Australia v Fiji LIVE: Result and reaction from thrilling Rugby World Cup clash
Australia 15-22 Fiji: Fiji keep their quarter-final hopes alive with a first win over the Wallabies since 1954
Fiji threw the outcome of Rugby World Cup Pool C wide open with a 22-15 win over Australia, in the first upset result of the tournament in France.
Fiji, who had lost narrowly to Wales in their opening game, are now in line for a spot in the knockout stages, leaving Australia needing to beat the Welsh and setting up the prospect of a nail-biting tussle to decide the top two places in the pool.
Simione Kuruvoli kicked four first-half penalties to give Fiji, better known for their running rugby, a 12-8 lead at the break and a Wallaby defensive error allowed Josua Tuisova to score a try early in the second half.
Fiji opened up a 22-8 lead with 12 minutes left before Suli Vunivalu reduced the deficit with a try for Australia, for whom Mark Nawaqanitawase also scored a first-half try, but Fiji held on for a first win over the Wallabies since 1954.
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PENALTY! Australia 8-12 Fiji (Simione Kuruvoli, 32 mins)
No problem for Simione Kuruvoli! This is simply brilliant kicking - straight between the uprights and the lead is extended. This is almost an English gameplan rather than a Fijian one!
Australia 8-9 Fiji, 32 mins
Oh hello! A driving maul from Fiji from a lineout on halfway, it marches forward and Australia illegally prevent the ball coming back.
Kuruvoli will have another pump at the posts here but it’ll be his toughest kick yet - out on the left, on about the 10-metre line.
Australia 8-9 Fiji, 30 mins
The Wallabies with a sustained spell of pressure just outside the Fiji 22 but Botia with great work at the breakdown, Nawaqanitawase holds on to the ball and they can clear their lines.
Botia is world-class over the ball at the breakdown and showed his value there again.
WATCH: Mark Nawaqanitawase’s quick-thinking leads to opening try
Here’s that first try - the quick brain of Mark Nawaqanitawase paying dividends.
PENALTY! Australia 8-9 Fiji (Simione Kuruvoli, 27 mins)
A kicking masterclass from Simione Kuruvoli so far. From out on the right, he curls a penalty just inside the right upright. These are vital points.
Australia 8-6 Fiji, 27 mins
We’ve got a TMO check for a potential high tackle by Nic White. Replays show there is neck contact from the Wallaby scrum half but the carrier is being dragged down at the time, plenty of mitigation, so just a penalty.
Kuruvoli will go from the posts again out to the right.
Australia 8-6 Fiji, 26 mins
Here’s an idea of the physicality of the game so far
TRY! Australia 8-6 Fiji (Mark Nawaqanitawase, 23 mins)
INCREDIBLE QUICK THINKING BY AUSTRALIA!
After that knock-on in contact by Fiji, the loose ball went to Nic White who banged a 50:22 down into Fiji territory.
The Wallabies then race down, Mark Nawaqanitawase is alert enough to take the quick lineout to Samu Kerevi, he passes back to Nawaqanitawase and the winger dives over in the corner! Brilliant quick thinking.
Donaldson’s conversion attempt from the touchline is wide but Australia lead.
Australia 3-6 Fiji, 23 mins
Powerful carries in the tight from Fiji and Josua Tuisova then keeps his legs churning to make an extra 10 metres in Wallaby territory. Chants of “FIJI, FIJI” from the crowd but they knock on and turn the ball over.
PENALTY! Australia 3-6 Fiji (Simione Kuruvoli, 21 mins)
Really nice kick by Kuruvoli. Their kicking from the tee was a weakness against Wales but the No 9 (starting instead of Lomani) is steadying that ship.
Fair to say it’s not a strength of fly half Teti Tela.
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