SAINT ETIENNE – The hands covering the faces of the Wallabies fans said it all. Not at full-time, but midway through the second half as the spectre came firmly down on Eddie Jones’ men wearing gold in the middle.
While the Wallabies banged over the opening points of the evening, Fiji dominated the match – and won 22-15 despite some late jitters.
So much for tier-two. So much for the Fijians not being invited into The Rugby Championship. So much for Fiji being an all-out attacking side, with Simon Raiwalui’s men kicking five penalties to sink the Wallabies.
Fiji have made a mockery of SANZAAR’s resistance to change their southern hemisphere tournament.
History says this was an upset. It is given Fiji hadn’t beaten the Wallabies since 1954, but recent results suggested this was a result brewing from Suva. The win saw the Fijians jump above Australia on the world rankings.
It was 10 weeks ago Raiwalui, who was the Wallabies’ assistant at the last World Cup, took his men to the outer islands of Fiji to help his squad rich with talent rediscover what it is to be Fijian.
Since then, Fiji have lost just two Tests to France last month and Wales in their World Cup opener.
Ben Donaldson reacts at full-time following the Wallabies’ loss against Fiji. Could he move to fly-half to take on Wales? (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
The Wallabies? They’ve won just one of their past seven Tests, with Sunday’s humbling result firmly putting the spotlight on Jones and the Rugby Australia board that sensationally parachuted him into the role.
Fiji’s World Cup dreams are once again full of oxygen; Australia’s is clinging to life support.
The Wallabies must now head 50 kilometres up the road to Lyon and take down Warren Gatland’s men to surely progress through to the final eight – if they stumble, it will reinforce the once proud rugby nation’s fall from grace over the past two decades.
The Wallabies’ ill-discipline proved costly.
A week after giving away just seven penalties during their first-up win over Georgia, the Wallabies conceded 18 penalties. No international side wins with a penalty sheet like that. But it also reflected the many moving parts – and personnel – within Jones’ side currently.
A five-minute period midway through the second half summed up the Wallabies’ nightmare, as Andrew Brace blew Jones’ men off the field just as they readied to strike.
With the Wallabies trailing 19-8, Dave Porecki – the nation’s 88th captain after Will Skelton fell down on Thursday evening with a calf injury – was pinged five metres out from the Fijian line.
Minutes later it was his replacement, Jordan Uelese, who was penalised for not releasing.
Then, centre Samu Kerevi in the 63rd minute.
On each occasion it was another nail in the coffin as the Fijians and their adopted France fans that grew in voice.
The Wallabies were smashed at the whistle, giving away 18 penalties. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
More penalties were to come, with Suliasi Vunivalu penalised in the 72nd minute and Marika Koroibete two minutes later.
The failure to secure their attacking breakdown wasn’t a new issue in Australian rugby, but it showed who dominated the physical battle.
Nor was the Wallabies’ kicking game effective.
Nic White delivered one brilliant 50-22 after some Richie McCaw-esque robbery at the breakdown, but he was one of three backs to kick dead in goal.
The other two came in the second half as Jordan Petaia and Suliasi Vunivalu found the deadball line.
Without Skelton and Taniela Tupou, another fallen giant during horrific week on the training ground, the Wallabies were bullied by Josua Tuisova, whose selection in the midfield worked a treat from Raiwalui.
Josua Tuisova was awarded player of the match after a starring role against the Wallabies at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on September 17, 2023 in Saint-Etienne. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
While Skelton’s absence allowed the Wallabies’ lineout to function well, with Nick Frost particularly effective in disrupting their opponent’s ball, their scrum didn’t get anywhere near the pay without Tupou.
But it was the early exit of Carter Gordon – the 22-year-old fly-half, who was controversially given the keys to the car after Quade Cooper was dropped and Bernard Foley never looked at – that was the sorry sight after 49 minutes.
Gordon was run at all evening by Tuisova and while the blonde-haired fly-half never shirked it on either side of the ball, he was found wanting as he spilt the ball in contact and struggled to assert himself on the game.
With the only specialist fly-half removed, Ben Donaldson shifted to the playmaking position and together with Issak Fines-Leleiwasa managed to increase the tempo of the game. Regrettably, it didn’t last long because of their shortcomings at the breakdown.
Only history will show how Gordon recovers from the display. Some don’t ever, particularly if Donaldson is thrust into the do-or-die Test against Wales next weekend.
Jones won’t have the luxury of injecting Skelton nor Tupou back into the fray against Wales. They’re hammer blows for a side desperately lacking power and explosiveness up front.
Who else will he turn to?
Eddie Jones has some big decisions to make after his Wallabies side lost their first Test to Fiji in 69 years. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Tate McDermott, who was concussed during the win over Georgia, will undoubtedly return.
Pone Fa’aumasuli’s power at tight-head prop will be helpful should he prove his fitness.
While Max Jorgensen, a man of prodigious talent, will surely be thought of to play and perhaps even start at fullback if Jones turns to Donaldson at fly-half.
The Wallabies started the World Cup ranked in ninth spot on the World Rugby rankings. Wales was 10th.
Little has changed since then, with both nations trying to find their feet on the world’s biggest stage having thrown their New Zealand coaches to the scrap heap less than 12 months out from the World Cup.
For next week’s losing nation, that decision, at least in the short term, will be a hard pill to stomach and, indeed, recover from.
boredofstudents
Roar Rookie
Maybe it wasn't a put down, but more a worry that having Namibia on your list would see us on the receiving end of a hammering?
ScottD
Roar Guru
Good comment mate. I think there are more than a couple of media and fan "darlings" that are all about the flashy once a game stuff rather than consistent and solid performance. I personally think that is why Australia isn't a top 5 team.
Mike
Roar Rookie
Can respect our different views mate, it's all subjective isn't it. For mine, Carter, and Tate at #9 for that matter, could do maybe one individual flashy thing in a game, which the media totally focussed on. It was like commentators got paid every time they mentioned their names. But their actual jobs of guiding a team, organising attack, dictating territory weren't there. Carter went awol for parts of matches. And not understanding the #10 job has shown in RWC for Carter. His work rate is always impressive. He might need to go work with Larkham for a couple of years to learn the trade is all. He'd be quite exciting if he did that. Cheers
Phil Kearns Love Child
Roar Rookie
Using Nationality and Patriotism is a dodgy game, especially when you have a multicultural country and rugby team like Australia. It has backfired here. You simply hire the best. The players don't care where the coach was born.
Phil Kearns Love Child
Roar Rookie
I mentioned a tri nations of Australia, Namibia and Georgia. One of the esteemed Roar "experts" gave me the eye roll emoji lol
ShortBlind
Roar Rookie
Spot on mate, 15 years ago Western Sydney was ripe for rugby to gain a foothold. I met the development officers for both rugby and AFL around then (through my job). The rugby guy’s budget for the year was like 5-10K, the AFL girl said her budget was $3 million. Nuff said. O’Neil and co missed the golden opportunity our 2003 RWC nest egg presented. Pathetic leadership from ARU for decades has led us to this point. Need to throw the whole crew out, but it won’t happen ‘cause it’s the biggest entrenched boys club in OZ.
Cam
Roar Rookie
If we don’t have a competitive, tier 1 quality Australian competition, there won’t be any players to send to Europe, they will all have drifted to league or Aussie Rules as juniors. I played rugby as a kid because I loved to watch the Reds and aspired to play for QLD. And when the Broncos joined the NSWRL, I wanted to play league. The next generation of Wallabies aren’t going to be inspired by replays of Bordeaux Bègles vs Montpellier on Stan.
andyfnq
Roar Rookie
Absolutely. I live in far north qld and have seen the AFL begin prying open a foothold in a market that, 10 years ago, was completely closed to them. It is a multi-generational plan to slowly build visibility and junior competitions, which will lead in the future to senior competitions. This will take al least another 20 years, but they are happily investing both time and money in it. 10 years ago, the Auskick people in the schools were being flown up from Victoria- now they are local. It is amazing to see it happen year on year. And PS, the game needs to be back on free to air tv and marketed hard
stevemerrick7
Roar Rookie
My 9 yr old son loves watching random rugby clips on Youtube and we came across the classic 2010 Tri Nations game against Springboks. Wow what I would give for that team to be running around right now...Funny people were still baggin that team back then as not that competitive or reliable. In hindsight they look like glory days! Aghh sigh ;(
Tez
Roar Rookie
I agree with your 10 and 15 being Donaldson and Kellaway but maybe give Perese a run at 13 instead of Petaia. Perese will give his wingers a sniff.
Andym
Roar Rookie
I agree in fact I think the problem is consistency in keeping the same team. CG is 22 he’s going to become excellent if given the chance. The kiwis had a bloke called Dan Carter one of the best 10s there has ever been but he started as a centre and had several shaky games when he became the 10. Let’s support these blokes they’re all world class players maybe it’s rugby Australia that’s the biggest problem
Andym
Roar Rookie
I hope Jones sticks with CG maybe like SBJ said have an older experienced bloke there to support and mentor. We may lose a few more games but he’s 22years ahead of him. Drop him now he’s likely to head overseas and be lost. What Jones needs to do is stop with the outrageous claims which add extra pressure on a team still trying to find itself. The players are world class maybe they’re not the problem. Just saying
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Maybe Eddie mixed him up with his brother. Easy mistake!
gooch
Roar Rookie
This is the worst game I’ve ever seen from the wbs. As a life long fan, I’m not surprised or mad. I kinda expected it, which is sad to admit. Eddie left England in shambles - As Borthwick said , he inherited a team “that weren’t good at anything “. The same would have to be said for the wallabies. Against Fiji, We were leaderless, listless, rudderless, passionless, without a clear game plan, still have discipline issues, choice of interchanges we’re bizarre and the team selected in the first place is just plain wrong in some areas. Petaia over ikitau ? One of the most consistent outside centres in the world. Petaia is absolutely hopeless. There’s gotta be better than Arnold , who is not international standard. That’s not even the worst part. The absolute absence of a game plan and the inability to clear up infringements are the two glaring issues that disappoint me so much as a fan. How can rugby Australia keep letting their fans down year after year. Rugby union has regressed into a niche sport in Australia and I’m not confused as to why. Very hard to stay a fan when you get slapped in the face year after year.
Flickpass
Roar Rookie
So no negative comments allowed, only rose tinted farces? You highlight like the Wallabies should take higher ground as they scored 2 tries to 1 but forget that the first try should’ve been a penalty to Fiji in front of the sticks. All for being constructive but baseless optimism and it’ll be alright ain’t going to cut it. Greater urgency, especially at te breakdown, big men fighting to stay on feet so the support gets there and proving the defence, including the blindside, rather than kicking away possession, and dead, in good attacking positions needs to change. Go the Wallabies
Nobody
Roar Rookie
Once more with feeling…
No Arms
Roar Rookie
You compared older players to younger players- I merely supported the older players. Yeah I’m new to rugby - wondering how you ruck over on your arse? Please explain
Biscuit man
Roar Rookie
What did he do? I must have missed how many times he won ball at the breakdown or cleaned out the ruck. To me he looks like he is not up to test level at this stage. Time for a change.
Loosey
Roar Rookie
You're just being negative. Stop throwing baguettes.
Cannonball
Roar Rookie
I didn’t know rugby was big on Lord Howe Island?