Australia 39-21 Fiji: Wallabies fight back to win opening World Cup match
Last updated on .From the section Rugby Union
2019 Rugby World Cup: Australia v Fiji |
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Australia: (12) 39 |
Tries: Hooper, Hodge, Latu (2), Kerevi, Koroibete Pens: Hodge Cons: Lealiifano, Tommua (2) |
Fiji: (14) 21 |
Tries: Yato, Nayacalevu Pens: Volavola (3) Cons: Volavola |
Australia ran in four second-half tries as they fought back to beat Fiji in their opening 2019 World Cup match.
The 2015 finalists were trailing until halfway into the second half before hooker Silatolu Latu went over for two tries inside five minutes.
Peceli Yato's try gave Fiji an early 8-0 lead, and a shock looked possible when Waisea Nayacalevu scored under the posts early in the second half.
But Australia roared back to end fears of a first loss to Fiji since 1954.
The Wallabies' next outing in Group D is on Sunday, 29 September, when they face Wales in Tokyo.
Yato was outstanding, but was forced off after only 25 minutes with a head injury following a collision with Australia winger Reece Hodge.
Australia had looked to be finding their feet when Michael Hooper crossed for a try following Yato's opener, and after Hodge scored in the corner the teams went into half-time with Fiji leading 14-12.
But when Nayacalevu latched onto a loose pass on the halfway line to sprint home just three minutes into the second half, a shock Fiji win was a distinct possibility.
However, Latu's first international tries, both scored from line-outs, settled Australia nerves before Samu Kerevi and Marika Koroibete put the two-time World Cup winners comfortably clear.
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Wallabies regroup after early problems
With many under the roof at the Sapporo Dome supporting Australia, the atmosphere was subdued for much of the match. England will open their World Cup campaign just over a day later at the same venue when they face Tonga on a pitch that is rolled into the stadium.
Australia were loose at times during the frenetic opening phase, when Fiji were also able to take advantage of Australia's mistakes through the boot of Ben Volavola, who landed three first-half penalties.
And that sloppiness as Australia tried to attack led to Nayacalevu's breakaway score, but the Wallabies regrouped impressively and two controlled drives from line-outs allowed Latu to put his side ahead.
Australia took a firm grip on the rest of the match, but Wales, who open their campaign against Georgia on Monday, will have seen plenty to interest them before the match in Tokyo.
Fiji can have hope for future
Having led 21-12 early in the second half, Fiji are certain to look back on this as an opportunity missed.
They started furiously, but ran out of steam and could not find an answer following Latu's one-two punch.
They were also hampered by the loss of Yato, and will be hoping the Clermont forward will be available again in the tournament.
It's only a short turnaround until they face Uruguay on Wednesday and then Georgia on 3 October but Fiji have the talent to win those matches and set up a potential quarter-final showdown against Wales in their last Group D game six days later.
Man of the match - Marika Koroibete (Australia)
'You can't win Tests with a good 60 minutes' - what they said
Australia coach Michael Cheika: "We're not looking for perfection, It never happens in this game. We got tested.
"I think they got us a bit on the hop early on. They came out with some real aggression and we didn't get into our rhythm or flow.
"Once we got back to basics it was a good contest. We were prepared for a strong contest and knowing that we would try and get ahead in the last 20 minutes. We know how good the Fijians are."
Fiji coach John McKee: "Certainly we take a lot of positives from that game, we had Australia on the rails for 40 minutes and a portion of the second half.
"Some things went against us, penalties, the yellow card, we have got to close games out. You don't win Test matches by being able to play really well for 60 minutes.
"Losing Peceli Yato early in the game when he was having such an impact was a big loss for us."
Stats
- Australia are unbeaten in their past 18 games against Fiji (W17, D1); their last defeat coming in June 1954 when Fiji won 18-16.
- Michael Hooper has won 96 caps for the Wallabies, no other player in Test rugby has won as many before turning 28 - the Wallabies back row has missed just eight games for Australia since his debut in 2012.
- Australia had lost their most recent Rugby World Cup fixture - the 2015 final - and have avoided back-to-back defeats at the event for the first time since the 1987 tournament in which they were defeated in succession by France and Wales.
Teams
Australia: Beale; Hodge, O'Connor, Kerevi, Koroibete; Lealiifano, White; Sio, Latu, Alaalatoa, Rodda, Arnold, Pocock, Hooper (c), Naisarani.
Replacements: Uelese, Slipper, Kepu, Coleman, Salakaia-Loto, Genia, To'omua, Haylett-Petty
Fiji: Murimurivalu; Tuisova, Nayacalevu, Botia, Radradra; Volavola, Lomani; Ma'afu, Matavesi, Ravai, Cavubati, Nakarawa, Waqaniburotu (c), Yato, Mata,
Replacements: Vugakoto, Mawi, Saulo, Ratuva, Voka, Matawalu, Veitokani, Goneva
Comments
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Fiji have the talent to upset Australia, but I don't think it will be enough. Mata v Naisarani at Number 8. Yeah boi!
Oh, and good luck to the Fiji Weegies, past and present, playing.
I think Fiji has a chance , Oz style of play fits them better than wales’s. Oz likes an open game, they’re going to get one.
Good to see Pocock back, but for games growth GO FIJI !!!
As somebody who personally knows Fe'ao Vunipola, your comments would hurt him. I think I could say the same for the family of Joe Cokanasiga, whose family have given more to Britain than 99% of peoppe born here. Stop using 'Pacific Islanders in the England team' like it's a slur - It's not funny or smart.
Bula Vinaka!
He lets the players knock 7 bells out of each other and pretends he hasn't seen it time after time and he is still doing the big games! He's terrified to intervene or thinks the biff should be part of the game?
He calls the players "boys" all the time too....probably thinking of when he was Head Boy and Marlborough Boys College.
A curious appointment for the World Cup.
Big game for Australia though, should be a good watch
"It would give us a great boost to get a win but our view is that we are in a series of four games & two teams go through.
"It doesn't ride on 1 game. There could be a lot of twists and turns in the pool." I think they are targeting Wales
No easy games in this group
@40 I’m English, but credit where it’s due on Wales’s unbeaten run they found ways to win games against a variety of opponents that were easier to lose. It’s NOT always just abt Eng vs Wales. That ability means Fiji’s best chance is Oz
'Going to be a Wales v New Zealand final with Wales winning by at least 10.'
I make that 10/1 against. S. Jones has had a big effect already, though. In his first session he got the players passing the ball down the backline to the winger to touch down in the corner. Blew the players away. Might be too late for such a revolutionary change in gameplan, though.
Grammar, the difference between knowing your sh*t and knowing you're sh*t
'mon the Fijians!
@6 Ben O'Keefe is the man in the middle.