Falcons on tour: International round up
It was another busy weekend for Falcons on international duty, with six players taking to the field as part of their country’s test match efforts in four separate fixtures.
Tevita Cavubati, Vereniki Goneva, Nili Latu Evan Olmstead, Tane Takulua, DTH Van der Merwe and Mark Wilson were the players in action, with the Fijians and Englishman on the winning sides.
Starting on Friday, Takulua scored all of Tonga’s points in a 6-24 reverse at the hands of Wales, in a much tighter match than the score-line would suggest.
Only eight points separated the two sides with four minutes remaining, before Wales were able to put some breathing space into the score thanks to a penalty and penalty try in the final two minutes.
On Saturday, summer signing Cavubati and player of the season Goneva were both heavily involved as Fiji escaped with a last minute win over Italy.
Winger Goneva was at his poaching best to score an intercept try early in the second half to give his side a 19-9 lead, but it took an at the death drop goal from Ben Volavola to take a 22-19 win after a tenacious fight back from the Azzuri.
After earning his first cap for England a week earlier, Mark Wilson was included for the second test against Argentina in Santa Fe as Eddie Jones’ side secured a 2-0 series win and inflict a first ever defeat on the Pumas at Estadio Brigadier Estanislao López.
Coming on from the bench for the final 20 minutes, Wilson was instantly involved in with a number of committed tackles before making his key contribution with four minutes remaining, as he combined with Matt Mullan to put in a try saving tackle that preserved a hard earned 10 point lead into the game’s final moments.
Up in Edmonton, Evan Olmstead and DTH Van der Merwe both started for Canada in 9-25 loss to Romania in the second match of the Oaks summer tour.
