Fijiana and Samoa have been named in World Rugby’s top 10 standout results of 2022.
This follows Fijiana’s dominant play against South Africa at the World Cup in New Zealand for long periods was only settled in the dying seconds as Karalaini Naisewa scored under the posts.
South Africa’s Libbie Janse van Rensburg put South Africa in front for the first time in the match in the 79th minute saw Fiji’s first-ever Rugby World Cup win looked in jeopardy.
It was the confidence of the Fijians that kept their nerve from the restart and another bollocking carries from irrepressible Mastercard Player of the Match Siteri Rasolea gave them the platform to get over the line and deny Zenay Jordaan a famous win on the occasion of her record-breaking 35th cap.
Meanwhile, Samoa produced a comeback for the ages to wrestle the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup from Fiji in a dramatic 23-20 win.
Fiji, winners in five of the seven previous editions of the competition, raced into a 17-3 lead in the title decider at Churchill Park in Lautoka in July.
But the momentum of the game changed in the final half an hour when Samoa brought on their front-row replacements and started to get dominant at scrum time.
Seilala Lam scored both of Samoa’s tries, the second 10 minutes from time, and Rodney Iona made no mistake with the conversions as well as slotting three penalties.
