Fiji sink brave Uruguay
Uruguay were put on the back foot from the start when scrumhalf Agustin Ormaechea was shown a yellow card for failing to use his arms in a try-saving tackle which resulted in a penalty try being awarded to Fiji.
They followed that up with a try from scrumhalf Nemia Kenatale shortly afterwards, but the South Americans fought back as first flyhalf Alejo Duran slotted a penalty before hooker Carlos Arboleya charged over for their first try of the tournament.
Fiji responded with their second penalty try which came from a dominant scrum in front of the poles, and they wrapped up the bonus point just before half-time when big lock Leone Nakarawa threw a big dummy to cruise over and put them 26-10 up at the break.
After a tense start to the second half it was Uruguay who scored first when Ormaechea dived over to cap off a counter-attack which was just reward for some committed defence.
Fiji hit back when replacement Tevita Cavubati barged over, and followed that up straight away with a long-range effort which was finished by fullback Kini Murimurivalu.
That try led to more cards being brandished as a scuffle off the ball between Ormaechea and Fiji prop Campese Ma'afu saw them both sent from the field, with Ormaechea earning the first red card of the tournament as a result of his second yellow.
The final blow was landed by Nadolo who bashed his way over from a set move on the stroke of full-time to put the seal on the win for Fiji.
Man of the match: Nemani Nadolo was influential as ever, as were halfbacks Nemia Kenatale and Ben Volavola, but our award goes to lock Leone Nakarawa who is so dangerous with the ball-in-hand, offloading, stepping and throwing an outrageous dummy for his try.
Moment of the match: Nakarawa's try was impressive, but the biggest moment of the match came when hooker Carlos Arboleya crashed over for Uruguay's first try of the World Cup so far, the celebrations showed just how much it meant to the players.
Villain of the match: The first red card of the World Cup went to Uruguay scrumhalf Agustin Ormaechea who tackled Nemani Nadolo without any arms in the third minute and then got involved in a scrap off the ball towards the end of the match, although he did score a try in between all that.
The scorers:
For Fiji:
Tries: Penalty try 2, Kenatale, Nakarawa, Cavubati, Murimurivalu, Nadolo
Cons: Nadolo 6
For Uruguay:
Tries: Arboleya, Ormaechea
Con: Duran
Pen: Duran
Yellow cards: Agustin Ormaechea (Uruguay, 3 – Foul play, illegal tackle) Campese Ma'afu (Fiji, 67 – Foul play, repeated infringements)
Red card: Agustin Ormaechea, (Uruguay, 67 – Second yellow card)
Teams:
Fiji: 15 Kini Murimurivalu, 14 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 13 Vereniki Goneva, 12 Lepani Botia, 11 Nemani Nadolo, 10 Ben Volavola, 9 Nemia Kenatale, 8 Sakiusa Matadigo, 7 Akapusi Qera (captain), 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu, 5 Leone Nakarawa, 4 Apisalome Ratuniyarawa, 3 Leroy Atalifo, 2 Sunia Koto, 1 Campese Ma'afu.
Replacements: 16 Viliame Veikoso, 17 Peni Ravai, 18 Taniela Koroi, 19 Tevita Cavubati, 20 Netani Talei, 21 Henry Seniloli, 22 Josh Matavesi, 23 Timoci Nagusa.
Uruguay: 15 Gaston Mieres, 14 Santiago Gibernau, 13 Joaquin Prada, 12 Andres Vilaseca, 11 Rodrigo Silva, 10 Alejo Duran, 9 Agustin Ormaechea, 8 Alejandro Nieto, 7 Matias Beer, 6 Juan Manuel Gaminara, 5 Jorge Zerbino, 4 Santiago Vilaseca (captain), 3 Mario Sagario, 2 Carlos Arboleya, 1 Alejo Corral.
Replacements: 16 German Kessler, 17 Oscar Duran, 18 Mateo Sanguinetti, 19 Mathias Palomeque, 20 Franco Lamanna, 21 Juan de Freitas, 22 Jeronimo Etcheverry, 23 Francisco Bulanti.
Referee: JP Doyle (England)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Leighton Hodges (Wales)
TMO: Graham Hughes (England)
