3 crazy minutes for Fijian rugby

Trailing South Africa 20-6 and are down to 14 men with centre Seru Rabeni in the sin bin, Fiji look like falling to a large defeat during the Rugby World Cup quarter final in October 2007 at the Stade Vélodrome in Marseille.
However from out of nowhere Fiji launch an extraordinary attacking wave urged on by the crowd and in 3 minutes score 2 converted tries to level the scores after an hour's play. First wing Vilimoni Delasau chipped ahead to score a 50 metre individual effort. Then right from the restart fly half Seremaia Bai, full back Norman Ligairi, scrum half Moses Rauluni surge downfield with breaks and wing Sireli Bobo has enough momentum to finish.
Fly half Nicky Little who was badly injured at the end of the previous match against Wales and is serving as a pitchside pundit can barely gets any words out of his mouth afterwards.

[@patrickfarrell5092]

Love the Fijian style of rugby, greetings from Ireland 🇮🇪 💚

[@petergreen5337]

Absolutely true, agreed 100%

[@kalusicirikiwai7053]

I love yours mate to Ireland and the plays lovely to watch magic rugby

[@patrickfarrell5092]

@@kalusicirikiwai7053 thank you 🙏 We're proud of the lads and management of our seniors and under 20s. Tough draw in the world cup but sure they'll take it one game at a time. Best of luck to Fiji, looking forward to seeing them play 👏👏

[@georgefrederikoosthuizen891]

As a sbok supporter that day i was nearly dead bec off heartattack and fg was brilliant, all credit to fg👌

[@saffaadventures365]

me too mate haha

[@marcusantonius4121]

How can anyone dislike Fijian rugby?

[@elliotsampson7587]

Flying Fijians

[@nicolasaujogue4095]

I was in the stadium with my dad that day... arguably one of the craziest games I attended to :)

[@fijianwiz4001]

Wow...im Fijian. How was the atmosphere in the stands..Must have great

[@edwardsharmanprasad2334]

What a heart touching tries from Fiji which gives so much happiness for my country. I love my country. Fiji Fiji Fiji..

[@petergreen5337]

True words.

[@cringycook9597]

New Zealand and Fiji are always top of my list for breathtaking rugby 🏉 😀

[@petergreen5337]

Agreed

[@Simon.e364]

Always Fiji , and sometimes France

[@TemazepamParty]

I was there that day, having bought tickets in anticipation of watching Wales play SA, not Fiji. (I also went to the Wales Fiji game the week before, which was an equally magnificent game of rugby). When Fiji scored these two tries, we genuinely thought that they could win. Fair play then to South Africa for closing the game out really well, and keeping this extraordinary Fijian team at arms length for the last twenty minutes. Very easy to speculate now, but I wonder how far Fiji might have gone in the tournament if they’d picked Rupeni Caucaunibuca in their squad...

[@ashashroff1700]

I have played VII aside and V aside with Fijians. Man when the ball is given, you run for your life till Kingdom come.

[@J2N9D]

These 3 minutes are so crazy that they’re over 6 minutes long

[@donaldtrump2107]

😂😂😂

[@AhTu1306]

😅

[@dansmith4601]

I guess it's three mins of play

[@keithmills778]

Three minutes of play. The clock stopped after each try while the play was reviewed.

[@stuartreiss5209]

Clock stops mate when try scored

[@hatebreedsdeath5767]

The most gutsy Fijian team ever in Rugby history

[@stevethea5250]

RIP LOMU

[@francois9747]

@@stevethea5250 Lomu was Tongan, not Fijian lol

[@shannonluciano]

for real, the 2019 Team was the most stacked but the players didnt care for shit about playing

[@vetaiapettitt9749]

They didn’t win what makes it gutsy. Back in the days Fiji team use to best big teams

[@amenatavetuilevuka1015]

So true....😍

[@banterclaus7827]

Man, Fiji style rugby is so great to watch. It's so sad that their game has changed to a "normal" rugby style

[@Mathuna1]

Well they kinda had to cos their Fijian style of rugby,while very entertaining,it was also limiting.

[@leighfoulkes7297]

The Ref is like "take your time on the replay, I need a breather".

[@vilitativasuca4208]

Leigh Foulkes nope the ref is like...I don't wanna award this try cause this team the reason why my home country ain't playing in this match....typical referee being biased as always.. can't expect much since they're always so threatened by Fiji..I mean come on did anyone watch the 2015 world cup???

[@utikonabunobuno3537]

....hahahahahahaha.....

[@donaldtrump2107]

Hahahahaha

[@stevethea5250]

@@vilitativasuca4208 what's ref country

[@juniorsewbs7593]

@@vilitativasuca4208 its not the ref its the tmo

[@kealohiikea1490]

BULAH FIJIANS! LOVE FROM PALAU🇵🇼

[@WildlifeObsessed]

This popped-up on my KZbin suggestions List, and as a rugby lover, I watched it. What a simply fabulous display of all that is good about heads-up rugby. Then it dawned on me.. I know why what happened next, proved so easy to predict. I was there .... A lucky SOB - I agree !

[@marcusflynt810]

like nicky little said, this is fiji style.. they always run with the ball from anywhere on the field. now theyre adopting the overseas style of play like kicking the ball away one too many times.. cmon fiji stick to your way of playing.. support from Ireland.. BOOLAH!!

[@tgay9594]

wow nicky little teaches me rugby

[@letitburnforever2122]

so true

[@tv2671]

Isa Radiriki he said Bula with Gaelic accent

[@johnwaqalevu9802]

Isa Radriki BOCI 😂

[@buladude679]

Marcus indeed

[@ewaf88]

I was there - what a match. The SA fans - unlike the Aussies - were friendly and we had a good beer and laugh with them after the match.

[@kunalnagarkoti4409]

Australians are worst

[@etikalabalureddy4755]

They are worst of all

[@dulajohnstone5704]

The worst you can get😂

[@marksheehan8026]

@@kunalnagarkoti4409 not until you deal with new Zealanders. . The ole passive aggressive folk. .

[@russoswerve7856]

Mate you don’t know the Australians they’re the best of the bunch and accept everyone especially the islanders

[@ilimelekitukai6715]

This is the best and balanced fiji team to any world cup....they put their body on the line everytime they play at this world cup....vinaka boys and hope for the best

[@martinbuckley1165]

Excellent Will Greenwood commentary

[@mojee685]

what a game from the Flying Fijians always an entertainment to the crowd

[@brucetree8284]

The best world Cup to date. Fiji was my team of the tournament, had a lot of unknowns in their squad roster. But they put their hand-up and showed the rugby world what they are capable of doing. Samoa did this in 2011, just goes to show what these Pacific Island nations can do with the right preparation.

[@JV-mz6mx]

+Bruce Tree Unfortunately the system is built to stop any progression ever happening with the island teams, Australia and NZ literally hours apart on travel but never seem to play each other. It's all money

[@morganjohnson4535]

+Farah Fawcett Are you referring to how the teams are set in the pools or just in general rugby?

[@emiliobonica-king797]

+Morgan Johnson General rugby as a whole

[@robertduncanmuir]

Samoa did it in '91 too!!

[@soaniraikadroka78]

Bruce Tree difference eds

[@BennettIsAmazing]

2021 and still coming back to this

[@wardis8303]

I love the Fijians, so entertaining 👍👍

[@donaldtrump2107]

Thanks

[@cnoc500]

That's the rugby I want to watch, not a scrum fest or boring maul after maul.

[@randodrick7247]

Being 1 man and 14 points down then just casually scoring 2 beautiful tries like it's nothing might just be the most 2007 Fiji thing possible

[@i-3307]

Fiji is the future of Rugby League & Union!

[@loisperrin8986]

I was there ! It was amazing ! Everybody support fidji on the game !

[@hesgotamotor8288]

I got fended off by api naevo once they did a switch play and he fended me off from like two meters away

[@chillian1985]

i remember watching this game and when fiji tied the game at 20 20 everyone in the house went nuts!!! hahahaha

[@farknfreakn9316]

Poetry. I love watching the springboks on the back foot . Pretty to watch

[@Morrigan070671]

Never, EVER count Fiji out. There’s no one better at running rugby.

[@brianneale2006]

Good for the Fijians as they know how to play entertaining rugby as they did then

[@sonofagreatsouthernland]

Fijians big hearts shine thru in their love for life and rugby 😁😁👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@donaldtrump2107]

Commentator: that was absolutely manufactured from nothing.. *that's what you call natural flair mate*

[@EllliotJackRussel1]

Man it's Will Greenwood RWC winner with England, he knows his business.

[@Vinnie3006]

Fiji - Best Rugby Team in the World! Go Fiji!🏃‍♀️👏👏👏🏃‍♂️

[@davenakali1716]

still remember when this game was played...a lot of energy flowed around those watching the game at home....

[@daninaidu]

Fiji RUgby Union should show this to the boys before they leave for England!

[@olivernaqura9530]

no Fiji Team have beaten the outstanding performance of the 2007 rugby world cup Fiji Team from then till now still no team have reached the quarter final like the way they did... this is Fijian rugby at its best

[@alistairthompson8311]

What d'you think now, considering the sevens?

[@olivernaqura9530]

I second you Alistair.. Totally agree with you, no Fiji team has ever beaten the 2007 world Cup team

[@utikonabunobuno3537]

Alistair Thompson they're good, but not very good...

[@mohammedalfaz4098]

1987 team reached quarterfinals also

[@kvtee8372]

@@utikonabunobuno3537 no rugby

[@llesu72]

This was the best Fiji team to date.. The one that is coming is better. Pool of death indeed

[@joshoconnor1871]

I’m still trying to work out if that’s really Nigel Owens. Anyway Fiji had some seriously underrated players like Delasau and Bai

[@EllliotJackRussel1]

Nigel Owens? Where? Nah.

[@paulbradford8240]

Wasn't Nigel Owens the video referee?

[@huw3851]

@@paulbradford8240 Yes. Alan Lewis was the referee we were seeing.

[@isitwasit8756]

Once Fiji are on in the mood and on a roll they can be devastating with sublime pace power and skill

[@jefffiji624]

I still get goosebumps every time I watch this....

[@UzTheMan]

8 minutes of that 3 minutes is Nigel Owens checking TMO

[@joeysfather2723]

1:16 Fijian Princess 😘😍🇫🇯

[@donallally4892]

Great stuff FIGI

[@donallally4892]

Well it's a great shame and a disgrace on New Zealand and Australia and also the wider Rugby World, that Samoa, Tonga and FIGI and others don't get a fair deal, or a better deal, or a better or more equal share of the spoils, and that has to change

[@chillian1985]

The best Fiji 15s team

[@fijianwiz4001]

I watched this game in a big tent on a rugby ground. 5 villagers all cramped in to watch. When the 1st try got scored, all the young men , we ran around the rugby ground. We came back just to time the conversion. Than the second try. I got bitten by a dog during the whole commosion. I didnt care, it didnt hurt. I was so pumped in adrenaline. Good luck to the Fiji team 2023. I know they can do the same or even better.

[@Mr300millz]

Nicky Little in tears is what I love about this game

[@matelitatuicakau7981]

Watching from year 2023..Fiji is through to the quarters

[@davsavchav]

Delasau was an awesome winger in this tournament

[@joshoconnor1871]

DavSav93 The thing about Delasau is he didn’t really shine at club level but in Internationals he always went up a few notches

[@dangriff12]

Fiji should've told the guy off the field not to come back on.

[@solomonetuinasau6843]

Live commonwealth games 7 aside rugby

[@donaldtrump2107]

Hahahaha

[@xlide31]

I wish I could be in the stadium this day.

[@FacelessFleetAdmiral]

all that happened while begin a man down...

[@brokristian]

And Fiji bombed 2 tries after this!

[@tractoriste53]

This is what rugby is!

[@banjopete]

tractoriste53 , that’s what sevens is.

[@zachariasemet2433]

Crazy that South Africa will eventually win the 2007 RWC.

[@Charlie-uz8vb]

16 years later Fiji score 14 points in a couple minutes against England in the RWC Quarterfinal to tie the game.

[@keithallardice6139]

Play 7's in a 15's match - that's Fiji, that's how it's done!!

[@cuchulainn8529]

Everybody loves the plucky underdogs sticking it to one of the best in rugby :)

[@charliewiggin3018]

omg the tmos were awfull in that match the amount of time it took them

[@urnangaey7239]

you say that but look at Nigel Owens now

[@nocturnalrainbows6167]

That linesman has some serious pace hahaha

[@11viya]

hahaha I love this commentator. Talking like a proper rugby fan!

[@abdulbuksh6860]

Hope n glory...FOR FIJI..EVER FIJI...

[@siwooot]

After that Rawaqa nearly scored a try, they went to the video ref but he was just held up. I think if fiji scored that they would have won the game

[@ratujayravodre7733]

***** true

[@mataicakau237]

It was the turning point. I just wished Rawaqa had changed his ball carrying hand.

[@richwalker8898]

What as brilliantly crazy World Cup that was!

[@_c3a3m_88]

Wow rugby is truly an amazing sport here in the USA we have ice hockey and American football but this, this is just amazing it is a combination of soccer (futbol) and American football it is amazing

[@keyboardemperor3540]

American Football actually derives from Rugby

[@eronicakacaka2289]

Imagine if Rawaqa scored that try

[@seranorademeyer9087]

South Africa won that match and the world cup 🎉

[@SPEED-si4xy]

fiji does that with whats available after players are lured by clubs and other nations and with a little choice of players, what if these island nations who feed players all over the world were like new zealand, rugby is played with power and pace and the islanders are born with it

[@samvad6638]

RIP Filimoni Delasau... incredible try

[@Deontjie]

Did that small guy handed of Schalk Burger?

[@joshoconnor1871]

Deon Van der Westhuizen I think Burger is use to tackling much bigger players he couldn’t adjust in time lol

[@MarkWhippy]

They said the first try was manufactured from nothing, but you can see at 0:35 they had a two man overlap. No wonder Montgomery was arguing with Fourie after the try, they had a man advantage yet somehow Fiji created a two man overlap. Montgomery had to come up which left them exposed with no fullback, which is why Delasau chipped ahead knowing there was no one back there. So not really as flukish as it first seemed. It was smart rugby.

[@James-st9uu]

How many times does the tmo need to check. Slowed down Fijian momentum

[@sillycybo]

This was the most 6minutes 52 seconds feeling 3minutes of my life

[@alikabalan4585]

The referee looks like Jeremy from river monsters

[@michaelparks7177]

Great rugby. Shoulda shown the end...

[@felipegonzalez342]

I’m from Fiji aye

[@tiadunn3836]

Isa Seru Rabeni..RIP

[@Shennyqua]

Basically 2 sevens teams 😂

[@juniornaruma1093]

Hahaha yeah true wait who won that world cup though? Wait it was Africa lmao yeah sevens Team ay

[@juniornaruma1093]

I don't know where your from but I'm pretty sure that every rugby country has a sevens team

[@siwooot]

The joke was fiji were down to 14 men and the South African captain said after it's like they had two sevens teams when they had 14 men

[@Shennyqua]

He's a bit slow

[@utikonabunobuno3537]

Jacks Johnson yeah..true....the commentator even said that....

[@BigsharcSAHGNAH]

Fan-taki o Burger...sa jinaaaa!!!

[@sarelras4103]

That weekend three world champion sides nearly got dumped

[@SereanaVimosoi0402]

Nice discription

[@plan.b3360]

👑🔥 SEVENs KiiNGZ 🔥👑 ♧FIJI♧

[@MKRM27]

Oh, Nigel Owens was the TMO? Explains why decision took so long. He had to check his name had been said on TV

[@mental_liar5819]

1:00 My man is using Binoculars 😂😮

[@orentheoreo]

Back when rugby was good to watch

[@pattie5532]

Best team ever

[@jackward9901]

You arent a true rugby fan if Fiji aren't your second team

[@khalidahemad3644]

Mine Is first....

[@Shola-tg6lv]

Or Japan

[@mosesmcgoon8198]

If the fiji team was still like this...

[@esavavuira7153]

The best Fijian Rugby side that played in the World Cup.I think that Fiji could have won that game if Rabeni would have not drop the ball and if Ifereimi Rawaqa feet were still in the field of play.

[@adivuniseicaba1332]

P

[@NuisanceMan]

Great Fiji comeback to quickly erase a 14-point lead. Unfortunately, they ended up losing by 17.

[@Smokiejoe679]

We don’t play structured rugby We play Fiji Style 🤗

[@sergenteschia4757]

Mother, why i'm not fijian ?

[@31stCenturySamoan]

Great!

[@francoisvanaardt1721]

The 2007 world cup commentators sounds like 5 guys watching the game on their couch

[@ashashroff1700]

Never Ever Underestimate Islanders.

[@markwillies4330]

I thawt this "3" minutes was going to include the nearly Fijian try when their winger was stopped by a great tackle by the SA wing JP Petersen. Over the line. I think that would have made it 25-20 to Fiji with a difficult conversion from the touchline.There were about 18 min left. Hoo knows what would happened. Stressful period for SA supporters back home.

[@owenchapman971]

What was the final result?

[@archiemoore9221]

that was Fiji's game...they should have won...

[@eugenemcgovern9703]

How did it end up

[@jameswittman6452]

Wow

[@GoldenbanjoDJ]

Team tactic. Give it to Delasau