2023 World Cup – Fiji create the feat against Australia!

It was the expected meeting of the day, due to its uncertainty and the potential repercussions depending on the outcome. While Will Skelton had withdrawn a few minutes before kick-off, the Wallabies approached this meeting without a safety net. And if Donaldson opened the Australian counter in an offside position for the opponents from the start (3-0, 3rd), it was indeed the Fijians who led the debates as they wished. Concentrated on the rugby they offered, Simon Raiwalui’s men showed patience as the Australian camp approached. Twice, Kuruvoli adjusted his sights to allow his team to take the lead after 20 minutes of play (3-6, 21st).

An overall domination however thwarted by a sudden reaction and a try full of mischief from Nawaqanitawase, on a quickly disputed touch with Kerevi, for a surprise achievement (8-6, 24th). If this start could have awakened Eddie Jones’ troops, it was without counting on the Fijian application, clean on the fundamentals and realistic when it came to filling the scoreboard. Kuruvoli, skillful against the posts, compiled the points, and allowed his team to take a significant lead (8-12, 33rd). A provision not far from being increased without an imprecise alignment at the end of the first act and some ammunition wasted by the Australian counter, well in place for the moment. As expected, the outcome of this duel hung by a thread.

Fijian fullness

And to be honest, Tuisova’s try was only the most legitimate demonstration of the Fijians’ unfailing conviction from the restart. Taking advantage of a favorable rebound and incredible passivity from the Australians in the fall, the center recovered a ball without opposition and went straight for a goal that capsized the island supporters (8-19, 43rd). Enough to put the Wallabies under the extinguisher, powerless and overwhelmed in their strategy. Worse, the Fijians showed immense heart on the ground and in the battle of the rucks by collecting countless penalties. Lomani will add three additional points to ward off a threat that only had the name (8-22, 65th). The final blow was not far away.

If the Australians revived the suspense in the final minutes with a try from Vunivalu and a well-made ball (15-22, 69th), the Flying Fijian never gave in to panic, except on the sidelines, where the losses were considerable . While Waisea had just made a brilliant crossing in the axis, which Habosi was not able to finish, it was on a penalty obtained from a scrum that the success was sealed. Lomani tried to take away the defensive bonus from the Australians, in vain. The most important thing was elsewhere with this historic success for the Fijians in a major competition against Australia. A stunning result which allows Fiji to aim for a potential qualification for the future while the Australians will have to beat the Welsh to avoid prematurely leaving the groups and plunging an entire nation into complete disarray.