The Kangaroos have escaped with a 36-22 come-from-behind win over Fiji in an enthralling World Cup encounter in front of 41,108 fans in Brisbane on Sunday.
The match swayed through four lead changes as the Bati threw down the gauntlet to the reigning champions, arguably having the run of the game for the opening 60 minutes.
Fiji were upbeat in the opening throes, turning heads with a break from fullback Bayleigh Bentley-Hape in their opening set and showcasing their desperation and desire in defence to keep Australia off the scoresheet.
Match: Australia v Fiji
Round 2 -
home Team
Australia
1st Position
away Team
Fiji
3rd Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Repeat errors eventually caught up with the Bati when Kangaroos fullback James Tedesco put Kotoni Staggs through a hole to give him a try at his home ground.
Whatever momentum they had accrued ended with a Tom Trbojevic error in his own half, starting a period of Fiji dominance of possession on Australia’s line.
Semi Valemei put his side on the board in the 17th minute after a stunning long cutout from Kurt Donoghoe landed in his lap, and eight minutes later the Bati were in front after a Brandon Wakeham grubber to open space for Taane Milne.
Semi Valemei Try
As Fiji’s forward were dominant through the middle, it would take a piece of Tedesco brilliance to turn the tide back to the Kangaroos just six minutes from half-time.
On last tackle on halfway, the skipper took advantage of a quick play-the-ball and ran it from dummy half, weaving his way through behind the ruck before offloading to Sam Walker in support and his one-two with Tom Trbojevic had the halfback crashing over.
Sam Walker Try
Walker’s conversion had the Kangaroos taking a 12-10 lead at the break.
The Bati found another gear after the break, forcing an early mistake and returning to the lead three minutes into the second half after another sublime Donoghoe cut-out escaped the outstretched hand of Kangaroos winger Trbojevic to hand Valemei his second.
It looked as if the lead had been extended in their next set when Solomone Saukuru crossed the stripe, but it was called back for obstruction, before Australia marched the ball up the other end levelled the scores through Trbojevic, despite some question over obstruction.
Australia took the lead through a Walker penalty goal when Blayke Brailey was flattened after passing, and they soon had an eight-point buffer when a deflected grubber fell in the path of Trbojevic to score his second and the halfback nailed the conversion from the sideline.
Trbojevic completed a genuine hat-trick a few minutes later, but Fiji just kept coming and Valemei scored his third off another diamond of a pass from Donoghue, with the Fiji five-eighth ultimately awarded player of the match.
Jacob Preston notched his first try in the green-and-gold to seal a result and book their spot in the semi-finals, to be played at Allianz Stadium on November 8.
The Kangaroos will prepare for their clash with a game against Cook Islands in Townsville, while Fiji will look to upset New Zealand on the Gold Coast on Saturday.
