The Australian and Telecom Fijiana teams before their match yesterday.
The Telecom Fijiana team finished second in their pool after beating France and Ireland in the Clermont-Ferrand 7s in France
And the team will play Canada in the Cup quarterfinal today as they aim to end the World Sevens Series in the top eight.
The Iliesa Tanivula-coached side has also qualified for the Rio Olympics in August.
Fiji 0–34 Australia
Fiji got off to a shock start in their opening game against series leaders Australia. Emma Tonegato got the Aussies off by scoring two tries in the span of four minutes to give them a 10–0 lead. Fiji tried hard to penetrate the Aussie defence but lack of ball control cost them possession. Two more tries from Chloe Dalton and Elia Green with four points added from Dalton’s boots, Australia lead 24–0 at half time.
Luck was not on Fiji’s side in the second spell as their attempt to produce anything positive from their ball possession proved futile. Australia’s Amy Turner and Evania Pelite scored the last two tries for the Aussies to end the game 34–0.
Fiji 14–10 France
Fiji’s defence improved in their second pool game keeping the French at bay. With no tries in the first half, team captain Ana Maria Roqica came through for Fiji breaking the deadlock with a try in the eighth minute with a successful conversion from Luisa Tisolo to take the lead 7–0. France replied four minutes later with a try from Shannon Izar to close the gap 5–7. Tisolo scored the second try for Fiji and kicked a perfect conversion to extend their lead 14–5. Though France’s Caroline Ladagnous scored another for France, their two failed conversions by Christelle Le Duff prevented them from ending the game in a draw.
Fiji 19–14 Ireland
A win in their last pool game was crucial in order to qualify for the Cup quarterfinals. A good feed from team captain Ana Maria Roqica to Viniana Riwai who scored the first try, 5–0. Ireland replied a minute later with a try from Amee Leigh Murphy Crowe, two points added from the boot by Lucy Mulhall gave Ireland the lead at half time, 7-.5.
It was an all Luisa Tisolo second half as she scored tries with both successful conversions. Ireland’s Murphy Crowe’s second try and successful conversion from Mulhall was not enough to over the Fijians ending the game 19–14.
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Originally published at Fijisun.com.fj on May 30, 2016.