Historic! Lions M20 beat Fiji 24-19 to stay in world elite – Royal Spanish Rugby Federation – FERugby
Silent. That’s how. Spain National Rugby Team XV M20 in his last game World ChampionshipThose of Ricardo Martinen they were playing Consistency among the world’s top 12 teams against Fijiand in their first year of participation in this tournament they managed to surpass the oceanic 24-19 and stay at the highest levelIn a match that had it all, including a comeback and two extra halves to decide who took the golden point, Los Leones showed once again that they have plenty of guts, rugby and courage to remain in the world’s top 12 after signing for promotion just a year ago.
The match started very evenly, with both teams trying to impose their game. Wind and rain returned to Cape Town and made the Lions’ early attempts difficult. After 31 minutes of a draw and each team having seen a yellow card, the speedy Fijian is third. Ronald Sharma He opened a can for his men, and a few minutes later his compatriot imitated him. Iowane Wakadriga to go up 14 points on the scoreboard. Just before the break, having managed to partially stop the chaos that the Pacific Ocean natives had brought to the match, Diego Gonzalez posed first for the Spaniardsthe result of a powerful touch strike, so Spain went into the break with the score 5-14..
The second half started in the same way as the first, with the Fiji players creating chaos and speed on the pitch, and the Spanish players struggling to stop their constant attacks. As a result, the second half arrived Sharmabut after a few minutes Spain respond with a penalty after a tough pick-n-go that their opponents could only stop them through constant violations.
There are only 7 points separating them on the scoreboard, and there are ten points left until the end, and the Oceanic team received another yellow and red card. for a dangerous tackle on Alberto Carmona, leaving the Spaniards with the advantage. Nicolas Moletione of the standouts in the Spanish ranks at this World Cup, managed to pose on the Fijian limestone line and Otamendi’s leg equalised at 19.Then came the most tense minutes of the match, with the Lions dominating possession and having several opportunities to rehearse or score to secure the win, but a strong wind forced them to play safe and look for a touch.
The horn sounded at Athlone Sports Stadium and the time of regulation has come to an endIt was time to play two 10-minute halves for the golden point, in other words, the first one to score won the game. Spain had a few clear-cut chances with three quarters remaining, but fatigue and a wet oval due to the weather conditions forced Los Leones into unforced errors.Fiji had several chances to kick from 50 metres out in the Spanish 22 but their shots missed the target.
We reached the second half of extra time and Spain were determined to win the match. With the numerical equality restored in the places, Lucien Richardis He took advantage of a 60-metre kick and fired a powerful shot 5 metres from the opposition’s attempt. And that’s where the Lions made history, along with a clinical maul that involved almost the entire team to push David Gallego to the try line and secure a historic 24-19 victory for Spain, which deserves to remain among the top 12 teams in the M20 category in the world.
DATA SHEET
SPAIN 24–19 FIJI
Final 11/12 place 2024 World Cup U20
19 July 2024, 12:00 // Athlone Sports Stadium, Cape Town, South Africa.
Judge: Federico VEDOVELLI
The Spanish national team line-up: 1. Alberto GOMEZ, 2. Diego GONZALEZ, 3. Hugo GONZALEZ, 4. Pablo GUIRAO, 5. Manex ARISETA (C), 6. Nicolas MOLETI, 7. Jokin ZOLETSI, 8. Valentino RIZZO, 9. Javier LOPEZ DE ARO, 10. Gonzalo OTAMENDI, 11. Hugo PICHARDI, 12. Iago FERNANDEZ, 13. Alberto CARMONA, 14. Julien BURGILLOS, 15. Lucien RICHARDIS.
Also playing: 16. David GALLEGO, 17. Pau MASSONI, 18. Aniol FRANCH, 19. Antonio GAMEZ, 20. Nico INFER, 21. Unax ZURIARRAIN, 22. Gabriel ROCARIS, 23. Martin SERRANO.
Fiji’s composition: 1. Mataiasi TUISIRELI, 2. Moses ARMSTRONG-RAVULA, 3. Luke NASAU, 4. Nalani MAY (C), 5. Malakai MASI, 6. Ratu NEMAKI, 7. Ronald SHARMA, 8. Simon KOROYADI, 9. Samuela LEDOIS, 10. Rati Isikeli RABITOU, 11. Waisake SALABIAU, 12. Ponipate TUBERI, 13. Benjamin NAIVALU, 14. Aisea NAVAI, 15. Isikeli BASIYALO.
Also playing: 16. Ayowane WAKADRIGI, 17. Anare KAGINAVANUA, 18. Breyton LEGGE, 19. Iliesa ERENAVULA, 20. Josua GONEVAI, 21. Pauliasi KOROBIAU, 22. Jozewa UBITAU, 23. Awakuki NYUSALELEKITOGA.
Marker: Min 3 yellow card Julien BURGUILLOS (14 ESP) // Min 26 yellow card Moses ARMSTRONG-RAVULA (2 FIY) // Min 31 Rehearsal of Ronald CHARM (7 FIY) and transformation of Isikeli BASIALO (15 FIY) 0-7 // Min 36 Rehearsal of Ayovane VAKADRIGI (16 FIY) and transformation of Isikeli BASIALO (15 FIY) 0–14// Min. 38 Diego GONZALEZ rehearsal (2 ESP) 5-14 // Min 51 Ronald SHARMA rehearsal (7 FIY) 5-19 // Min 55 Penalty test Spain 12-19 // Min 67 Yellow card Ratu NEMAKI (6 FIY) // Min 68 red card to Vaisake SALABIAU (11 FIY) // Min 70 Test by Nicolas MOLETI (6 ESP) and transformation of Gonzalo OTAMENDI 19-19 // Min 82 (extra time – golden point) yellow card to Isikeli BASIYALO (15 FIY) // Min 94 (extra time – golden point) Rehearsal by David GALLEGO 24-19.
