Fiji 27-30 Uruguay: Rugby World Cup match report, highlights and scorers

Fiji 27-30 Uruguay

Fiji try scorers: Dolokoto, Mawi, Ratuniyarawa, Matawalu (2)

Fiji conversations: Matavesi

Uruguay try scorers: Arata, Diana, Cat

Uruguay conversations: Berchesi (3)

Uruguay penalties: Berchesi (3)

Match highlights

Match report

The South American minnows took advantage of an out of sorts Fiji, who seem to have expected to just turn up and win, to lead 24-12 at the break thanks to tries from Santiago Arata, Manuel Diana and Juan Manuel Cat.

As expected the Pacific Islanders fought back in the second period as Apisalone Ratuniyarawa and Nikola Matawalu crossed, but Felipe Berchesi's third penalty of the game, his side's only points in the second half, was enough to keep Fiji at bay.

Fiji scored five tries to Uruguay's three, including their final try from Matawalu in injury time, but four missed conversations cost them dearly.

Uruguay's previous World Cup victories came against Spain in 1999 and Georgia in 2003, with the nation failing to qualify for the 2007 and 2011 tournaments. They failed to win a pool game in England in 2015

Uruguay's 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.

Prince Akishino, brother of the Japanese Emperor Naruhito, was in the 16,000-seater stadium to witness Uruguay's first World Cup win since 2003.

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.

Coach John McKee opted to field just three players from Fiji's 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.

A breakaway score from scrum-half 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's conversion made it 12-7.

However, Fiji continued to come up with errors and were punished in ruthless fashion by their enthusiastic and energetic opponents.

Midway through the first half number eight Manuel Diana rumbled over for a try from a line-out and four minutes later centre Juan Manuel Cat finished off a sweetly-worked move among the outside backs.

Felipe Berchesi kicked his third conversion and added a penalty three minutes before half-time to stretch the South Americans' lead to 24-12.

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.

But the wayward Matavesi was wide with a penalty early in the second half and, although second row Ratuniyarawa burst through for a try, to give them renewed hope, Uruguay grew stronger.

A Berchesi penalty took their lead to 27-17 to equal their previous highest World Cup score and edge them closer to the unthinkable.

Replacement Matawalu peeled off a ruck to pull a try back after 66 minutes but Ben Volavola, who took over the goalkicking duties, missed the conversion to leave his side still trailing by five points.

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.