14 Aug 2011

Fiji beat Tonga in World Cup warm-up

8:25 am on 14 August 2011

Fiji scored three first-half tries as they beat neighbours Tonga 27-12 in a Rugby World Cup warm-up at Lautoka on Saturday.

Winger Vereniki Goneva, lock Rupeni Nasiga and fullback Kini Murimurivalu all scored tries at Churchill Park as Fiji avenged last month's 45-21 loss to Tonga in the Pacific Nations Cup.

Fijian centre Seremaia Bai added 12 points via the boot for the hosts, who are grouped with South Africa, Wales, Samoa and Namibia in Pool D for next month's World Cup.

Fiji led 21-5 at half-time but fullback Viliami Iongi claimed his second try early in the second half for the visitors, who enjoyed more possession and territory as the game wore on but could not close the gap further.

Tonga will open the World Cup against hosts New Zealand on September 9th in Auckland before facing Canada, France and Japan in Pool A.