Game 3 - Fiji v Namibia - Rotorua International Stadium - 10 September 2011

The weather across the country has come to the party and again we are enjoying picture perfect conditions for Game 3 in Rotovegas.

I am Fijian, in that I was born there to New Zealand parents. Suffice to say I hope they do very well whenever they play rugby, even when they play the All Blacks. It is a shame that a great rugby nation is playing in this tournament under a political cloud.

I know little of Namibia except that it is birthplace to the captain of the International All Star silly name XV Percy Montgomery. Megan is surprised that there are very few African faces in the Namibian team. I'm fully expecting the Pacific nation to blow the Africans off the Rotorua park.

An early Fijian try confirms my belief that their backline will be too much of a handful for their counterparts. But then after 170 minutes of football in this tournament Namibian first five Theuns Kotze scores the first drop goal, and 2 minutes later adds a second. His third drop goal is slotted 15 minutes into the game. Kotze is controlling the game like any of the great first fives of yore. Like a Fox, Lynagh or a Porta.

We soon realise we are in a battle between the good and evil of rugby. The expansive 15 man game vs the territorial dominance of the 10 man game. But the power, pace and passion of the Fijians can not be contained by the smaller African side, and before long to the joy of the crowd, the Fiji team overwhelm Namibia.

Fiji's fourth try secured a bonus point a gnat's whisker before half time to head to the break 32-15 ahead. Right winger Vereneki Goneva had also bagged the tournament's first hat trick inside 40 minutes. With Namibia's points coming only 3 at a time the game looks likely to be closed out baring a miracle.

The turning point of the game comes with the second half. Namibia realising they can't get back into the game 3 points at a time, throw caution and the ten man game to the wind. The half is full of glorious rugby as Fiji weather the storm of a Namibian fightback. Four fabulous tries are scored in the half... two apiece. Goneva bags a four-fer and the man of the match.

With 3 games played in the tournament we've already seen 21 tries. Most of them glorious. The next 6 weeks promise to be fabulous.

Final Score 49-25

3 games 21 tries

Tweet of the match- "What do you call four tries in a game? Quattrick?" @tonynewling