2007 Rugby World Cup: Tonga, Fiji and Italy win
{{date|September 12, 2007}}
[[Image:RugbyWorldCup2007.png|right|125px]]
In the [[w:2007 Rugby World Cup|2007 Rugby World Cup]], [[w:Tonga national rugby union team|Tonga]] started their campaign with a 15-25 win over the [[w:United States national rugby union team|United States]]. [[w:Fiji national rugby union team|Fiji]] won their opening match by four points in a close contest against [[w:Japan national rugby union team|Japan]]. 

[[w:Romania national rugby union team|Romania]], playing their first match of the tournament, led [[w:Italy national rugby union team|Italy]] just after half time but eventually fell to a 24-18 defeat.
----
<span id="Tonga"/>
{{footballbox|
date=September 12, 2007<br>14:00 (UTC+2) |
team1=[[w:United States national rugby union team|United States]] [[Image:Flag of the United States.svg|20px]] |
score= 15 – 25 |
team2=[[Image:Flag of Tonga.svg|20px]] [[w:Tonga national rugby union team|Tonga]] |
goals1='''Try:''' [[w:Mike MacDonald|M MacDonald]] 47'<br>[[w:Louis Stanfill|L Stanfill]] 67'<br>'''Conv:''' [[w:Mike Hercus|M Hercus]] 68'<br>'''Pen:''' [[w:Mike Hercus|M Hercus]] 33'|
goals2='''Try:''' F Maka 2'<br>J Vaka 59'<br>[[w:Viliami Vaki|V Vaki]] 70'<br>'''Conv:''' [[w:Pierre Hola|P Hola]] (2) 3', 71'<br>'''Pen:''' [[w:Pierre Hola|P Hola]] (2) 7', 26'|
stadium=[[w:Stade de la Mosson|Stade de la Mosson]], [[w:Montpellier|Montpellier]] |
referee=[[w:Stuart Dickinson|Stuart Dickinson]] [[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|20px]]}}

In [[w:2007 Rugby World Cup - Pool A|Pool A]], [[Tonga]] raced to an early lead after Finau Maka scored a try in the second minute and [[w:Pierre Hola|Pierre Hola]] added the conversion. However the [[United States]] pinned them back for most of the first half with [[w:Pierre Hola|Pierre Hola]] scoring just two penalties for Tonga, giving them a 13-0 lead. Shortly before half time [[w:Mike Hercus|Mike Hercus]] scored a penalty for the United States to take the score to 13-3 at the interval. 

The Americans controlled the game for much of the second half. [[w:Mike MacDonald|Mike MacDonald]] scored a try for the Americans to pull the score back to 13-8, but Tonga hit back with a try from Joseph Vaka. [[w:Louis Stanfill|Louis Stanfill]] scored a try to close the gap to three points, but [[w:Viliami Vaki|Viliami Vaki]] scored with ten minutes remaining to claim the victory for Tonga.

The win takes Tonga to third place in Pool A with four points, behind South Africa with five and England on points difference. The United Stated have no points from two defeats.
----
<span id="Fiji"/>
{{footballbox|
date=September 12, 2007<br>18:00 (UTC+2) |
team1=[[w:Japan national rugby union team|Japan]] [[Image:Flag of Japan.svg|20px]] |
score= 31 – 35 |
team2=[[Image:Flag of Fiji.svg|20px]] [[w:Fiji national rugby union team|Fiji]] |
goals1='''Try:''' L Thompson (2) 51', 78'<br>T Soma 62'<br>'''Conv:''' S Onishi (2) 52', 79'<br>'''Pen:''' S Onishi (4) 18', 30', 40+', 43'|
goals2='''Try:''' [[w:Akapusi Qera|A Qera]] (2) 36', 49'<br>[[w:Seru Rabeni|S Rabeni]] 56'<br>[[w:Kele Leawere|K Leawere]] 71'<br>'''Conv:''' [[w:Nicky Little|N Little]] (3) 37', 50', 72'<br>'''Pen:''' [[w:Nicky Little|N Little]] (3) 4', 55', 74'|
stadium=[[w:Stadium de Toulouse|Stadium de Toulouse]], [[w:Toulouse|Toulouse]] |
referee=[[w:Marius Jonker|Marius Jonker]] [[Image:Flag of South Africa.svg|20px]]}}

[[:category:Fiji|Fiji]] overcame [[Japan]] in a dramatic encounter in [[w:2007 Rugby World Cup - Pool B|Pool B]]. [[w:Nicky Little|Nicky Little]] kicked Fiji to an early lead, but Shotaro Onishi scored two penalties to give Japan a 6-3 lead in the 30th minute. Fiji went ahead with a try from [[w:Akapusi Qera|Akapusi Qera]], and Japan's Onishi scored a penalty just before half time reducing Fiji's lead to one point.

Onishi scored another penalty after the restart and Japan led once more. Qera scored his second try for Fiji in the 49th minute, but Luke Thompson scored a try for Japan two minutes later. A try from [[w:Seru Rabeni|Seru Rabeni]] once again gave Fiji the advantage, but Japan were kept in the match by a Tomokazu Soma try. Fiji stretched their lead to 11 points after [[w:Kele Leawere|Kele Leawere]] scored a try, and a last minute Luke Thompson try was not enough to snatch the win for Japan.

Fiji are third in the pool with five points, behind Australia and Wales on points difference. Japan are fourth, taking one point from this defeat.
----
<span id="Italy"/>
{{footballbox|
date=September 12, 2007<br>20:00 (UTC+2) |
team1=[[w:Italy national rugby union team|Italy]] [[Image:Flag of Italy.svg|20px]] |
score= 24 – 18 |
team2=[[Image:Flag of Romania.svg|20px]] [[w:Romania national rugby union team|Romania]] |
goals1='''Try:''' [[w::Santiago Dellapè|S Dellapè]] 6'<br>[[w:Try#Penalty try|Penalty try]] 54'<br>'''Conv:''' [[w:Ramiro Pez|R Pez]] 55'<br>'''Pen:''' [[w:David Bortolussi|D Bortolussi]] 14'<br>[[w:Ramiro Pez|R Pez]] (3) 62', 66', 72'|
goals2='''Try:''' A Manta 43'<br>M Tincu 47'<br>'''Conv:''' I Dimofte 49'<br>'''Pen:''' I Dimofte (2) 70', 74'|
stadium=[[w:Stade Vélodrome|Stade Vélodrome]], [[w:Marseille|Marseille]] |
referee=[[w:Tony Spreadbury|Tony Spreadbury]] [[Image:Flag of England.svg|20px]]}}

In [[w:2007 Rugby World Cup - Pool C|Pool C]], [[Italy]] led [[Romania]] 8-0 at half time through an early try from [[w:Santiago Dellapè|Santiago Dellapè]] and a [[w:David Bortolussi|David Bortolussi]] penalty.

Romania took the lead early in the second half after Alexandru Manta and Marius Tincu scored tries. Italy regained the lead after they were awarded a [[w:Try#Penalty try|penalty try]] due to several fouls from Romania. Ionut Dimofte scored two penalties for Romania to keep them in the game, but [[w:Ramiro Pez|Ramiro Pez]] scored three to keep Italy ahead.

Italy are third in Pool C with four points, behind New Zealand and Scotland with five each. Romania are fourth, earning one point in this match.

{{haveyoursay}}
==Related news==
{{wikipedia|2007 Rugby World Cup}}
*{{wikinews|title=2007 Rugby World Cup: Argentina 33 - 3 Georgia|date=September 11, 2007}}
*{{wikinews|title=2007 Rugby World Cup: South Africa, Wales, Scotland and Ireland win|date=September 9, 2007}}
*{{wikinews|title=2007 Rugby World Cup: New Zealand, Australia and England open with wins|date=September 8, 2007}}
*{{wikinews|title=2007 Rugby World Cup: Argentina shock France in tournament opener|date=September 7, 2007}}

==Sources==
*{{source|url=http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/fixtures/round=100/match=10082/report.html#tonga+away+perfect+start|title=Tonga away to perfect start|author=|pub=Rugby World Cup|date=September 12, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/6990692.stm|title=USA 15-25 Tonga|author=|pub=BBC Sport|date=September 12, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/home/fixtures/round=100/match=10083/report.html#tight+tussle+toulouse|title=Tight tussle in Toulouse|author=|pub=Rugby World Cup|date=September 12, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/6987627.stm|title=Japan 31-35 Fiji|author=|pub=BBC Sport|date=September 12, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://en.rugbyworldcup.com/home/fixtures/round=100/match=10084/report.html#italy+beat+romania|title=Italy beat Romania 24-18|author=|pub=Rugby World Cup|date=September 12, 2007}}
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/6988184.stm|title=Italy 24-18 Romania|author=|pub=BBC Sport|date=September 12, 2007}}

{{publish}}

{{archive}}

[[Category:Sports]]
[[Category:Rugby]]
[[Category:Rugby World Cup]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:Tonga]]
[[Category:Japan]]
[[Category:Fiji]]
[[Category:Italy]]
[[Category:Romania]]
[[Category:Polynesia]]
[[Category:Melanesia]]

[[es:Copa Mundial de Rugby 2007: Tonga 25 - 15 Estados Unidos]]
[[es:Copa Mundial de Rugby 2007: Fiyi 35 - 31 Japón]]
[[es:Copa Mundial de Rugby 2007: Italia 24 - 18 Rumania]]
[[fr:Coupe du Monde de rugby 2007 : Tonga 25 - 15 États-Unis]]
[[fr:Coupe du Monde de rugby 2007 : Fidji 35 - 31 Japon]]
[[fr:Coupe du Monde de rugby 2007 : Italie 24 - 18 Roumanie]]
[[it:Rugby Coppa del Mondo 2007: Italia - Romania 24-18, vincono anche Argentina, Figi e Tonga]]
125px
In the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Tonga started their campaign with a 15-25 win over the United States. Fiji won their opening match by four points in a close contest against Japan. 

Romania, playing their first match of the tournament, led Italy just after half time but eventually fell to a 24-18 defeat.
----

In Pool A, Tonga raced to an early lead after Finau Maka scored a try in the second minute and Pierre Hola added the conversion. However the United States pinned them back for most of the first half with Pierre Hola scoring just two penalties for Tonga, giving them a 13-0 lead. Shortly before half time Mike Hercus scored a penalty for the United States to take the score to 13-3 at the interval. 

The Americans controlled the game for much of the second half. Mike MacDonald scored a try for the Americans to pull the score back to 13-8, but Tonga hit back with a try from Joseph Vaka. Louis Stanfill scored a try to close the gap to three points, but Viliami Vaki scored with ten minutes remaining to claim the victory for Tonga.

The win takes Tonga to third place in Pool A with four points, behind South Africa with five and England on points difference. The United Stated have no points from two defeats.
----

Fiji overcame Japan in a dramatic encounter in Pool B. Nicky Little kicked Fiji to an early lead, but Shotaro Onishi scored two penalties to give Japan a 6-3 lead in the 30th minute. Fiji went ahead with a try from Akapusi Qera, and Japan's Onishi scored a penalty just before half time reducing Fiji's lead to one point.

Onishi scored another penalty after the restart and Japan led once more. Qera scored his second try for Fiji in the 49th minute, but Luke Thompson scored a try for Japan two minutes later. A try from Seru Rabeni once again gave Fiji the advantage, but Japan were kept in the match by a Tomokazu Soma try. Fiji stretched their lead to 11 points after Kele Leawere scored a try, and a last minute Luke Thompson try was not enough to snatch the win for Japan.

Fiji are third in the pool with five points, behind Australia and Wales on points difference. Japan are fourth, taking one point from this defeat.
----

In Pool C, Italy led Romania 8-0 at half time through an early try from Santiago Dellapè and a David Bortolussi penalty.

Romania took the lead early in the second half after Alexandru Manta and Marius Tincu scored tries. Italy regained the lead after they were awarded a penalty try due to several fouls from Romania. Ionut Dimofte scored two penalties for Romania to keep them in the game, but Ramiro Pez scored three to keep Italy ahead.

Italy are third in Pool C with four points, behind New Zealand and Scotland with five each. Romania are fourth, earning one point in this match.


es:Copa Mundial de Rugby 2007: Tonga 25 - 15 Estados Unidos
es:Copa Mundial de Rugby 2007: Fiyi 35 - 31 Japón
es:Copa Mundial de Rugby 2007: Italia 24 - 18 Rumania
fr:Coupe du Monde de rugby 2007 : Tonga 25 - 15 États-Unis
fr:Coupe du Monde de rugby 2007 : Fidji 35 - 31 Japon
fr:Coupe du Monde de rugby 2007 : Italie 24 - 18 Roumanie
it:Rugby Coppa del Mondo 2007: Italia - Romania 24-18, vincono anche Argentina, Figi e Tonga
Sports Rugby Rugby World Cup United States Tonga Japan Fiji Italy Romania Polynesia Melanesia