Local hero makes a successful return for Fiji

Fiji’s Jacob Saifiti returned from a four-match ban and scored a try as the Bati beat the Cook Islands 40-12 in their opening World Cup Pool A match. The 30-year-old Newcastle prop, playing his eighth Test for Fiji and second World Cup, found the try zone in the 28th minute after following a Brandon Wakeham kick and ripping the ball from Cook Islands fullback Esom Ioka to ground it at McDonald Jones Stadium on Sunday. Fiji led 28-0 at halftime with five tries in the first half. Solomon Saukuru added a double, while the Cook Islands answered in the second half before facing New Zealand next Sunday in Christchurch.