Regrets as Fiji see exit door

A disappointed Fiji were left to rue what might have been after the 27-7 loss to Samoa confirmed their tournament would be over after the group stages.

Fiji came to life in the final quarter of the match but it was the 60 minutes earlier that had hindered their chance to keep their quarter-final hopes alive.

"It was very, very disappointing," said Fiji captain Deacon Manu.

"I thought we failed to fire any shots in the first half. We regretted that going into half-time and we talked about the reasons why and how to move it forward.

"Making sure we secured the ball was a priority and we didn't go through enough phases to test their side."

Samoa's defence was rewarded after they shut out the Fijian attack in the first half, the second time they have done so in the World Cup to date.

"It was a credit to the Samoa defence, they really shut us down and made sure that in the first and second phase it was very hard for us to get some momentum and gain control of the ball.

"We turned it over - it must have been 20 times. Turning it over that many times in an international you're really going to struggle in big games."

Fiji fly-half Nicky Little, meanwhile, was forced to apologise after his side's inability to get into the match.

"I feel sorry for Samoa. We did not put up a good enough fight so apologies for that," said Little.

"Some individuals did not want to keep the ball today. We have a number one priority to play our style of rugby and to keep the bums in the seats happy."

Fiji play Wales next Sunday in a match that will decide the two quarter-finalists from Pool D.

Unfortunately for the Island nation they will play spoilers in that match while Samoa will look on with great enthusiasm as they find out their own World Cup fate.