The Suncorp Australian Schoolboys have defeated Fiji Under 18s 24-18 in the curtain raiser to the Qantas Wallabies versus All Blacks Tri Nations decider at Suncorp Stadium tonight.
Australia extended their undefeated record against their Pacific neighbours to three matches, after previous victories in 2003 (17-12) and 2006 (10-3), with fullback Tyler Stevens prominent throughout.
The Aussies opened the scoring on five minutes when second rower Mark Johnson touched down after the Schoolboys moved the ball quickly through the hands. Flyhalf Robbie Coleman added the extras.
Fullback Seru Noa Nakaitaci responded minutes later for the Fijians with a well-taken penalty goal from 45 metres.
After 13 minutes Salesi Manu scored Australia’s second try when he barged over from a driving maul. Coleman’s missed conversion left the score at 12-3.
After a number of handling errors prevented either side exerting sustained pressure, Fijian winger Nasoni Naquru looked set to score after an excellent backline move. Only a try-saving tackle by fullback Tyler Stevens denied the visitors their first try.
Nakaitaci narrowed the deficit to 12-6 after Aussie No.8 Jarrad Butler was penalised for hands in the ruck.
Coleman had the opportunity to restore the home team’s nine point margin on the stroke of half time but pushed his penalty attempt wide.
Fijian coach Lionel Danford’s half-time team talk paid instant dividends when winger Semesa Qiolele finished off great work by Fijian No. 8 Saviriano Shaw. Nakaitaci missed the conversion to leave the visitors trailing by just one point.
In the 53rd minute, Tyler Stevens edged Australia further ahead with a deserved try after the best attacking move of the match, but Fiji threatened to cause a boilover when flying winger Naquru evaded two defenders and scored under the posts.
Nakaitaci had no problems adding the extras for an 18-17 lead.
Facing the prospect of a first ever defeat to Fiji, the home team immediately rallied with Stevens instrumental in putting winger Dom Shipperley into the clear to score. The successful conversion delivered the Australians a six-point buffer.
Fiji launched two desperate try-scoring raids inside the Australian quarter during the final two minutes. Australian intercepts on both occasions locked down the lead.
Suncorp Australian Schoolboys 24 (Mark Johnson, Salesi Manu, Tyler Stevens, Dom Shipperley tries; Robbie Coleman, Eddie Bredanhann cons) defeated Fiji Under 18s 18 (Semesa Qiolele, Nasoni Naquru tries; Seru Noa Nakaitaci con, 2 pens)
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