The Wallabies have been crushed by Fiji for the primary time in 69 years leaving Australia’s World Cup marketing campaign in tatters.
New coach Eddie Jones has now misplaced six of his first seven Tests and his group is abruptly on the verge of crashing out within the pool stage in France.
Fiji prompted one of many greatest boilovers at this yr’s match in Saint Etienne with an exciting and deserved 22-15 win, their first success in opposition to the Wallabies since 1954.
Jones was visibly indignant in his media appearances after the sport and he was booed by some sections of the group when his face was proven on the massive display screen in the course of the match.
Jones stated the group ought to have been “throwing baguettes and croissants” at him due to his group’s efficiency.
Australia scored tries by means of wings Mark Nawaqanitawase and Suli Vunivalu however needed to accept a shedding bonus level in a recreation wherein they had been all the time second finest.
“Thoroughly deserved victory for Fiji, they outplayed us,” Jones stated.
“They executed three times more turnovers than us, and in a close game like that, that’s the difference.
“For some reason we were just off today. We were a poor version of ourselves today, so there’s a bit of soul-searching to do.”
As anticipated, the rugby world reacted with each shock on the outcome and dismay at Australia’s efficiency.
Scottish rugby nice Scott Hastings posted on Twitter: “OMG! The rugby world cup has just exploded into oblivion! Fiji have just beaten Wallabies”.
Kiwi sports activities author Ollie Ritchie wrote: “Maybe as bad as the Wallabies have been all year. Utterly dreadful”.
Aussie rugby reporter Christy Doran wrote: “The Wallabies are unravelling before our very eyes”
The Sydney Morning Herald’s Tom Decent wrote: “Things you never thought you’d see in your life: the Wallabies losing a Test to Fiji.
“Huge drama for the Wallabies in this World Cup. So much went wrong there.”
The outcome means Fiji (eighth) has gone above the Wallabies (ninth) on this planet rankings.
Wallabies legend David Campese on Twitter criticised the ways of repeatedly kicking the ball down area as an alternative of maintaining possession.
Writing for Planet Rugby, Campese didn’t pull any punches.
“Sure, losing players like Will Skelton and Taniela Tupou didn’t help our cause but World Cup campaigns are based on squads, not individuals, and it was our squad and leadership that came up short,” he wrote.
Campese then lamented the Wallabies’ recreation plan.
“Watching the Wallabies get drawn in to playing Fiji at their own game annoyed me greatly. Australia seemed intent on matching the same power carry game but without anywhere near the artillery to deliver it.
Given the kicking options of Nic White, Carter Gordon and Ben Donaldson, I was surprised that the Aussies didn’t use their footballing skills in exit and open field to get into territorial positions where they’d have the ability to keep the scoreboard ticking in the early. When you’ve got an edge in the lineout, the kicking game is an obvious weapon as you’ve a one in five chance of re-stealing the ball in the set-piece.
“But then to suddenly switch to a kick strategy in the last five minutes when Australia needed to go the length of the pitch to draw absolutely defied my comprehension. This was a side that have no clue how to attack and do not know each others’ games in terms of attack.
“It’s simply not the way the Wallabies play rugby and if we continue to do that we will lose the support of our people who come to watch our traditional Aussie brand – attacking, intelligent and highly skilled, ironically the qualities Fiji exhibited all evening in this match.”
FIJI CELEBRATE HISTORIC WIN
Man-of-the-match Josua Tuisova scored a second-half try to scrum-half Simione Kuruvoli contributed 15 factors with the boot because the Flying Fijians bounced again from their slender opening Pool C defeat to Wales.
“I’m emotionally drained at the moment,” stated Fiji coach Simon Raiwalui. “I’m really proud of the boys.
“It was a great contest, a great Australian side. I couldn’t be prouder.
“It’s not just today. It’s a culmination of the work we’ve done since the beginning of the campaign.”
Fiji got here into the conflict understanding they might not afford to lose and however for a woeful line-out and a few essential dealing with errors, they’d have racked up a way more snug profitable scoreline.
Australia, who beat Georgia 35-15 final week, will now face their very own must-win recreation in opposition to Wales in per week’s time.
The Wallabies, whose captain Will Skelton pulled out an hour earlier than kick-off after failing to beat a calf damage, nearly missed out on the shedding bonus level however Fiji’s substitute scrum-half Frank Lomani screwed a final gasp penalty horribly vast.
A few excessive Fijian tackles allowed Ben Donaldson to kick Australia right into a 3-0 lead after three minutes.
Much was made within the build-up to this recreation about Australia’s defensive vulnerability in vast areas, and Fiji started the sport making an attempt to hit the flanks early with formidable miss-passes that didn’t all the time come off.
Two penalties from the unflappable Kuruvoli had Fiji main 6-3 on the midway stage of the primary interval.
And then in a flash, Australia had been in entrance.
A hoofing 50-22 clearing kick from scrum-half Nic White gave Australia a line-out deep in Fijian territory.
While their opponents laboured in getting again, Nawaqanitawase took it shortly to Samu Kerevi, accepted the return go and dived over for the primary strive.
Donaldson missed the conversion and moments later Kuruvoli kicked his third penalty to provide Fiji again the lead 9-8.
They would by no means lose it once more.
Fiji had been clearly on high and forcing Australia into conceding penalties, as Kuruvoli kicked one other three-pointer.
But Australia’s dogged defence was stopping the Fijians from getting ball in hand inside their opponents’ 22.
And after they did, poor dealing with errors and misplaced line-outs value them the possibility to construct on that 12-8 half-time lead.
Fiji lastly received the strive their play deserved early within the second half. Australia fly-half Carter Gordon mistimed his leap for a Kuruvoli up-and-under and Tuisova picked up the bouncing ball to run into the nook unopposed.
Kuruvoli kicked the conversion for a 19-8 lead however it was his final significant contribution earlier than, seemingly fighting cramp, he was changed by Lomani, whose first act was to overlook a straight forward-looking penalty.
Fiji ought to have scored a second strive however Tuisova butchered a two man overlap out vast with a wild go straight into contact.
A profitable penalty from Lomani gave Fiji a 14-point lead with as many minutes left.
Almost instantly, although, and moments after Tuisova limped off, Australia’s Fijian-born substitute wing Vunivalu dived over by means of a crowd of our bodies to attain, with Donaldson changing to chop the hole to seven.
The Fijians held agency, and because the victory was confirmed the appears of sheer pleasure informed their very own story, a marked distinction to the despair of the week earlier than.
— with AFP
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
