Fiji made an enormous assertion on the Rugby World Cup with their first win over Australia for 69 years, a completely deserved 22-15 victory that blew Pool C extensive open and left the twice world champion Wallabies shellshocked.
Denied a possible victory over Wales of their opener by a dropped cross, Fiji overpowered the Australians with direct operating, explosive tackling and 11 turnovers.
Barring these in inexperienced and gold, a packed home at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard cheered every Fiji assault and each single one of many 18 penalties awarded in opposition to the Australians.
A strive from centre Josua Tuisova and 5 penalties did the harm on the scoreboard and the Fijians backed their steely defence to maintain the determined Wallabies out in a dramatic final 10 minutes.
“It’s history for us, I just want to thank the boys,” mentioned Tuisova, who was named man of the match. “We treated this match as a final, it’s just incredible to win.”
Australia scored an opportunistic strive by means of Mark Nawaqanitawase within the first half and had one other from alternative Suliasi Vunivalu that made it a seven-point recreation 12 minutes from time.
They had been second finest on the breakdown, nonetheless, and coach Eddie Jones took demoralised fly half Carter Gordon off halfway by means of the second half because the Wallabies struggled to interrupt down the Fijian defence.
Fiji’s brilliance on the breakdown saved Australia off stability
(Getty Images)
It was clear to Australia early on that this may be a correct Test match with Fiji piling enormous strain on their defence by alternating huge runners up the center with lengthy balls out extensive.
The Wallabies defence nearly held however they conceded 4 penalties which Simione Kuruvoli, introduced in for Frank Lomani as beginning scrum half, banged over to offer the Fijians a 12-8 lead at half-time.
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Australia had opened the scoring by means of a penalty and grabbed the primary strive of the match within the twenty fourth minute when scrum half Nic White kicked a 50-22 from turnover ball.
Nawaqanitawase snapped up the ball for a fast throw to centre Samu Kerevi, who charged in the direction of the road earlier than offloading for the winger to walk over and contact down.
Fiji hit again straight after the break when Gordon and Nawaqanitawase left a field kick for one another and Tuisova merely took it on the bounce and raced 40 metres to attain.
Tuisova leapt over the road for a vital strive
(REUTERS)
Kuruvoli transformed to offer Fiji a 19-8 lead earlier than making manner for Lomani, who added his crew’s closing penalty within the 66th minute.
Australia appeared higher after full again Ben Donaldson moved as much as take over at fly half however Vunivalu’s late rating was not sufficient and the Wallabies should now beat Wales in an enormous conflict subsequent Sunday to keep away from a possible first pool stage exit on the World Cup.
