Nadolo stars on his return as Fiji thrill in six try victory

December 05, 2020
2256
Ultimate Rugby

Having missed their first three games of the Autumn Nations Cup due to a COVID-19 outbreak, Fiji came into their first and final test of 2020 with looking to entertain and entertain they did.

Nemani Nadolo started on his return to test rugby, having not played for Fiji since a 27-19 loss to Tonga on 23 June, 2018 having reversed his decision to retire from international rugby, and scored a wonderful hattrick. In doing so, Nadolo joined Vereniki Goneva as the top try scorer in Fiji's history with 22 tries.

Nadolo got on the board inside the first 2 minutes of the game as he stormed down the touchline cruising past Soso Matiashvili to dot down out wide.

Welcome back to test rugby @nemani_nadolo 👏

Nadolo scored his 20th try for @fijirugby just 72 seconds into his return from international retirement 🇫🇯#AutumnNationsCup #GEOvFIJ
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— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) December 5, 2020

The Pacific Islanders increased their lead soon after with Johnny Dyer scoring after a neat lineout set move took the Fijians just metres shy of the line. Dyer drove over as Fiji lead 12-0 after just seven minutes.

The Georgians stayed within touching distance for most of the game and got on the board in the 10th minute thanks to the boot of flyhalf Tedo Abzhandadze.

Josua Tuisova strolled over the line in the 17 minute after a nice flowing move from a Fijian lineout that saw winger have a free run to the line. Reserve tighthead prop Giorgi Melikidze powered over the line after an extended period of pressure inside the Fijian 22 after an array of driving mauls and penalties.

The try closed the gap to 10-19 at half time.

Fiji started brightly in the second half but it took 15 minutes to add to their tally and it was a special try as Josua Tuisova flattened a few Georgians with a fantastic carry and offload to set debutant Mesulame Kunavula to score.

THE BUS 🚍

That's some try assist from Josua Tuisova 😲#AutumnNationsCup #GEOvFIJ

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— Ultimate Rugby (@ultimaterugby) December 5, 2020

Nadolo grabbed his second before the hour mark as Ben Volavola stabbed a wonderful grubber kick through that the big winger needed to just dive on. The winger completed his hattrick shortly afterwards as he broke through the defence and ran over to score.

Beka Saghinadze stormed his way over the try line in the 68th minute to make it 17-36 and doubled up just before the final whistle to make it 24-38.