Farewell kick for Henry Raiwalui and the experienced goal kicker is successful. Full-Time. FIJI 60 - ITALY 4.
Fiji go coast to coast. Naiqama shows and goes, finds Karawalevu who basketball passes back to Taniela Sadrugu and the NQ Cowboys backrower crosses.
Lepori puts it down.
PENALTY ITALY: Late hit.
With the execption of the late shot in the first half. As an Australian observer, I've been impressed with Jack Smith in the middle.
Touched by Fiji and Italy will get a fresh set.
CHALLENGE UNSUCCESSFUL FIJI: PENALTY ITALY!
CAPTAIN'S CHALLENGE FIJI: Disputing the decision of offside.
Been a 30-0 first half and 24-4 second half... Not been favourable on the scoreboard but it could be so much worse.
Appears to be a crusher from King Vuniyayawa there...
Korbin Sims loses the ball
PENALTY FIJI: Obstruction
Sivo can't handle the pass and it goes into touch.
Kikau given a well earnt early mark.
PENALTY ITALY: High tackle
Koroisau loses it.
Koroisau converts and it's a 50 point margin!
NUMBER TWO for NUMBER TWO. Maika Sivo crosses and the Bati hit 50! Maika Sivo crosses after a brilliant flick pass from Kikau! Sensational.
Fiji back on the attack.
Turuva almost won the race to that one...
Italy puts it down... Big chance for the Bati to add to this.
Italy now working their way out of yardage here.
Great kick and take from Sunia Turuva. Fiji can't afford the complacency here.
Jack Campagnolo fails to convert. But, the Azzuri are on the board.
Well deserved four pointer for the Italians and it's Jake Maizen who scores for the Italians!
VIDEO REF: We have a NO TRY, he looked as if he went out there young Jake Maizen...
PENALTY ITALY: Henry Raiwalui takes out the Italian player illegally.
Koroisau's kick is good. 48-0
Maika Sivo crosses. It was another clever kick from Wakeham, but it was the offload of Kikau and Sivo races away to score.
Fiji complete their set again!
Wakeham converts - 42-0.
It was a clever banana kick from Brandon Wakeham, it was a horror bounce for Poiselli and it sat up for the big forward Ben Nakubuwai who charged over the top of the young fullback to score.
VIDEO REF: Smith sends it up as a try, confirming the onside for a try
Italy have missed a whopping 46 tackles so far.
What a kick return from Richard Lepori. But off the ensuing tackle, Jake Maizen is whacked over the touchline by young Vuate Karawalevu.
Wakeham converts - 36-0.
Fiji go COAST to COAST. It was set up by the kick return of Vuate Karawalevu beating 4 Azzuri. From the ensuing tackle it was a great offload from Koroisau and Tagituimua crossed for his second try.
What a kick return from Vuate Karawalevu, sets Fiji up in a great spot!
Valemei loses it this time. Bati unable to work it out on the last thus far in this second half.
Penioni Tagituimua loses his footing at the worst time for the Bati. Turn-over as the Azzuri work it out of their own end!
Italy with a strong first set there, but Sunia Turuva is able to race away and relieve the pressure for the Bati.
Let's see what the second 40 brings us. Italy will receive the ball first here.
WOW... Fiji were throwing it around all 13 sets of hands, but they bombed it at the final hurdle... HT at Newcastle... Italy with it all to do down 30-0
Final set of the first half here.
Wakeham's kick at goal is good. Fiji 30 - Italy 0.
Api finds the line and eventually, the resilience of the Azzuri is broken. Apisai Koroisau shows and goes to Kikau which attracted defenders and he went through a yawning gap to cross for try number five of the first half.
Robinson knocks down the pass to Kikau. Another try saver for the Azzuri.
Lepori saves a try by knocking down the pass from Apisai Koroisau. The Fiji Bati looking dangerous again.
Challenge is successful by Fiji. Santi was judged to have lost the ball.
Valemei puts a big shot on, the referee has said he played at it. But, we're going to Tom Grant in the video box!
Jack Campagnolo kicks early but Sunia Turuva is able to scoop it up!
Jack Smith has made a blunder there for me. That tackle was sin-binned opening day, but not now... Poor decision.
PENALTY ITALY: Taniela Sadrugu hits Nathan Brown very late. I think he could be off here, for a minimum of 10 minutes I suspect.
Yet another kick from Brandon Wakeham has gone OUT on the FULL
Great recovery from Vuate Karawalevu. Much better set from the Azzuri though (all things considering).
Kikau's pass was forward. Italy hang on, while the score-line suggests they've been smashed. They have had to do a majority of the defence here this afternoon.
Italy are able to hang on just.
Set restart Fiji: Ruck infringement.
Wakeham's able to convert. Fiji 24 - Italy 0
Kikau grabs number two, and Fiji are causing all sorts of problems.
PENALTY FIJI: Crowding in the ruck, Luca Moretti making Viliame Kikau a bit cranky there.
PENALTY FIJI: Italians ruled to be offside... disappointing to see the same issues as last week!
Great catch in the slips by Sunia Turuva, could've taught the Aussies a thing or two there.
Great job from the Italian defence. They were a bit more aggressive there and forced a tackle on the last! Great work!
Italy finally get the football here. Let's see if they can go set for set here in the next few sets.
Wakeham's conversion is successful and Fiji are shooting out of the blocks here.
Penioni Tagituimua catches the Italians asleep out of dummy half and this has the potential to get very very ugly here.
Maizen takes it well but runs into the edge of Kevin Naiqama and Vuate Karawalevu. The Roosters duo take him over the sideline.
Conversion successful. Fiji go BANG BANG.
From the poor pass from Dean Parata, it was scooped up by Kevin Naiqama who races away to score Fiji's second of the contest.
Poor pass from Parata...
Wakeman's kick wasn't the best. Ryan King works hard from marker to put the pressure on. Vuate Karawalevu would've needed to be Houdini to real that one in.
Fiji convert their set after points with relative ease.
Wakeman's first attempt is successful. Fiji 6 - Italy 0.
Kikau crashes over. Fiji get the first one of the afternoon in Newcastle.
VIDEO REF: Smith has a try, confirming it was momentum that took Viliame Kikau into the in-goal.
Wakeman's bomb was lost in the sun by Luke Poiselli. Fiji once again imposing themselves in Italy's end.
Great kick from Jack Campagnolo. Big challenge for Leo Epifania's side to stay disciplined.
Good chance again for Fiji. But, Korbin Sims was held-up over the line. Another pass for the Azzuri defence. Turuva looking very dangerous!
SIX AGAIN FIJI: Ruck infringement by Ryan King
Lepori is picked up and dumped by Maika Sivo. Fiji were aggressive in defence and were nearly made to pay for it.
SIX AGAIN ITALY: Hand on ball by Maika Sivo.
Kikau's grubber kick was allowed to go dead by Luke Poiselli and Italy survive once again. Their defence was their strongest asset last start!
Brown tried to offload it and loses it in good possession, the ball scooped by King Vuniyayawa.
Change-over on the strong opening set from Fiji. Good kick from Brandon Wakeham which was taken by Vuate Karawalevu but he was unable to find the line. Italy working it away.
OFF WE GO! Jack Smith blows time on and we're underway in this critical Group B clash between Fiji and Italy. Fiji will receive the first use of the football here.
Before kick-off, we'll hear the Fijian hymn 'Noqu Masu' as part of pre-match proceedings.
The match referee for this Pool B clash is Jack Smith, Smith was shot while serving in the UK army in 2010 and has been a full-time official from 2016-17 but reverted to being part-time for the last four years before returning to the full-time squad in 2022. Our touch judges are Darian Furner (from the NRL) and James Vella (from the Super League) and Tom Grant (from SL) is our video referee.
Some changes for the Bati ahead of this match. Mitieli Vulikijapani is out, the new man on the wing is debutant Vuate Karawalevu. Api Koroisau is playing at 5/8 with Tagituimua shifting to hooker. Raiwalui moves to the bench and Masima is the reserve. For the Italians, Ronnie Polumbo is again omitted from the lineup. Jack Colovatti is the new man on the bench. Kyle Pickering is the reserve.
League Unlimited’s coverage of the Rugby League World Cup continues with Group B action between Fiji and Italy coming to you from Kingston Park, Newcastle. Fiji comes into this clash following a last-start defeat to Australia, while Italy was the shock winner over Scotland. Both sides will be primed for this one, especially the Fijian side who know that they enter must-win territory after Italy’s strong victory against Scotland last up. The Azzuri know that they are 80 minutes away from a surprise knock-out appearance and will be primed to put on their best performance today.
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Jack Smith
Touch Judges: Darian Furner, James Vella
Video Referee: Tom Grant
FIJI MEN (60)
Tries: Viliame Kikau (2), Kevin Naiqama, Penioni Tagituimua (2), Apisai Koroisau, Ben Nakubuwai, Maika Sivo (2), Taniela Sadrugu
Conversions: Brandon Wakeham (7/7), Apisai Koroisau (2/2), Henry Raiwalui (1/1)
ITALY MEN (4)
Tries: Jake Maizen
Conversions: Jack Campagnolo (0/1)