Cautious Aussies miss their bonus
It’s a boost for England in the Pool of Death
The Group of Death is still waiting for someone to tear up the script, but Australia could live to regret missing out on a bonus point in their openinground victory over Fiji.
Two tries from David Pocock and a third from Sekope Kepu kept the Wallabies hot on the tails of england and Wales, although their charge ran out of steam in the final 20 minutes.
With a 12-point lead after 69 minutes, Australia opted for three points over a try-scoring opportunity at the line- out, with head coach Michael Cheika claiming Pool A will not be decided by bonus points.
‘england got a bonus point at the very last minute and they’re probably favourites to win our pool,’ said Cheika. ‘If you lose a game in this pool, you’ll be in strife.
‘I preach to my team about being humble and we don’t go into a match talking about bonus points. That decision to go for goal at the end shows our respect for the opposition. Fiji are a top team, I think they are still going to have a say before the tournament finishes.’
Australia’s performance for the first hour will send warning signs to their rivals. The backrow combination of Michael hooper and Pocock, two natural opensides, instilled a tireless workrate and between them they made 38 tackles on the powerful Fijian runners.
This was a meeting of two of rugby’s great entertainers at the Millennium Stadium but Australia showed style as well as substance.
Cheika claimed that people ‘ aren’t too sure if we’re any good’ but all of his side’s tries came through the forwards, who showed signs of improvement at the set-piece.
It took 10 minutes for the Wallabies to get the first points on the board. having been brought back into the set-up after a lifted ban on overseas players, Toulon midfielder Matt Giteau was tackled off the ball and Bernard Foley kicked the penalty.
With four changes from the side who lost to england, Fiji also had some joy at the set- piece as Nemani Nadolo levelled the score after a powerful scrum and driving line- out. But Australia hit back with three unanswered tries to apply the nails to Fiji’s coffin — Pocock crossing twice in quick succession off the back of a driving line- out as Campese Ma’afu was sent to the sin bin.
‘Our next game is against Wales so we’ll regroup and refuel,’ said McKee, whose side have eight days to recover for their third Test. ‘To play a lot of very good rugby in two games and come away with no points is disappointing so I’m sure the players will have an extra resolve to really make their mark next week.’
With Australia fresh from a prolonged World Cup kick- off, Bernard Foley kept the scoreboard ticking over and Kepu cut through the Pacific Islanders’ defence just after the break.
The Aussies have been staying in their own training bubble in Bath, away from the distraction of autograph-hunters and World Cup fever. But they eventually lost their structure and were sucked into Fiji’s open style of running rugby, leaving the door open for lively No 10 Ben Volavola to wriggle through for his side’s only try — with Nadolo adding five more points from the boot.
With the clock ticking down, Cheika’s side had a chance to roll the dice but turned it down. Instead they kicked for goal and ended the game defending their line from Fijian waves.
The crowd had to wait until the 73rd minute for the first 36-stone collision between cousins Tevita Kuridrani and Nadolo — who used to tackle each other during the summer holidays on the beach of Namatakula — and the Australian centre was sent to the sin bin for not releasing, watching in frustration as the bonus point slipped away.