The Wallabies got their Rugby World Cup campaign off to a slowish start, earning a 28-13 win over Fiji at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
No doubt the big talking point, however, will be the fact Australia failed to earn a four-try bonus point as pool rivals England managed to do five days earlier.
Australia now sit on four points on the Rugby World Cup ladder, one behind England and Wales, who both managed an extra point in their first matches.
WALLABIES DIY PLAYER RATINGS VS FIJI
A David Pocock double in the first half set the tone for the Wallabies, but they managed only one more try in the second half, which by Australia’s standards so far in 2015 was relatively lackluster.
Man of the match Pocock crossed twice from the rolling maul within a four-minute period, diving over the stripe after holding the ball at the back of the rumble.
It was a play that saw the flanker become the Brumbies’ top try scorer in Super Rugby this year, and it has carried over to the national side.
The Wallabies took their time to get into the match, earning the first points with a penalty goal after some early pressure.
Fiji hit back, getting a well-deserved scrum penalty to go with some big runs through their forwards, culminating in them tying things up with a three-pointer of their own.
Australia struck when given their chance, though, with Pocock scoring the first try of the match from a lineout close to the line.
Aside from a couple of threatening runs from Israel Folau, it was the first time Australia had looked promising in attack in the match.
They took advantage again through Pocock less than five minutes later, after impressive prop Campese Ma’afu had been given ten minutes in the bin for a professional foul.
A missed conversion from Bernard Foley, and the result was a 15-3 lead into half time for Australia.
That was extended to 19 points early in the second half after a try to Sekope Kepu early in the second 40 minutes. It was the best build-up of the day from the Australians, who after several bustling runs gave it to the big man close to the line, and he duly strode over.
A Nemani Nadolo sliced the lead to 16 points, and after a period of indifferent play from Australia, Fiji took advantage.
With Australia seemingly more interested in blowing up at the referee about a missed infringement from referee Glenn Jackson, Fiji flyhalf Ben Volavola put a dummy and a step on Rob Simmons in the backline, beat the covering defence and crossed the stripe.
Suddenly it was game on, at 25-13 and Fiji pressing.
The heat was being applied in the mid stages of the second half, and the Australian lineout began to show signs of struggling when Rob Simmons left the field.
Australia lost three in a row, including several baffling throws from the skipper Stephen Moore.
This coupled with some poor handling, and some rusty link play. Australia never really managed to build any momentum in the second half.
Will Genia, too, seemed largely content to utilise the box kick rather than keep the football in hand.
With 12 minutes left on the clock and 25-13 still on the scoreboard, Australia made the decision to kick for goal rather than press for a bonus-point try by kicking for the line.
Bernard Foley made no mistake, but it was a telling decision after all the pressure Fiji had applied at set piece and in general play.
A yellow card to Tevita Kuridrani for repeated infringement at the ruck didn’t help the Australian quest for a fourth try and a bonus point, and it was eventually snuffed out by some poor handling in their final attack on the Fijian line.
Fiji fought very hard, and were physical up front. Their forward were excellent throughout the match, and their scrum, lineout and maul proved assets.
The Wallabies will be happy with their scrummaging performance, but disappointed they couldn’t put the game away with a more complete performance.
Plenty to work on for Australia in what was a good first hitout for the men in gold. It’s certainly not bad news, but it wasn’t the comprehensive showing Australian fans may have hoped for.
Australian captain Stephen Moore didn’t seem too concerned about the lack of a bonus point, however, saying that the Wallabies were just content with the victory over the impressive Fijians.
Michael Cheika echoed his captain, saying, perhaps tongue in cheek, that he didn’t even know about the bonus point system in the World Cup.
What did you make of the game Roarers? What was your take?
gatesy
Roar Guru
It's really simple from here on in - are you listening coaches? - We need to win every game with at least four tries and by more than 7 pts and preferably by cricket scores! One team could win 5 games without a bonus point and one team could win four with a bonus point - each would have 20 points but the likelihood, is that the team that got the four bonus points might very likely have a more impressive for and against margin -and that may be the difference. I cannot, on any view of it, see how this was not in the forefront of our thinking. I get that it was a hard fought game, but I still believe that there were a couple of game-management decisions that could have been made differently and the use of the bench handled more intelligently. I keep harping on it, but the injection of Toomua mid-way through the second half would have re-positioned our attacking options,a and that might have been all we needed to penetrate the line that one last time. They brought him on at the 77th minute when the game was gone!
Hoppy
Guest
Hi RedROSE, before HUBRIS really sets in just reflect on the impact of that appalling decision from Peyper not to penalise your winger for not relaesing the ball when he was clearly held in the lead up to Brown's second try. He was tackled and was still held by one man on the ankle when he got up without relaesing the ball and continued - accoprding to Peyper it was fair game but every replay deinied it and even the original viewing suggested iot was a poor decision by Peyper. There were quite a few others that afvoured the English, a couple that were crucial. The "roses' seemed to make it irrelevant with their 'finishers' playing better than those they replaced. However those Peyper decisions were at absolutely critical times in the game when the Fijians had played themselves into a dominant position. Your boys were 'panicking' and Peyper relived the pressure. Robshaw and co, to their credit took swift and ecisive advantage. The wallabies v Engalnd game will be decisive and possibly close. What is unfortunately to often the case is that it will be crucially influenced by the referee a la Brown cathcing the ball in his 22 a few years ago v the wallabies on their Spring Tour under McKenzie when BOTH his feet were in touch, and Engalnd score from the brilliant counter by him. That match had several others including Moore being impeded when your flyhalf scored. Soi be a bit more careful of claiming some 'historical' advantage mate. Hopefully it a fantastic game that we can all walk away from enthralled that this game of heaven has delivered yet again! Good luck mate.
Hoppy
Guest
Troubled by the apparent (il)logical tactic of kicking the ball away in the second half when Aus needed a bonus point 4th try. Troubled more by the inevitably poor kick chase capability or "attitude" from the Wallabies. It may not be the case but it seems like AAC and whomever is on the other wing think this is regulation rest time - either that or they really are too slow! AAC started like a startled animal of little experience. His first two touches - perhaps even 3 - resulted in innocuous and ineffective kicks. His game couldn't get any worse and it did improve but never reached anything more than a D-. The Fijians were very resilient and when they learn patience they will be formidable. The Ref gave them a penalty in the early scrums where Campese Mafuj was boring in on Kepu at right angles to the line of drive in the scrum. He did it a lot - reminiscent of the Lions in Aus a few years ago and of the English props on the last couple of Spring Tours. Just as Barnes did in the AB's v Argentina game with McCaw and the Abs generally, the referees will eventually wake up or be educated about this sort of thing - and the Wallabies will become smarter about how to deal with it all.
Coconut
Guest
Errr... yeah, that's probably not been one of my better assessments... actually I was dead wrong on all counts except his efforts in securing turnover ball... I guess its the work he does at the breakdown which outshines everything else, but he is a great player.
Vhavnal
Roar Rookie
I'm not writing an article here, I'm, making a comment, i can write it whichever way i choose..
PeterK
Roar Guru
agree I would have picked him in the squad. Either way Moore has not been in that good a form all year, it was wrong to make him captain, which means he starts every game.
Mike
Guest
Nah, I'm sure we have some Japanese players in Australia that we can bring over to the squad for a game against the Boks...
Mike
Guest
Tell us how you really feel! Go on, don't be shy.
PeterK
Roar Guru
they were given a lot less time than usual.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Fiji played a lot worse against England, poor game plan kicking so much ball away.
PeterK
Roar Guru
He made big hits and had the second highest tackle count behind Hooper. Also one of the few forwards to break a tackle when he ran the ball.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Fiji a lot better than against England. Missed 1/2 the tackles, and kicked half as much.
Red Kev
Roar Guru
James Hanson was the form hooker of Australian Super XV teams so why isn't he there is my question
PeterK
Roar Guru
Cheika wanted to minimise the time given to the bench since they need to play the whole game v uruguay in 4 days.
PeterK
Roar Guru
true both Horne and AAC tackled very well, Tomane would have probably let in a try
PeterK
Roar Guru
Moore has not had 1 very good game this year. He has not returned to the level he had before last year's injury. Big mistake to make him captain. Currently TPN is playing better.
Utah
Guest
Bit harsh on him re defence. His defence is impeccable. Makes a mountain of tackles and very rarely misses one. He had the highest tackling percentage in the Super comp (96%). I'd say that percentage would go close to being a record. Last night he made some great hits.
Adam Longhurst
Roar Rookie
Bonus points are designed to encourage try's so I agree with the theory. It doesn't always work that way but generally the games I have watched have been interesting. Absolutely no comparison to low scoring boring games which we tend to see once we get to the finals. In all reality, I don't know who will win the Pool of death and games played cannot lay a platform for future games as we often see violent swings in performance from one week to the next. You watch SA play Samoa and it was also present with Scotland v Japan. Japan were ordinary at best. The roar posts help me get through my morning coffee. :)
Adam Longhurst
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately, you cant do anything about commentary bias. I am listening to English, Irish and Australian World cup podcasts and the biased towards the home nations conducting the podcasts is obvious in all 3 cases. The Irish just crack more jokes. The Foxtel commentary team is biased towards the Wallabies so in the end, just hit the mute button. Silence is beauty.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Can't see how he or the team didnt know when all week we've been hearing how England didnt play well but DID secure a bonus point. I mean you'd have to have your head under the pillows all week to not have heard or read that somewhere.