The game between Fiji and Uruguay took place on historical ground. Not for the best tries, not for a nail biting World Cup decider. But in the smallest stadium of the World Cup, one packed with passion and emotion. The history of Kamiashi should not be lost amidst the celebration, an area devastated in 2011, only to rise to the challenge of the World Cup (much like Uruguay) and host the game of the tournament so far.
It was a game started well by both teams, but looked like Fiji would waltz away with the game scoring first with a tight carry to the maul, and one could easily have given up hope and lost interest. But something was moving, the Fijians lacked a clinical edge while Uruguay defended ferociously.
The intent was set out by Uruguay off the second phase. A Huge double tackle in the centre of the field showing a fight not expected and a physicality not reacted to by Fiji. And while the tackle ended with a Uruguayan knock on, it showed a clear intent. After all whilst it was poor kicking from Fiji that lost them the game it was the aggression and strong defence of Uruguay which gave Los Teros a sniff.
The defence system, both it’s positive and flaws were shown perfectly in the 17th minute. It starts off a lineout with the two Uruguayan fringe defenders focussing on the scrum half. Almost enabling Fiji to break free. However, Uruguay recover with an ability to keep working.
The Uruguayan defence backtracking and shaping the Fijian support well despite contesting with two pods. This work was to sum up Uruguay throughout the game and the rest of the move.
After a while Fiji, have shifted it from side playing laterally with a few one up runners making it easy for Uruguay and Nakwara unable free his hands. Following a series of phases, though they have opened an opportunity with one of Uruguay’s defence blitzing, up with the Fijians able to free the ball. This leaves Uruguay in scramble mode. Fiji should really score the first time around, with 2 defenders trapped in the 10m channel and a free Fiian in the outside 5 metre channel, but they don’t pass.This strong work enables Uruguay to shut down the attack.
However the aggressiveness with which they played had been exposed. Fiji able to find the edge and with so many competent handlers and attack minded players you immediately wondered if Uruguay were going to start defending ‘’properly’’’ and preventing Fiji free space.
But for some reason Fiji had forgotten who they were. They played fast and loose, incredibly loose. This led to 10 handling errors in the first half. More worrying it was the effect of these errors. Often without much pressure, but then Fiji begin to feel the heat.
One clear example of this handling going wrong was Arrata’s first try. However, whilst the handling is poor, John Mckee should have been more worried about the work rate following this. Fiji just stand back allowing an offload off the floor to Arrata straight through a a central channel. This work rate whether affected by the Australia game or not is really poor. Especially given the opportunity, if the ball is passed wide Uruguay may get caught short but the Fijians stand still, allowing Los Teros to pounce.
Fiji kept trying to play, attempting to pick of Uruguay. But the overall attack was lacking, even from kick return. Veikotani, of London Irish, had started brightly but when he returned the kick was stipped, and with little support around him Uruguay made easy meters. The style Fiji play relies on support, and from Aratas try to the lack of it on Fijian kick return, Fiji seemed off the pace.
There were opportunities aplenty in throughout the game. But Fiji seemed unable to really control. They had a clear advantage in the forwards but seemed to lack any real leadership that focused on this strength. The general attack could have prospered with less errors, especially given how aggressive Uruguay were.
The general lack of finishing ability was exposed by Uruguay’s passion. Freitas working back to shut down an immediate try at the beginning of the second hal really showed this. Fiji have a 3 on 1 manage somehow to bungle it completely not only not scoring with the try line in sight but surrender possession with the Freitas intercepting and clearing for Uruguay.
And while Uruguay were not clinically it was their kicking and the game management of Man of the match Berchesi which won the game. Take an instance in the 34th minute. Uruguay are camped in the Fijian 22 for 13 phases and where most sides would go for the jugular Uruguay act calmly and take the points. Not relying on their attack which prospered off broken play Uruguay kept their heads in front, able to just stay clear from Fiji. Fiji kicked at 16.6% of their kicks. Meanwhile Berchesi calmly did enough at 85.7%. The pressure of the tee was where Uruguay won and Fiji lost. This pressure meant Uruguay converted 13% of opportunities to points bettering Fiji by 2% and in a game decided by close margins, this was the closest of all.
You want to say it was small margins but this was just careless from Fiji. Perhaps people shouldn’t be surprised. They struggle v Japan, maybe the hype around them beating the Maori All Blacks and being close against Australia has put this out of context. But overall they were away from the Fiji they wanted to be, we wanted to see. This all down, not to genius defence or pure skill and talent. But grit determination passion history and heart. Uruguay took the game to Fiji and completely shut them down not through a Brendan Venter system of defence but through hard work.
The Analysis Guy 