotland, scored two late tries by Juan Smith and Butch James for a result that looked harsh on the Fijians.
"Yesterday's results would have given Fiji a huge amount of belief that anything was on the cards here," Smit said. "We can be happy we got out alive."
The Fijians said they showed that the gap between the powerhouses and the teams just behind was closing.
"I'm very proud of the boys," captain and scrum half Mosese Rauluni said. "It just goes to show that tier two nations can take it to tier one nations if given the chance.
"We came in here with nothing to lose and South Africa had all the pressure. We found a lot of holes and managed to get through but were unable to score a couple of tries. That's the way rugby goes."
While the Springboks paid tribute to the Fijians, flanker Smith said the tough game would make his side stronger.
"Fiji played an awesome game against Wales last week and again showed they're a team to be reckoned with," Smith said. "We've worked very hard in the last four years. I think all the hard work will pay off this World Cup."
The hard work for New Zealand is probably just beginning.
The All Blacks were hot favourites to win back a title they won 20 years ago but, for the first time, never even reached the semifinals.
They now have to work out how they lost 20-18 to France in Cardiff having been in control of the game just before halftime at 13-0.
Graham Henry, who meticulously built two strong, effectively interchangeable lineups, is likely to go and his replacement will probably build a new squad to try again when New Zealand hosts the next World Cup in 2011.
Henry felt he could have done no more.
"I feel comfortable that I've done everything I can to ensure we can do the best we can as an All Blacks side," Henry said.
The departure of the All Blacks and the Wallabies mean that their fans, who had bought tickets for a semifinal at the Stade de France, don't know whether to go home or watch France vs. England.
England coach Brian Ashton, whose team edged Australia 12-10 thanks to four Jonny Wilkinson penalties and a phenomenal performance by the pack, suggests it might be worth staying around.
"It is an excellent game, to play the hosts at the Stade de France in the semifinals of the World Cup," Ashton said. "We will approach it with the same sense of attitude and excitement as we applied against Australia.
"It will be very passionate and a great occasion. We are the world champions and I believe France could be world champions - a match like this will be bigger than the one against Australia."
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