Flying Fijians cop record 5 yellow cards in loss to Italy

An ill-disciplined Flying Fijians set a new record at international level after being shown five yellow cards on their way to a 37-31 test defeat to Italy this morning.

Until this morning, Italy had shared that record on four yellow cards with Georgia and England.

Georgia had four men sin-binned in a 17-7 defeat to Uruguay in 2004, while England temporarily lost four players in a 32-6 defeat to New Zealand at Twickenham in 2008.

Fiji’s five cards mean they now top the table for the amount of yellow cards by one team in an international game.

Akapusi Qera, Asaeli Tikoirotuma, Sakiusa Matadigo and Nemani Nadolo were all sent to cool down for 10 minutes between the 20th and 28th minute of the match, allowing an unconvincing Italy to build a 20-5 half time lead.

Fiji produced an improved and certainly more disciplined performance in the second half when Sisa Koyamaibole was sent to the sin-bin.

Timoci Nagusa scored two tries for the Flying Fijians while Metuisela Talebula, Nemani Nadolo and Napolioni Nalaga grabbed a try each.

Former Suva Grammar School student Manoa Vosawai also scored for Italy as he came off the bench.

The Flying Fijians will now meet Romania in their third Northern tour match next weekend.

 

Looking at other test match results, the All Blacks remains unbeaten after beating England at home 30-22, Wales hammered Argentina 40-6, France beat Tonga 38 18, Japan thrashed Russia 40-13 and Australia beat Ireland 32-15.

Tomorrow South Africa plays Scotland at 4am.