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The Wallabies win, but don’t get the bonus point. That could be costly, but so could losing to Wales or England.
They looked a bit shaky there, the Fijians gave it a proper crack and the scores could have been tighter had their passing been better.
Final Score:
Australia 28 – 13 Fiji
The Wallabies finally take to the field for their first match of the Rugby World Cup when they meet Fiji at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Join The Roar for commentary and sleep-deprived, stimulant-induced commentary from at 1:45am (AEST)
Hear that? No, not the snoring. That other sound you can hear is the Wallabies’ World Cup kicking off! It’s been long in the offing lads and lasses, and it’s finally here!
Australia hasn’t lost to Fiji in fifteen matches – one was a draw – and that in itself is a pretty good indication of the historical difference of quality between these two sides. In fact, the last time Fiji beat Australia was in 1954 at the SCG, and Dick Tooth played at fullback.
But history won’t give us the best read on this game, because it’s been five and a bit years since the two last met. Australian won that game 49-3
A lot’s changed since then. Fiji, by all accounts, have become much better. In fact, it’s a sad state of affairs that the best Pacific Islander team finds itself in the group of death, and not the blandness of Group D (France, Ireland, Italy, Romania, Canada).
Plucky little Fiji have already given the English hosts a bit of a fright in the opening game on Friday night. Incredibly, they even managed to challenge the English at their own scrumming game. Perhaps their increased skills in that area came out of the training camp they shared with the Georgians in Georgia pre-World Cup?
Rajiv Maharaj from The Guardian has nominated loosehead Campese Ma’afu, lock Leone Nakarawa, flanker Akapusi Qera, scrum-half Nikola Matawalu and the boomer from Brisbane, Nemani Nadolo, as five players the Wallabies should be wary of in this game.
The Wallabies should be wary of the Fijians in general, despite the fact the organisers have given Fiji a four-day turnaround between this game and their last.
Coach Michael Cheika is pulling no punches, with the big news being that the Fardy-Hooper-Pocock triumvirate is to start this game. The second-rowers, Kane Douglas and Rob Simmons, will also be on high alert towards pinching as many of the Fijians lineouts as possible. The throwing set-piece of theirs was quite exposed against the England as a weak point.
Being their first game, there’s not much to report on the Wallabies apart from Wycliff Palu’s hamstring struggles; everyone else should be as fresh as a really fresh thing. Fiji have made a number of changes, with Dominiko Waqaniburotu’s being forced out due to a suspension for a dangerous tackle.
Prediction: The last four times Australia’s played Fiji, the margin of victory has been greater than 40. Only one of those two will change today/tonight/this morning: Australia by 21
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.