Fiji star rested for match against Tonga

NZ Juniors 35 Fiji 17

Fiji will be without sensational wing Rupeni Caucaunibuca for the Pacific Five Nations rugby match against Tonga in Gosford on Saturday.

Caucaunibuca was the star attraction and awed the crowd in Suva on Saturday when he marked his comeback to international duty with a brilliant try in Fiji's loss to the Junior All Blacks.

"Caucau has been given a week off and this is part of my plans to rotate players in this tournament," said Fijian coach Wayne Pivac.

"I pretty much know what Caucau can do and can't do and this gives me a chance to see other wingers in action. I'm building a squad for next year's World Cup."

There was much interest in Caucaunibuca, in his first match for his country since 2003 after Fijian officials lifted a 12-month ban imposed on the player last August for failing to attend a training camp.

The player's absence against Tonga will provide the opportunity for Japan-based wing Sekove Leawere to play.

Pivac is also awaiting word from England-based halfback Jacob Rauluni, who is playing for the Barbarians.

Junior All Blacks captain Corey Flynn said the team would "take the win, but it was bruising for us out there against the tough Fijians".

"Our passes stuck and those two turnovers [leading to tries to Josh Blackie and Cameron McIntyre] really turned the game."

Fijian captain Simon Raiwalui rued his team's inability to secure quality possession.

"We didn't have good quality ball and had to defend hard, but we failed in patches where the Junior All Blacks took control," he said.

"We played against the best team in the competition and we always knew it'd be tough for us.

"I'm disappointed with the result but we'll take the positives from this match - like good scrimmaging and patches of good defence - into our next game against Tonga."

The Juniors' next match in the series is against Samoa at Albany on Friday night.

The series involves the Junior All Blacks, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and Japan.

- NZPA