Australia were made to work hard but eventually got the job done as they beat Fiji 39-21 in their Rugby World Cup clash in Sapporo on Saturday.
In an entertaining but tough and uncompromising encounter, the Pacific Islanders held the upper-hand for most of this match but the Wallabies took control of proceedings during the game’s latter stages and were deserved winners in the end.
Tolu Latu led the way for Australia with a brace of tries and Michael Hooper, Reece Hodge, Samu Kerevi and Marika Koroibete also scored tries. Their other points came via conversions from Christian Lealiifano and Matt To’omua (2) while Reece Hodge added a penalty.
For Fiji Peceli Yato and Waisea Nayacalevu scored tries and Ben Volavola contributed 11 points after succeeding with three penalties and a conversion.
Fiji had most of the early possession and were up 8-0 after 10 minutes. They took the lead in the fifth minute courtesy of a Volavola penalty, after Nic White was blown up for holding onto the ball at a ruck, and the game came alive shortly afterwards when Yato crossed for a brilliant try.
Josua Tuisova laid the groundwork with a strong run down the right-hand touchline and after bursting through two tackles he threw an inside pass to Nayacalevu, who found himself in space just outside the Wallabies’ 22. He was chased down by the cover defence but did well to offload to Yato, who went over in the right-hand corner.
Australia needed a response and that came in the 18th minute when Hooper ran onto a pass from White deep inside Fiji territory and shrugged off three defenders on his way over the try-line.
Lealiifano slotted the conversion but despite that setback, the Pacific Islanders continued to dominate and two penalties from Volavola gave them a 14-7 lead by the half-hour mark.
Five minutes later, the Wallabies narrowed the gap when Hodge crossed in the right-hand corner for their second try after slick hands from James O’Connor and Kurtley Beale created space for him out wide.
Lealiifano was off target from the kicking tee which meant Fiji had their tails up with the score 14-12 in their favour at half-time.
So Fiji look decent 👌. Thoughts Wales fans? pic.twitter.com/bI45ppg6JL
— BBC ScrumV (@BBCScrumV) September 21, 2019
Fiji were fastest out of the blocks after the interval as four minutes after the restart Nayacalevu gathered a wayward pass from Kerevi, close to the halfway line, and raced away before diving over under the posts.
The next 10 minutes was a slugfest with the Wallabies having most of the possession and after an extended period camped inside Fiji’s half, they were rewarded in the 56th minute when Latu scored their third try off the back of a lineout drive.
In the build-up to that score, referee Ben O’Keefe warned the Fijians for continuous indiscretions on defence and when Levani Botia infringed close to his try-line five minutes later, he was yellow carded for his transgression.
The resulting penalty was kicked into touch and after another lineout drive, Latu got over for his second try in similar fashion to his first. With a one-man advantage, the Wallabies continued to dominate and in the 69th minute Kerevi stepped past a couple of defenders before crossing for his side’s fifth try.
Three minutes later, Koroibete found himself in space out wide and he did well to round Vereniki Goneva to score the try which sealed his side’s win.
The scorers:
For Australia:
Tries: Hooper, Hodge, Latu 2, Kerevi, Koroibete
Cons: Lealiifano, To’omua 2
Pen: Hodge
For Fiji:
Tries: Yato, Nayacalevu
Con: Volavola
Pens: Volavola 3
Yellow Card: Botia
Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Reece Hodge, 13 James O’Connor, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Nic White, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 David Pocock, 5 Rory Arnold, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Tolu Latu, 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 James Slipper, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Adam Coleman, 20 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 21 Will Genia, 22 Matt To’omua, 23 Dane Haylett-Petty
Fiji: 15 Kini Murimurivalu, 14 Josua Tuisova, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu, 12 Levani Botia, 11 Semi Radradra, 10 Ben Volavola, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Viliame Mata, 7 Peceli Yato, 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu (c), 5 Leone Nakarawa, 4 Tevita Cavubati, 3 Peni Ravai, 2 Samuel Matavesi, 1 Campese Ma’afu
Replacements: 16 Tuvere Vugakoto, 17 Eroni Mawi, 18 Manasa Saulo, 19 Tevita Ratuva, 20 Mosese Voka, 21 Nikola Matawalu, 22 Alivereti Veitokani, 23 Vereniki Goneva
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Luke Pearce (England), Andrew Brace (Ireland)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)
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