SYDNEY, Oct 15: Fiji survived a late scare to beat the United States 19-18 on Wednesday as the fifth World Cup finally served up a match which remained a contest for the full 80 minutes.

Italy’s pool D match against Tonga was also competitive until John Kirwan’s Azzurri, inspired by debutant flyhalf Rima Wakarua, ran in a couple of late tries for a 36-12 victory.

But Samoa’s 10-try, 60-13 drubbing of Uruguay in pool C, while entertaining, was another of the mismatches that have blighted the early pool games.

In the late drama in the opening match of the day in Brisbane, U.S. flyhalf Mike Hercus pushed a conversion attempt wide of the uprights with seconds remaining to allow Fiji to hang on for a victory in their pool B encounter.

Results: