Fiji coach Mick Byrne said he would seek clarification with World Rugby about a contentious review that overturned a potential match-winning try against the Wallabies in Newcastle - but was based on an Australian error, and not a Fijian one.
The mistake-riddled Wallabies got out of jail with a 21-18 win at McDonald Jones Stadium, courtesy of a 78th-minute try to captain Harry Wilson, which saw the home team snatch victory from the jaws of an embarrassing defeat on the eve of the three-Test Lions series.
Wallabies captain Harry Wilson squirms over to somehow get the ball down for the winning try.Credit: Getty Images
After trailing the Wallabies 14-0 near halftime, Fiji scored after the halftime siren and then scored twice more in a dominant second-half. The Fijians led by four points with minutes remaining and were on the cusp of their first win in Australia since 1954, and back-to-back wins over the Wallabies for the first time.
Wilson’s late try saved the Wallabies but it could have been a different story if a Fijian try in the 60th minute was not disallowed.
In bizarre scenes, Fiji crossed the line after kicking downfield, pressuring Nick Frost into a turnover and then passing wide for Sireli Maqala to cross.
It could have seen the Fijians climb to an imposing eight-point lead with 20 minutes to play, but the try was overturned after the TMO advised referee to look at a possible foot in touch from Wallabies winger Harry Potter.
The Australian had faintly stepped on the line after fielding the Fijian kick and then passing infield to Frost.
“I just need to clarify with World Rugby,” Byrne said. “The Brumbies got a try taken off them this year and I think they went back 19 phases. I understand that. You can go back as many phases as you can in your possession.
“I didn’t know now we can go back to opposition possession as well. Maybe next year when they change it, we might be able to go back 10 minutes and find something. Maybe I’m wrong. I’ll just get clarity on it because I thought you could only go back on your possession.”
Jiuta Wainiqolo of Fiji takes on the defenceCredit: Getty Images
Fiji captain Tevita Ikanivere said it was “frustrating”.
“You work hard and then you see they made a mistake and then you have to come back for their mistake. But they’re the boss. They make the call and everybody listens,” Ikanivere said.
World Rugby regulations say general play can be reviewed up to two phases before a try (foul play can be longer), meaning the ruling was correct. Fiji were ultimately victims of their own brilliance, having not been tackled after the Frost turnover. If they’d had just one more ruck, the Potter foot in touch would not have been reviewable.
Byrne said the defeat was a “gut punch” and suggested the Fijians had been motivated by public commentary of the Test being a “warm-up” for the Wallabies ahead of the Lions series.
“The game goes both ways. It’s just gutting for the players when they do everything they can and sort of take them out of their hands. But we’re not here to focus on that,” Byrne said.
“I just want to congratulate the Wallabies. They hung in there as well. But for our players where we were at half-time and the way the game was, I think we were 35 per cent territory. We scrambled well. We held on to the game.
“We scored that try just before half-time and then got the job done in the second half. I think that’s the things we need to focus on of the rugby, the quality of the rugby that was played in the second half. Everyone’s talking about the Wallabies’ warm-up game, so I hope they feel nice and warmed up.
“I wouldn’t be taking too much away from our effort today. I wouldn’t be going down the road saying the Wallabies didn’t step up. I’d say, ‘Get ready for us. We’re coming’.”
The Wallabies’ victory ended their winless run in Newcastle and saved them the sharp embarrassment of a defeat ahead the massive series coming up in two weeks.
But it also came at a hefty cost, with No.10 Noah Lolesio taken from the field on a medicab after suffering a nasty concussion.
Lolesio had only just returned from a concussion suffered in the Super Rugby semi-finals, and he may be in doubt for the first Test against the Lions on July 19 if his recovery is not straightforward.
Lekima Tagitagivalu dives over in the corner to score for Fiji.Credit: Getty Images
But the get-out-of-jail won’t hide the massive flaws in the Wallabies’ game, which were many.
The Wallabies had three tries disallowed but were far too wasteful with the ball. The hosts committed every sin possible when trying to beat Fiji, with too many offloads and too much aimless kicking.
Fiji then did what they do best, seizing upon Australia’s errors and riding a wave of skilful play to scoring several counter-attacking tries.
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said the performance was a frustrating one after the hosts had built a lead early, but surrendered it. The final stages of the game brought a mix of emotions.
“Some of it was frustration and some of it was relief to find ourselves in that situation after we built a nice lead early in the game,” Schimdt said.
“And then I felt we got a bit loose and they’ve got some fantastic broken field runners. That was no surprise to us because we knew they had them and we knew we’d have to be better connected than we were. So, you know, it was certainly a relief when Harry got over and dotted it down, that’s for sure.”
The Wallabies led 14-5 at halftime after tries from hooker Dave Porecki and Fraser McReight.
A shocking brainfade from Lolesio after the halftime siren saw the No.10 eschew kicking the ball into touch, and instead pop a poor chip over the top in his own half. His chasing target Wright missed the regather and Fiji gratefully went on the counter-attack. After Lolesio then went for an intercept, Fiji scored through fullback Salesi Rayasi.
The second half didn’t see huge improvements straight away from Australia.
A chip-kick from Potter finally appeared to work when Max Jorgensen won the race and touched down, but the try was disallowed after it was reviewed and another forward pass from Wright was found in the lead-up.
Fiji then swept to the lead when former Fiji sevens speedster Jiuta Wainiqolo went on an incredible run from his quarter and beat five defenders, before offloading to flanker Lekima Tagitagivalu, who scored.
Caleb Muntz’s penalty in the 67th minute made it a four-point lead, but the Wallabies would have the last say.
