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Rugby World Cup 2019 | Wallabies need record comeback to beat Fiji in Cup opener

The Wallabies won a thriller at the Rugby World Cup, but a huge flaw exposed to the world has piled the pressure on coach Michael Cheika.

Andrew McMurtryAndrew McMurtry
@AndrewMcMurtry
5 min read
September 21, 2019 - 6:10PM
Australian stars show their relief after a tough win.
Australian stars show their relief after a tough win.

The Wallabies have claimed a 39-21 win over a determined Fiji in their World Cup opener but the scoreline has flattered Australia.

Fiji pulled out a massive performance to hold the lead for the first 61 minutes before running out of steam at the Sapporo Dome with the Wallabies running away with the win.

Here are the talking points from the second Bledisloe Cup match.

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‘PRETTY RIDICULOUS’: WALLABIES CUP SHOCK

It was a game the Wallabies always pencilled in as a danger game but Australia have been exposed by the flying Fijians.

The performance has raised some doubts for how the Wallabies will go against the big boys in the competition — and next Sunday they’ll have their first opportunity.

The final scoreline may point to an Aussie domination but it took until the 61st minute for the Wallabies to hit the lead and put Fiji to the sword.

It coincided with the yellow card for Fijian centre Levani Botia

Four tries from the 56th minute game the Wallabies a buffer but it was far from smooth sailing and shows how far Australia has to go to deep in the tournament.

Fiji even led 21-12, meaning Australia had to dig deep to claim their biggest ever comeback in a World Cup match. The previous record was eight points against Scotland in the quarter-finals of the 2015 tournament before coming back to win 35-34.

Tolu Latu scored two tries for the Wallabies.
Tolu Latu scored two tries for the Wallabies.

Coach Michael Cheika said he was happy with the performance despite Fiji able to shock the Wallabies.

“I’m not going to complain at all, they’re such a dangerous team, we know them very well, it’s what we expected,” Cheika said. “We probably didn’t expect to be that far behind but we knew the start of the game would be like fury from the other team and we made a few errors that let them into it and we recomposed ourselves, got back to basics and we were able to get it done.”

Wallabies legend Phil Kearns said he didn’t expect Australia to win with six tries to two but the team was looking fit.

But social media was quick to slam the Wallabies first up performance.

Michael Cheika copped a fair bit of criticism for the Wallabies’ first half.
Michael Cheika copped a fair bit of criticism for the Wallabies’ first half.

Rugby writer at the Courier Mail Jim Tucker was particularly critical of Cheika with a series of tweets slamming the coach.

He was more positive about the second half but it was tough watching for Aussie fans in the first half.

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live as well, Fiji’s Olympic Sevens gold medal-winning coach Ben Ryan said the Wallabies got it completely wrong in the first half to be 14-12 down at the break.

“Australia got their tactics totally wrong at the start but the strangle began in the second half and Fiji had nothing left to play off,” he said.

HOOPER TURNS NOSTRADAMUS

Aussie skipper Michael Hooper seems to know something.
Aussie skipper Michael Hooper seems to know something.

Little known fact, Aussie skipper Michael Hooper can see the future.

Despite being down 21-12, the Wallabies were given a penalty in front of the sticks and took the easy goal.

The Wallabies skipper decided to take the goal and the Fijians seemed to question if he was taking the goal.

“Huh? Yeah, we’re taking it,” Hooper replied, while giving a thumbs up.

“Then we’ll get a try and then we’ll go in front.”

What happened next — Australia kicked the goal, then scored four back-to-back tries to hit the lead.

While it was a sneaky sledge, it’s shown his confidence at the World Cup.

He was whether he was satisfied with the win post-match, an upbeat Hooper was thrilled.

“Absolutely, it was a testing match for us going down like that. Fiji really came out of the blocks aggressively, they’re big physical guys, and they took it to us. Really proud of our guys for regrouping.”

QUARTERFINALS HERE WE COME

Australia’s first win in the 2019 World Cup was a big one.
Australia’s first win in the 2019 World Cup was a big one.

It’s odd to say but after one game in the World Cup, the Wallabies can pretty much prepare for the quarterfinals, barring a shock loss or a Fijian upset.

The win means Australia should be playing Wales for the top of Pool D next week.

It will make the Wales-Fiji match up important but the Six Nations grand slam winners should take care of Fiji and send Wales and Australia through to the quarters.

While they don’t want to take the foot off the accelerator, the Wallabies should be expected to have the goods to defeat Uruguay and Georgia in their final two games of the season.

But Stephen Hoiles post-match said Wales should be wary of Fiji.

“We all think the team that don’t get to spend too much time together traditionally — that’s often Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, all the tier two teams — the don’t get the 12, 14, 16 Test matches a year that Australia get,” Hoiles said. “So the longer Fiji get to spend together, the more dangerous they’ll become. Wales they’re going to play another tough couple of games.”

‘BREAKING MY HEART’: FIJIAN CONNECTION STARS

When Samu Kerevi scored in the 61st minute, it was a big moment for the Aussie star.

The rampaging centre was the first Fijian born player to score against Fiji, with Marika Koroibete following suit two minutes later.

It led to AFL star Nic Naitanui tweeting the connection was “breaking my heart”.

It broke the hearts of the Fijians as well as Australia hit the lead and ran away with the game.

But before the match, Kerevi said he had to overcome the emotion of his World Cup debut as he watched the Cibi war dance.

Kerevi said he would have no point to prove against his countrymen and suspected Fijian-born Wallabies teammates Marika Koroibete and Isi Naisarani felt the same.

Wallabies centre Samu Kerevi celebrates scoring a try against his birth country.
Wallabies centre Samu Kerevi celebrates scoring a try against his birth country.

Instead the match served to highlight where their life and allegiances now lie.

“It’s not about trying to get one up on anyone,” he said.

“It’s about trying to put our best foot forward for our team, for our nation and especially for us, the Fijian Australians.

“It will be a rollercoaster of emotions before the game but once the kick-off starts it’s all about our rugby.”

Kerevi, who hails from the small village of Viseisei, insists his family will be supporting the Wallabies.

They have a “whole day program” prepared ahead of kick-off, featuring breakfast followed by a barbecue.

“I know everyone in Fiji has been excited, everyone has been talking about it back home,” he said.

“The whole family is coming to watch the game, and they are really backing the Fijians in our team.”

— with AAP

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/rugby/rugby-world-cup/rugby-world-cup-2019-wallabies-need-record-comeback-to-beat-fiji-in-cup-opener/news-story/0942e4bfd5eadf40fcd9c035745cf960