The Cook Islands are going to the World Cup. Aitu beat the South Africa Rhinos 58-6 at CommBank Stadium in Sydney to take the 10th and final place in the men’s tournament.
South Africa made a bright start, with fullback Luke Pereira De Vlieg scoring a spectacular early try, and the Rhinos had two more tries ruled out. The game turned late in the first half when lock Aden Perry was sin-binned for a shoulder charge. Esan Marsters and Marata Niukore crossed while South Africa were down to 12, and Aitu led 20-6 at the break.
The Rhinos held on for the first 10 minutes of the second half before KL Iro broke the game open with a long-range try in the 51st minute. Brendan Piakura, Cassius Cowley and Niukore then scored in quick succession as Aitu pulled away.
The result makes the Cook Islands the 14th nation to qualify across the men’s, women’s and wheelchair tournaments.
