The Kiwis have been knocked out of the Rugby League World Cup after another heartbreaking loss, going down to Fiji Bati 4-2 at Westpac Stadium in Wellington tonight.
FULLTIME - KIWIS 2 FIJI 4
78 mins - KIWIS 2 FIJI 4
GOAL-LINE DROPOUT! Shaun Johnson opts to kick on the third tackle and Marcelo Montoya pounces on the ball and runs over the dead ball line.
77 mins - KIWIS 2 FIJI 4
KNOCK ON! A critical error from Fiji's skipper Kevin Naiqama as he spills the ball on his own 40m line. This will be NZ's final chance to score or earn a penalty for a chance to level the scores.
74 mins - KIWIS 2 FIJI 4
GOAL-LINE DROPOUT! The Kiwis are under real pressure now as Fiji force a goal line dropout after a great bomb from Jarryd Hayne and tackle from Suliasi Vunivalu on Kiwis winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
70 mins - KIWIS 2 FIJI 4
SCRUM! After a surging run from injured Kiwis second rower Joseph Tapine, the ref rules Fiji lost the ball, a big call as we go into the final 10 minutes of the game.
68 mins - KIWIS 2 FIJI 4
PENALTY! A big call from the officials saying the Kiwis were offside, overturning his original call of a line-dropout for Fiji.
62 mins - KIWIS 2 FIJI 4
TWO! Fiji take the lead through the boot of Apisai Koroisau - the Kiwis were penalised for being offside.
60 mins - KIWIS 2 FIJI 2
MISTAKE! Roger Tuivasa-Sheck fumbles the ball and Fiji now have an attacking scrum deep inside NZ's half.
58 mins - KIWIS 2 FIJI 2
NO TRY! Roger Tuivasa-Sheck looked to be through a massive gap and looked like he could have got to the try-line after a great set-play from the Kiwis - but he slips over from 10m out.
55 mins - KIWIS 2 FIJI 2
MISTAKE! Both teams guilty of trying to force the pass and create some second phase play. The Kiwis lose the ball after a loose carry from Martin Taupau - Fiji have a scrum just on their own 40m line.
52 mins - KIWIS 2 FIJI 2
Akuila Uate makes a perfect read, pouncing on a grubber kick from Shaun Johnson. Looked as though the Kiwis were close to scoring the first four-pointer of the match. But a great grab and run from Uate gets Fiji out of trouble.
47 mins - KIWIS 2 FIJI 2
SIN BIN! Jordan Rapana has been sent to the bin for a professional foul - slowing down the play and failing to get off Suliasi Vunivalu. Fiji made an excellent break through Kevin Naiqama and Suliasi Vunivalu - but the Kiwis are forced to give away a penalty as Fiji looked hot on attack.
44 mins - KIWIS 2 FIJI 2
TWO! Shaun Johnson levels the scores with a successful penalty kick at goal after the Fijians are penalised for back-chatting the referee.
42 mins - KIWIS 0 FIJI 2
A good first set from the Kiwis led by their big forwards, Shaun Johnson's towering kick on the last was well chased by Roger-Tuivasa-Sheck and Fiji struggle to make metres out of their own half.
40 mins - KIWIS 0 FIJI 2
And we are back underway with Fiji kicking off to the Kiwis!
HALFTIME - KIWIS 0 FIJI 2
40 mins - KIWIS 0 FIJI 2
Fiji's star winger Suliasi Vunivalu comes up with a great play, tackling Kiwis' half Te Maire Martin just as it looked the Kiwis looked to be conjuring up a try.
38 mins - KIWIS 0 FIJI 2
Another chance goes begging for Fiji as Suliasi Vunivalu knocks the ball on deep inside NZ's half.
37 mins - KIWIS 0 FIJI 2
DEFENCE! Fiji looked close to scoring, but the touch judge ruled Jarryd Hayne's pass to Kevin Naiqama to have gone forward.
34 mins - KIWIS 0 FIJI 2
Bad news for the Kiwis as Joseph Tapine leaves the field with a knee injury. Fiji continue to cause the Kiwis headaches starving the hosts of possession.
31 mins - KIWIS 0 FIJI 2
The Kiwis are beginning to tire with the Fijians having all the possession in the first half.
26 mins - KIWIS 0 FIJI 2
After relentless pressure from the Fijians the Kiwis finally have possession of the ball. They make some solid metres into Fiji's half - but they make a meal of the last play in the set, opting to run it. Fiji's defence reads it and tackle Brad Takairangi on their own 30 metre line.
23 mins - KIWIS 0 FIJI 2
DEFENCE! The Kiwis again repel another Fijian attack as Kiwis skipper Adam Blair manages to wrap Apisai Koroisau on the final tackle. Joseph Tapine looks to be ok after suffering a slight injury to his right knee while making a tackle on Fijian centre Akuila Uate.
19 mins - KIWIS 0 FIJI 2
MISTAKE! The Kiwis make another crucial error spilling the ball just as they make into Fiji's half.
18 mins - KIWIS 0 FIJI 2
NO TRY! The Kiwis survive another Fijian onslaught as Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Brad Takairangi tackle Marcelo Montoya into touch. Fiji unlucky not to score - Kiwis showing great defence after playing the majority of the match early inside their own half.
14 mins - KIWIS 0 FIJI 2
TWO! Apisai Koroisau nails an easy penalty kick to give Fiji the lead.
11 mins - KIWIS 0 FIJI 0
MISTAKE! Dallin Watene-Zelezniak spills the ball on the first tackle and Fiji have an attacking scrum on NZ's 10 metre line.
10 mins - KIWIS 0 FIJI 0
The Kiwis march their way up field and the NZ forwards get their side on the front foot with some fast play of the balls. Shaun Johnson puts in a clever grubber but the Fijians pounce on the ball and work their way up the pitch.
8 mins - KIWIS 0 FIJI 0
MISTAKE! Fiji looking dangerous on attack in the opening 10 minutes, after the Kiwis cough up the footy the Fijians knock the ball on just inside NZ's 30m line.
5 mins - KIWIS 0 FIJI 0
NO TRY! The Kiwis' scramble defence saves them from leaking the first points of the match. Fiji's second rower Brayden Williame made a great surge and stepped through the Kiwis defence but lost control of the ball over the try-line.
3 mins - KIWIS 0 FIJI 0
A solid opening set from both teams, Shaun Johnson puts in a brilliant floating bomb - but Kevin Naiqama makes and excellent take and gets Fiji out of trouble.
KICK-OFF! KIWIS 0 FIJI 0
And we are off! Shaun Johnson kicks off for NZ towards the Fijians.
PRE-MATCH:
The Kiwis have their backs against the wall and will be still hurting after their dramatic 28-22 loss to Mate Ma'a Tonga last week in Hamilton.
They will be out to prove a point against the unbeaten Fiji Bati in Wellington tonight.
New Zealand have made two changes in their starting team with Te Maire Martin given the nod to start over Kodi Nikorima, Nikorima has been shifted to the bench and Danny Levi starts at hooker.
Fiji have attacking weapons right across the park with Jarryd Hayne starting again in the halves. Suliasi Vunivalu and captain Kevin Naiqama have had a strong campaign thus far in the RLWC for Fiji.
The winner of tonight's match will face off against defending champions the Australian Kangaroos at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane next Friday.
New Zealand: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Dean Whare, Brad Takairangi, Jordan Rapana, Te Maire Martin, Shaun Johnson, Martin Taupau, Danny Levi, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Simon Mannering, Joseph Tapine, Adam Blair (c).
Interchange: Nelson Asofa-Solomona, Russell Packer, Isaac Liu, Kodi Nikorima.
Fiji: Kevin Naiqama (c), Suliasi Vunivalu, Taane Milne, Akuila Uate, Marcelo Montoya, Jarryd Hayne, Henry Raiwalui, Ashton Sims, Apisai Koroisau, Eloni Vunakece, Viliame Kikau, Brayden Williame, Tui Kamikamica.
Interchange: Joe Lovodua, Jacob Saifiti, Junior Roqica, Ben Nakubuwai.
23 mins - KIWIS 0 FIJI 2
52 mins - KIWIS 2 FIJI 2
52 mins - KIWIS 2 FIJI 2
62 mins - KIWIS 2 FIJI 4
SHARE ME