Fiji scored the people’s try of the year despite World Rugby snub
Fiji may have left it just too late to make it onto the shortlist for men’s try of the year in 2021, but Waisea Nayacalevu’s second score against Wales on Sunday looks to be the people’s try of the year.
The Fijian centre dotted down in the corner of the Principality Stadium less that 24 hours before the shortlist for the World Rugby award was announced, and though he may have been too late, many people of Twitter have said that this was the true try of the year. That is understandable, as fullback Seta Tuicuvu saw a slight bit of space in the Welsh defence and launched an attack from his own 22 to produce one of the best tries the stadium has seen.
Take a look:
https://twitter.com/autumnnations/status/1459928041090654220?s=20
A slow motion version of the try has also been shared for good measure:
https://twitter.com/autumnnations/status/1459954204588531712?s=20
The actual shortlist for try of the year comprises tries by Lukhanyo Am (South Africa, v British and Irish Lions on 31 July), Pierre-Louis Barassi (France, v Australia on 17 July), Luke Jacobson (New Zealand, v Argentina on 12 September) and Damian Penaud (France, v Scotland on 26 March).
Fiji have actually done quite well in this year’s awards, with both Jiuta Wainiqolo and Napolioni Bolaca being nominated for World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year in association with HSBC, and Alowesi Nakoci and Reapi Ulunisau both being nominated for World Rugby Women’s Sevens Player of the Year in association with HSBC.
Fiji ultimately came up short against Wales on Sunday, although the 38-23 scoreline flatters the hosts as they pulled away in the final ten minutes. Before then, Fiji had led for much of the game despite being down to 13 men at some stages.
They will hope to put that loss behind them this Saturday when they take on Georgia at the Estadio El Deleite in Madrid.
