Brave Fiji put scare through Junior Wallabies
AUSTRALIA have extended their unbeaten run at the Oceania Rugby Under-20 Championship with a scratchy win over a spirited Fiji outfit.
The 32-24 result sets up a trans-Tasman title showdown against New Zealand on Saturday, for which both squads will enter on the back of two-from- two records. The Junior Wallabies were made to work for their victory last night by Fiji at Bond University.
The sides traded heavy tackles during a tough first half before Australia broke away to a seemingly comfortable 15-0 lead when hooker Efi Maafu scored in the 34th minute.
But Fiji cut the margin to 12 shortly before the break and scored 90 seconds after it to be right in the hunt at 15-10. They would have hit the front had it not been for a series of missed penalty goals.
The hosts managed to regain the ascendancy to seal the result but coach Simon Cron was openly underwhelmed with the performance.
“Our own errors were our downfall ... we just let them stay in the game,” he said.
Cron expects an improved team display for their clash against rivals New Zealand, also at Bond University.
“We tried a few new combinations. We’ll get to roll a couple of players back in for the next game,” Cron said.
Australia finished the game two players down, following a major injury scare for replacement scrumhalf Ryan Lonergan who left the field in a neck brace after being concussed.
Initial post-match indications however suggest the injury is not as severe as feared.
Skipper Reece Hewat also limped off late in the match.
In the early game, the Junior All Blacks showed they will again be a force to be reckoned with, flogging Samoa 80-23.
New Zealand set up the crushing win with a 47-6 first half. They had swept aside Fiji 63-3 earlier in the tournament.