Karalaina Naisewa crashed under the posts in the 79th minute to score a try which gave Fiji a thrilling 21-17 win over South Africa in Group C, their first World Cup victory.
Moments earlier, first-five Libbie Janse van Rensburg had kicked a penalty which broke a 14-14 deadlock which hadlasted 21 minutes and seemed to clinch a South African victory.
But Fiji surged onto attack from the kickoff and Naisewa moved through the South Africa defence close to the line to give Fiji a win in only their second World Cup match.
Fiji players celebrate. Photo / Photosport
There was immediate jubilation among the crowd which was overwhelmingly made up of Fiji supporters and who recognised the significance of the moment. Fiji had overcome a mountain of obstacles just to be at the World Cup and the victory was a triumphant occasion, giving the Pacific Island nation a chance of still making the quarter-finals.
The Fiji women were trampled 84-19 by England in the first round of the tournament but the defeat didn't make a dent in their spirit.
"It means the world," said Fiji's Siteri Rasolea who was the star of the match for her powerful carries. "There are a lot of girls who have made a lot of sacrifices to be here today.
"I'm just so glad that we held it together for each other. We had a few girls who went down [with injuries] but our captain just said we had to play for everyone who's on the pitch and who didn't make the team this week."
