Rugby League World Cup: Fiji to face Australia at Wembley on Sunday
Fiji saw off Samoa 22-4 at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Sunday to set up a semi-final clash with Australia at Wembley.
Last Updated: 18/11/13 7:27am
Wes Naiqama scored one of Fiji's three tries and also kicked five goals to help set up a repeat of the clash in Sydney five years ago in the final four of the last tournament, a match the Kangaroos won 52-0.
The result is expected to seal 'The Bati' a place in the 2014 Four Nations Series Down Under, while it also offers captain Petero Civoniceva the chance to face the country he used to represent in possibly his final match.
Samoa managed a second-half score from Antonio Winterstein but were never able to match their performance against France last time out.
Trademark surge
Fiji took just four minutes to break the deadlock, winger Akuila Uate, who began the tournament with a hat-trick against Ireland, creating it with a trademark surge through the heart of Samoa's defence.
Aaron Groom was on hand to support the break and Naiqama added the extras to give the Fijians the perfect start to the afternoon.
However they had to wait until eight minutes before half-time to add to their lead, Groom the creator this time as his grubber kick was grounded by Naiqama, who also added the conversion and a penalty to make it 14-0.
Uate and his fellow winger Marika Koroibete continued to cause a threat in the
second half but Samoa hung on and gave themselves hope when Winterstein went over just before the hour mark.
Anthony Milford failed with the conversion, though, and Naiqama extended his side's lead with a 70th-minute penalty after Tim Lafai's high tackle on Jayson Bukuya sparked a bust-up.
The game was put beyond the Samoans with two minutes to play when hooker Apisai Koroisau offloaded for fellow substitute Vitale Roqica to touch down.
Naiqama kicked his fifth goal from as many attempts as Fiji sealed a second crack at Australia - they previously lost 34-2 to Tim Sheens' side in the group stages in St Helens.