Oh the agony! American fly-half Mike Hercus will have nightmares about last-gasp conversion attempt at the Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, a kick which sailed wide of the uprights and handed Fiji a 19-18 win over the Eagles in their Pool B match at Rugby World Cup 2003.
Hercus, who had a shocking game, had one last chance to atone for his earlier clangers. He lined up a conversion attempt from wide out, just after flanker Kort Schubert had scored a try to narrow the gap to 19-18 in an intense and entertaining encounter.
But it was clearly not going to be Hercus' day and you could see the agony on his face as he watched the kick drift wide and the realisation began to sink in that he had cost his team the match.
Maybe that is a bit tough on the 24-year-old fly-half from Long Beach in California, but that kick also ensured the Eagles now have the dubious record of the longest losing streak in RWC history -- their only victory in this tournament coming in their debut match, ironically also in Brisbane, against Japan on May 24, 1987.
That aside, the Eagles and Fiji produced 80 minutes of entertaining and exciting rugby, with the final scoreline a relative reflection of the strength of the two teams.
Fiji, who recorded their first win at RWC 2003 on Wednesday, seemed almost obsessed with playing a Sevens-style game and it cost them dearly in the first half. It allowed the Eagles to put the squeeze on, with a lot less space available than what they are accustomed to, and also saw the Eagles take a 6-3 lead into the break.
Captain Alifereti Doviverata admitted his team were their own worst enemies in the first half, saying afterwards: "We simply turned over too much ball."
But after the break they turned it all around and playing a more structured game they managed to overcome the early second-half try they conceded -- which pushed the score out to 13-3.
Working hard at the breakdown and then using their pace out wide, they started to break down the rigid American defensive line and eventually build up a 19-13 lead.
But then came that injury-time try, by Schubert, and Hercus' missed conversion -- which added a fitting end to the excitement and drama of the preceding 80 minutes.
American captain David Hodges admitted that his team failed to build on the sound platform they laid in the first half and allowed the Fijians to get their hands on too much ball.
In the end, the Pacific Islanders enjoyed about 60 percent of the possession stakes.
Man of the match: The American flankers, Kort Schubert and Dave Hodges were brilliant on defence and helped turn over a lot of ball, also producing high work-rate. Scrum-half Kevin Dalzell also showed his experience behind that big American pack. For Fiji winger Vilimoni Delasau stepped brilliantly all night and continuously caused problems for the American backs. But in the end out vote goes to Fijian fly-half Nicky Little, who produced a 100 percent kicking record -- which in the end won his team the match. He also had a sound all-round game.
Moment of the match: The Fijians struggled to cope with the tight American defence and their Sevens-style approach did not get the desired result. But there was a delightful moment when lock Api Naevo scored their only try in the 55th minute -- a classic example of how dangerous they can be when allowed time and space in which to counter-attack from.
Villain of the match: Eagles fly-half Mike Hercus stands out head and shoulders above the rest in this department with his shocking kicking display. Not just did he fail to find touch from several penalties, which handed the ball to the Fijians, but a number of his other kicks went directly into touch when they should not have. And, of course, we all know what happened at the end ...
The Teams:
Fiji: 1 Naka Seru, 2 Greg Smith, 3 Joeli Veitayaki, 4 Apenisa Naevo, 5 Ifereimi Rawaqa, 6 Alfi Mocelutu Vuivau, 7 Koli Sewabu, 8 Alifereti Doviverata (c), 9 Mosese Rauluni, 10 Nicky Little, 11 Vilimoni Delasau, 12 Seru Rabeni, 13 Aisea Tuilevu, 14 Marika Vunibaka, 15 Alfie Uluinayau
Reserves: Vula Maimuri, Sisa Koyamaibole, Richard Nyholt
Unused: Waisale Serevi, Bill Gadolo, Norman Ligairi, Epeli Ruivadra
United States: 1 Dan Dorsey, 2 Kirk Khasigian, 3 Mike MacDonald, 4 Luke Gross, 5 Alec Parker, 6 Dave Hodges (c), 7 Kort Schubert, 8 Dan Lyle, 9 Kevin Dalzell, 10 Mike Hercus, 11 David Fee, 12 Kain Cross, 13 Phillip Eloff, 14 Riaan Van Zyl, 15 Paul Emerick
Reserves: John Buchholz, Salesi Sika
Unused: Gerhard Klerck, Jurie Gouws, Kimball Kjar, John Tarpoff, Matt Wyatt
Attendance: 30990
Referee: Jutge j.
Points Scorers:
Fiji
Tries: Naevo A. 1
Conv: Little N.T. 1
Pen K.: Little N.T. 4
United States
Tries: Van Zyl R. 1, Schubert K.S. 1
Conv: Hercus M. 1
Pen K.: Hercus M. 2
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