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Fiji escape as Hercus misses kick
BRISBANE, Australia (Reuters) -- U.S. fly-half Mike Hercus missed a last minute conversion attempt, enabling Fiji to scramble a 19-18 pool B victory in the World Cup game in Brisbane. An opportunist try by left wing Riaan van Zyl, converted by Hercus, gave the Americans a 13-3 lead early in the second half and a real chance of only their second win in four tournaments. But Fiji hit back when lock Apisai Naevo scored under the posts after right wing Marika Vunibaka had cut through on the left. Vunibaka passed to hooker Greg Smith who fed Naevo for the try under the posts. After fly-half Nicky Little had extended Fiji's lead to six points with two penalties, American flanker Kurt Schubert powered over in the final minute to give the United States a chance of victory, but Hercus's conversion attempt then went wide. Little kicked 14 points as Fiji rallied and left the gallant Americans with an undeserved World Cup record ninth consecutive loss. The Fijians had gone behind 13-3 when van Zyl chased down a deep angled kick from Hercus, getting the bounce of the ball and scoring untouched under the posts four minutes after half-time. Hercus, who landed two penalties in the first half, landed the conversion to increase the gap to 10 points. The try stung Fiji into action. After an opening 61-18 loss to France at the weekend they dominated possession and territory without success in the first 40 minutes against the Americans, but Api Naevi finally crossed after a 60-meter counter-attack. Burst throughVilimoni Delasau burst through two tacklers and passed to Vunibaka, who sprinted deep into the attacking quarter before he was dragged down and popped a ball up for Greg Smith,who found the high-striding Naevi in support. Little converted and then slotted a penalty from in front four minutes later as Fiji led for the first time, in the 59th minute. He added another three-pointer seven minutes later to give the Fijians a six-point buffer at 19-13 and then opted to kick for touch instead of goal inside the last seven minutes, when a successful kick would have sealed the match. The Americans led 6-3 at half-time after two Hercus penalties in the seventh and 25th minutes. Little's only points in the first half came from a 33rd-minute penalty goal. Delasau, replacing the suspended Rupeni Caucaunibuca on the left wing, was dynamic. A prolific scorer in sevens rugby, he made three incisive runs, once stepping, swerving and holding off seven defenders. The Americans won their debut match 21-18 against Japan at Brisbane during the inaugural 1987 World Cup but have lost every match since.
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