Unconvincing Junior Wallabies prevail over Fiji in U20 Championship opener

It was far from a polished performance, but the Junior Wallabies have got their 2023 World Rugby Championship underway with a tight 46-37 win over a good Fiji side in South Africa.

It was dewy underfoot before the game and the pitch was a little torn-up from the earlier match, indicating that kicking would be hugely important. And it was, in the end the boot of the 10s become a deciding factor for the result.

Passion was flowing before a ball had even been played as the Aussies sung the anthem with gusto and the Fijians performed a spine-tingling rendition of their war dance, the Cibi.

It set the tone for the first stanza with both sides wanting to show brutal physicality in contact. Queensland Reds product Taj Annan was ruthless in contact on both sides of the ball all night. He put a massive shot on his opposite Maika Kamikamica early in the game which dislodged the ball and gifted his side possession.

Despite some early forward dominance and some slick handling by the Aussies, the kicking game was not up to scratch.

The Aussie halves duo of Harry McLaughlin-Phillips and Klayton Thorn kicked very poorly, McLaughlin-Phillips kicked out on the full and launched the ball dead, handing the Fijians easy yardage. McLaughlin-Phillips struggled throughout the match to get his team moving forward and his kicks were often lacking in purpose and potency.

Meanwhile, his opposite Isaiah Ravula Fiji in the game all afternoon through his boot, slotting seven from eight attempts at goal.

While Fiji had ascendency in the kicking battle the set piece was well and truly the Aussies’ domain. A well-worked maul splintered the Fijian pack and led to the first try of the game to hooker Liam Bowron.

Mason Gordon was shaky off the boot all night, but his skills and finishing ability were reminiscent of older brother Carter.

Despite Australia’s supremacy at set piece, they struggled with restarts. The first kick-receipt that was missed put Fiji hot on attack. The error allowed Ravula to play with tempo, slicing through Australia’s defensive line and all that was needed was a deft pass from the playmaker to his towering inside centre Waqa Nalaga to stroll over for a five-pointer. Fiji had reclaimed the lead.

More poor and aimless kicking throughout the first half by Australia was only being mediated by some poor set-piece by Fiji.

Man of the Match Glen Vaihu from the Rebels was a rock for a relatively nervy Aussie backline. His hard runs and deft hands put those around him in space. His good lines also resulted in him bagging a first-half try.

A harsh yellow card against Fijian fullback Peni Waqalala for an accidental trip halfway through the first 40 minutes put Fiji under more pressure.

Young Sevens talent Darby Lancaster scored a double in Stellenbosch, proving why he is such an important part of the national sevens side. His first try came in the corner after some good catch-draw-and-pass. Lancaster’s second try was just out-and-out pace from 50m out.

The second half saw the Junior Wallabies be more direct through the forwards and more patient with ball in hand. The pressure resulted in more tries as the structured play picked apart the Fijians.

(Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

Fiji had several opportunities to gain a solid lead in the second half but poor set-piece and good ruck work from the Aussies saw those chances squandered.

As the game went on the Fijians began to cramp but it was the Australians whose discipline suffered. Penalty after penalty was called against the green and gold as they failed to get the ref onside at ruck time. Errors compounded when Marley Pearce received a yellow which was later upgraded to a red for a high shot on Fijian lock Mesake Vocevoce, who was one of Fiji’s best.

Ravula continued to punish the Aussies, by slotting penalty after penalty.

Waratahs duo Teddy Wilson and Jack Bowen came on around the 50-minute mark and changed the game for the Aussies. Bowen’s kicks were finding grass and space. Wilson brought new energy to the base of the ruck, and it saw them score some quick tries.

In the end Australia were able to ride out the tough times, which were at times self-inflicted. Poor kicking and some poor technique at the breakdown allowed the game to be closer than perhaps it should have been.

Australia’s centre pairing of Vaihu and Annan gave the junior Wallabies some composure in the backline.

The handling looked really slick from Nathan Grey’s men, their set piece was also very solid.

Fiji regularly failed to slow down the Aussies’ ball and their defence could never set fast enough to deal with the oncoming attack.

Some real positives for both sides moving forward, for Fiji especially with playmaker Ravula looking like a star for the future.

It’s always a bruising encounter when you play a Fijian team and this game was no different. The boys will need to nurse some bruised ribs before they face Ireland on Thursday. Before then Nathan Grey will want to make sure his playmakers have got their kicking game in order and his forwards’ breakdown technique flawless.