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Uruguay pulled off the first shock of the Rugby World Cup with a stunning 30-27 victory over Fiji.<\/p>\nUruguay pulled off the first shock of the Rugby World Cup with a stunning 30-27 victory over Fiji.<\/p>\n
The South American minnows, who were playing their first game of the tournament, condemned the Pacific Islanders to their second defeat in five days to leave their Pool D qualification hopes in tatters.<\/p>\n
Uruguay\u2019s thrilling upset was a fitting way to mark the opening of the new Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium, which was built as a reminder to the people of the coastal fishing town which was almost wiped off the map by the earthquake and tsunami of 2011.<\/p>\n
Prince Akishino, brother of the Japanese Emperor Naruhito, was in the 16,000-seater stadium to witness Uruguay\u2019s first World Cup win since 2003.<\/p>\n
Uruguay scored only two tries in the whole of the 2015 World Cup but they had three by half-time in Kamaishi as they put the wretched Fijians to the sword.<\/p>\n
Coach John McKee opted to field just three players from Fiji\u2019s opening game against the Wallabies but there was little hint of the drama to come when hooker Mesulame Dolokoto opened the scoring with an eighth-minute try.<\/p>\n
A breakaway score from scrum-half Santiago Arata in the 13th minute shook the Pacific Islanders but loosehead prop Eroni Mawi restored their lead when he forced his way over for his first Test try and Josh Matavesi\u2019s conversion made it 12-7.<\/p>\n
However, Fiji continued to come up with errors and were punished in ruthless fashion by their enthusiastic and energetic opponents.<\/p>\n
Midway through the first half number eight Manuel Diana rumbled over for a try from a line-out and four minutes later center Juan Manuel Cat finished off a sweetly-worked move among the outside backs.<\/p>\n
Felipe Berchesi kicked his third conversion and added a penalty three minutes before half-time to stretch the South Americans\u2019 lead to 24-12.<\/p>\n
Fiji led 21-12 against Australia only to lose 39-21, conceding 27 unanswered points, and had high hopes of turning the tables in similar fashion in the second half.<\/p>\n
But the wayward Matavesi was wide with a penalty early in the second half and, although second row Api Ratuniyarawa burst through for a try to give them renewed hope, Uruguay grew stronger.<\/p>\n
A Berchesi penalty took their lead to 27-17 to equal their previous highest World Cup score and edge them closer to the unthinkable.<\/p>\n
Replacement Nikola Matawalu peeled off a ruck to pull a try back after 66 minutes but Ben Volavola, who took over the goal kicking duties, missed the conversion to leave his side still trailing by five points.<\/p>\n
Another Berchesi penalty kept the scoreboard ticking over for the underdogs and, although Matawalu went over for his second try in injury time to secure a losing bonus point, it was scant consolation.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m really proud of my country, we\u2019re not the biggest, we\u2019re not the tallest but we came here to win,\u201d said emotional Uruguay captain Juan Manuel Gaminara afterwards, draped in the flag of his country.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been preparing for four years for this, I\u2019m really proud of my country. We never had anything granted, we always have to qualify. You saw the passion. I\u2019m really proud.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan I tell you a little secret? Yesterday I missed pretty much all my kicks so I had trouble sleeping,\u201d said a beaming Berchesi.<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t realized anything… It is still a dream and it is still sinking in.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCongratulations to them,\u201d said gracious Fiji coach John McKee, whose side beat Uruguay 68-7 last year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe guys made critical errors that gifted them tries. In the first half we turned the ball over too much on the edges but we really believed we could get back in the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got to get ourselves off the floor now and make sure we\u2019re ready to play Georgia in eight days times. That\u2019s a critical game for us.\u201d<\/p>\n