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Suggitt believes it was a try

Going upstairs: Mike Pyke shows his bemusement

Canada coach Ric Suggitt believes his team were robbed by TMO Craig Joubert when the South African match official ruled out a try in the Canucks' 16-29 loss to Fiji in Cardiff on Sunday.

Referee Tony Spreadbury disallowed a Mike Pyke cross-over for double movement in the 71st minute when the Canucks trailed 22-13.

Canada were beginning to make their mark on the match, which had them playing catch-up throughout the game. With a man outside him, the full-back decided to go on his own and was left to rue that decision after Joubert had cancelled out the try.

But Canada used that setback as impetus for another assault on Fiji's line.

In the week before the match, Suggitt had urged his team not to give Fiji any scraps. But just when it seemed Canada would cross again, the ball spilled out.

Fiji full-back Kameli Ratuvou set the seal on the match with his try in the 80th minute, following a spectacular first half by the Saracens flyer in which he fell short twice and crossed once.

On the disallowed try, Suggitt was convinced his team were robbed of what could have been a superb victory from the Canadians.

"We watched it a number of times and you're (the tackled player) allowed an immediate movement. That's what it was. That's a simple call. That's a try," said Suggitt.

"Then again we should have won the game fair and square."

Fiji relied heavily on the boot of fly-half Nicky Little to carve up territory and make it hard for the Canadians to reclaim previously hard-fought metres.

"We knew it was going to be tough against Canada. It came down to the last couple of minutes and our defence held," said Fiji coach Ilie Tabua.

"We knew we'd do them out on the wings, where we are a lot faster. That's our natural game."