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Rotorua - Fiji survived an unexpectedly stiff challenge from African minnows Namibia on Saturday in a pulsating Rugby World Cup game which briefly threatened one of the tournament's great upsets.
The two-time quarter-finalists had four tries through right wing Vereniki Goneva alone to win 42-25 but they were forced to defend for much of the match as Namibia sniffed their first World Cup finals victory.
Despite their defeat, Namibia - handed a World Cup record 142-0 thrashing by Australia just four years ago - enjoyed their highest score and closest result in four appearances at rugby's showpiece.
And Namibia, orchestrated by superb flyhalf Theuns Kotze, took great satisfaction from keeping tiring Fiji on the defence for much of the second half in an engrossing spectacle at Rotorua International Stadium.
"I'm very proud of how the guys came back, it's typical of our character," said Namibia coach Johan Diergaardt.
"If our defence was a little bit better, sharper at certain stanzas, we would have been in with a chance."
It was the boot of Kotze against Fiji's try-scoring genius in the first half as the Namibian flyhalf, starting just his second Test, nailed three drop goals in just four minutes to put the Pacific islanders on the back foot.
But Sevens specialists Fiji dazzled with the ball in hand and Goneva rampaged down the right flank for a first-half hat-trick alongside a lone effort from second-row forward Leone Nakarawa to make it 32-15 at half-time.
Namibia had denied Fiji possession for long periods of the first half and they burst through for a long-threatened first try after the break, as forward Heinz Koll's neat dummy ended a move from deep within their own territory.
Fiji's Goneva hit back with his fourth score but Namibia ran in their second through fullback Chrysander Botha on 56 minutes, setting up a spell of heavy pressure with the scores at 39-25.
However, Fiji's France-based centre Seremaia Bai put the game effectively out of reach with a penalty before Naipolioni Nalaga crossed in the dying minutes.
Fiji face defending champions South Africa in Wellington next Saturday before playing Samoa and Wales in Group D.
Scorers:
Namibia:
Tries: Heinz Koll, Chrysander Botha
Penalties: Theuns Kotze (2)
Drop Goals: Theunis Kotze (3)
Fiji:
Tries: Verniki Goneva (4), Leone Nakarwa, Napolini Nalaga
Conversions: Seremaia Bai (3)
Penalties: Bai (3)
Teams:
Fiji:
15 Kini Murimurivalu, 14 Vereniki Goneva, 13 Gaby Lovobalavu, 12 Seremaia Bai, 11 Naipolioni Nalaga, 10 Waisea Sedre Luveniyali, 9 Nemia Kenatale, 8 Netani Edward Talei, 7 Mala Ravulo, 6 Dominiko Maiwiriwiri Waqaniburotu, 5 Wame Lewaravu, 4 Leone Nakarawa, 3 Deacon Manu (captain), 2 Viliame Veikoso, 1 Campese Ma'afu
Substitutes: 16 Sunia Koto, 17 Waisea Nailago, 18 Seko Kalou, 19 Akapusi Qera, 20 Vitori Tomu Buatava, 21 Albert James Vulivuli, 22 Iliesa Lomani Rakuka Keresoni
Namibia:
15 Chrysander Botha, 14 Hendrik Dames, 13 Danie Van Wyk, 12 Willem Van Zyl, 11 Conrad Marais, 10 Theuns Kotze, 9 Eugene Jantjies, 8 Jacques Nieuwenhuis, 7 Jacques Burger (captain), 6 Tinus du Plessis, 5 Nico Esterhuyse, 4 Heinze Koll, 3 Raol Larson, 2 Hugo Horn, 1 Johannes Redelinghuys
Substitutes: 16 Bertus O'Callaghan, 17 Jan Du Toit, 18 Pieter Jan van Lill, 19 Rohan Kitshoff, 20 Ryan De La Harpe, 21 Darryl De La Harpe, 22 Llewellyn Winkler
The two-time quarter-finalists had four tries through right wing Vereniki Goneva alone to win 42-25 but they were forced to defend for much of the match as Namibia sniffed their first World Cup finals victory.
Despite their defeat, Namibia - handed a World Cup record 142-0 thrashing by Australia just four years ago - enjoyed their highest score and closest result in four appearances at rugby's showpiece.
And Namibia, orchestrated by superb flyhalf Theuns Kotze, took great satisfaction from keeping tiring Fiji on the defence for much of the second half in an engrossing spectacle at Rotorua International Stadium.
"I'm very proud of how the guys came back, it's typical of our character," said Namibia coach Johan Diergaardt.
"If our defence was a little bit better, sharper at certain stanzas, we would have been in with a chance."
It was the boot of Kotze against Fiji's try-scoring genius in the first half as the Namibian flyhalf, starting just his second Test, nailed three drop goals in just four minutes to put the Pacific islanders on the back foot.
But Sevens specialists Fiji dazzled with the ball in hand and Goneva rampaged down the right flank for a first-half hat-trick alongside a lone effort from second-row forward Leone Nakarawa to make it 32-15 at half-time.
Namibia had denied Fiji possession for long periods of the first half and they burst through for a long-threatened first try after the break, as forward Heinz Koll's neat dummy ended a move from deep within their own territory.
Fiji's Goneva hit back with his fourth score but Namibia ran in their second through fullback Chrysander Botha on 56 minutes, setting up a spell of heavy pressure with the scores at 39-25.
However, Fiji's France-based centre Seremaia Bai put the game effectively out of reach with a penalty before Naipolioni Nalaga crossed in the dying minutes.
Fiji face defending champions South Africa in Wellington next Saturday before playing Samoa and Wales in Group D.
Scorers:
Namibia:
Tries: Heinz Koll, Chrysander Botha
Penalties: Theuns Kotze (2)
Drop Goals: Theunis Kotze (3)
Fiji:
Tries: Verniki Goneva (4), Leone Nakarwa, Napolini Nalaga
Conversions: Seremaia Bai (3)
Penalties: Bai (3)
Teams:
Fiji:
15 Kini Murimurivalu, 14 Vereniki Goneva, 13 Gaby Lovobalavu, 12 Seremaia Bai, 11 Naipolioni Nalaga, 10 Waisea Sedre Luveniyali, 9 Nemia Kenatale, 8 Netani Edward Talei, 7 Mala Ravulo, 6 Dominiko Maiwiriwiri Waqaniburotu, 5 Wame Lewaravu, 4 Leone Nakarawa, 3 Deacon Manu (captain), 2 Viliame Veikoso, 1 Campese Ma'afu
Substitutes: 16 Sunia Koto, 17 Waisea Nailago, 18 Seko Kalou, 19 Akapusi Qera, 20 Vitori Tomu Buatava, 21 Albert James Vulivuli, 22 Iliesa Lomani Rakuka Keresoni
Namibia:
15 Chrysander Botha, 14 Hendrik Dames, 13 Danie Van Wyk, 12 Willem Van Zyl, 11 Conrad Marais, 10 Theuns Kotze, 9 Eugene Jantjies, 8 Jacques Nieuwenhuis, 7 Jacques Burger (captain), 6 Tinus du Plessis, 5 Nico Esterhuyse, 4 Heinze Koll, 3 Raol Larson, 2 Hugo Horn, 1 Johannes Redelinghuys
Substitutes: 16 Bertus O'Callaghan, 17 Jan Du Toit, 18 Pieter Jan van Lill, 19 Rohan Kitshoff, 20 Ryan De La Harpe, 21 Darryl De La Harpe, 22 Llewellyn Winkler
