The Spanish rugby team faced the world number 9, Fiji, this Saturday in a disputed match which thrilled the 17,000 supporters gathered at the José Zorrilla stadium in Valladolid with the match and transformed the stronghold of Valladolid into a celebration of rugby for a day.
Already before the start of the match, scheduled for 3:00 p.m., The surroundings of the stadium were filled with ball sports fans to enjoy the preview of a match which, although friendly, served the XV of León to prepare its participation, from January, in the European Championship which defines the four European places which remain to be filled for the next World Cup in Australia 2027.
In front of a passionate fan, who enjoyed the traditional Fijian “Cibi” and applauded every local approach to the rehearsal area, the match started with a Spanish score, thanks to a penalty shot that Gonzalo López converted after the first ten minutes of the match. . meeting. However, this early joy did not last long for the León XV as, barely a minute later, Fiji responded with their first try of the match.
Spain, however, continued with its good minutes of play and, accompanied by the encouragement of the Valladolid supporters, achieved a first approach to the repeat area after the quarter of an hour which, ultimately, became seven points for the XV of León halfway through. throughout the first half after a penalty try for an illegal Fiji intentional punt in the end zone, Ical reports.
Spain did not give up its advantage throughout the first half, as the two attempts made by the Océanic before the break were canceled by video refereeing, and while the players of both teams headed towards the tunnel locker rooms, the stadium paid its price. – a fitting tribute to the participants of Spain’s first and, so far, only participation in a Rugby World Cup, who came to the center of the José Zorrilla stadium to be recognized.
Fijian roll wins
The seriousness that Spain showed in the first half, despite the supposed superiority of a team that is among the ten best on the planet, It was maintained after the restart and even the León XV was able to increase the gap on the scoreboard to 12 points (19-7) thanks to three shots on goal converted by Gonzalo López in the first minutes of the second period.
And this is where the power of the Spanish team, and even the supporters, reached. Specific errors in the home attack and the enormous superiority both on the field and around the Fiji end zone allowed the Oceanians to string together four consecutive tries in less than 20 minutes, which extinguished the fervor of the Valladolid public and condemned the match. . in favor of the visitors (19-33). After the match, Zorrilla’s entourage experienced the traditional third period.
