Pool B: Fiji coach Mac McCallion admitted his team failed to carry out his tactics as they escaped with a win over the United States in their Pool B match at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
Despite his desire for the players to execute backline moves as quickly as possible, MaCallion could only watch in fury as they tried to take on the Americans in a physical battle.
"They didn't play to the game plan, which was disappointing," he said. "The plan was to go wide, but the boys wanted to take the US lads on physically.
"I thought our option-taking was not the best on the night," he reflected, with commendable understatement after watching several promising line-breaks spoiled by poor decisions.
McCallion was particularly unhappy with a decision to kick for touch late in the match when a successful penalty would have put them nine points clear.
"It was hard to watch, that's for sure. We were lucky to get away with a win. If they had had a little bit more skill we would have been in trouble."
The match certainly had its moments of drama, not least of which was outhalf Mike Hercus's failed conversion attempt in injury time which would have won the match for the US.
And few would have predicted the Americans would out-score their opponents two tries to one.
The opening try by Riaan van Zyl and Kort Schubert's dramatic late touchdown were highlights of a match which provided ample evidence that American rugby is developing well under coach Tom Billups.
"Today the world got a chance to see what rugby is like in the United States at the top level, and it's pretty damned good," said Billups, before deconstructing his team performance.
"We would have gladly taken a win, but our precision and execution at critical times in the match was not what we wanted today."
Captain Dave Hodges, who was impressive at blindside flanker, admitted the Fijians had played into their hands in trying to take them on in the forwards.
Certainly the fans who watched the match enjoyed the gripping encounter, and the loss did little to dent the enthusiasm of those decked out in red, white and blue.
The result confirms the growing suspicion that this is the tightest of the four pools after Japan's impressive showing against Scotland in Townsville.
While France remain clear favourites, Fiji, Scotland, Japan and the US are all still in the hunt for a quarter-final place.
Meanwhile, Fiji are to write to World Cup organisers to complain about the competition's official ball. They feel the protective silicon surface makes the ball too slippery and want to use the balls in training before a match to break them in.
FIJI: A Uluinayau; M Vunibaka, A Tuilevu, S Rabeni, V Delasau; N Little, M Rauluni; N Seru, G Smith, J Veitayaki, I Rawaqa, A Naevo, A Mocelutu, A Doviverata (capt), K Sewabu. Replacements: S Koyamaibole for Mocelutu (55 mins), R Nyholt for Veitayaki (55 mins), V Maimuri for Naevo (66 mins).
UNITED STATES: P Emerick; D Fee, P Eloff, K Cross, R van Zyl; M Hercus, K Dalzell; M MacDonald, K Khasigian, D Dorsey, A Parker, L Cross, K Schubert, D Lyle, D Hodges (capt).Replacements: J Bucholtz for Emerick (70 mins), S Sika for Cross (71 mins).
Referee: Joel Jutge (France)
