Sun 25 Oct 2026 at 9:14pmSun 25 Oct 2026 at 9:14pm
47′ Fiji are in again, but it’s rule no try on the field
Solomone Saukuru bursts through a hole off another Kurt Donoghoe ball, but Gerard Sutton says no try on the field.
And the bunker upholds the call as Elijah Keung is found to have impeded David Fifita.
Sun 25 Oct 2026 at 9:08pmSun 25 Oct 2026 at 9:08pm
42′ Bostock is outleapt and Fiji will get the first chance of the half
The kick goes out right and Ronald Philitoga beats Jack Bostock in the air to come down with the ball.
He offloads and Fiji look certain to score, but Bradman Best knocks the ball down.
Reuben Cotter picks it up in an offside position, but it’s just called a knock-on.
Sun 25 Oct 2026 at 9:05pmSun 25 Oct 2026 at 9:05pm
41′ Fiji kicks off the second half
It’s a wobbly old one and fielded by Tom Dearden, who finds Pat Carrigan to barrel into a shuddering defence.
Sun 25 Oct 2026 at 8:58pmSun 25 Oct 2026 at 8:58pm
What is happening out there?
(Getty)
Fiji’s forward pack is dominating through the middle and the trio of Api Koroisau, Brandon Wakeham and Kurt Donoghoe – effectively all hookers – is keeping the momentum rolling, then icing chances once they get into the red zone.
Australia’s defence is looking really flimsy through the middle and on the edges. Tom Trbojevic is looking very much like a man not used to playing on the wing.
One concern for Fiji is the loss of fullback Bayleigh Bentley-Hape, but Sunia Turuva is an able deputy back there and Ronald Philitoga has brought some much-needed energy off the right wing.
Sun 25 Oct 2026 at 8:48pmSun 25 Oct 2026 at 8:48pm
38′ Strange choices by Australia
Tom Dearden and Sam Walker aren’t making great last-tackle plays at the moment and there’s another one as Dearden runs it and, instead of going through the hands out to the left, tries the long ball and puts Bradman Best in the firing line of winger Ronald Philitoga.
Best offloads and Jacob Preston manufactures a decentish chip, but the Kangaroos definitely look out of sorts.
Sun 25 Oct 2026 at 8:37pmSun 25 Oct 2026 at 8:37pm
28′ Triple change for Australia
Cameron Murray, Keaon Koloamatangi and Lindsay Smith leave the field.
Pat Carrigan, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Jacob Preston replace them.
So Reuben Cotter will shift into the middle. Kevin Walters will hope the changes can restore some order.
Sun 25 Oct 2026 at 8:31pmSun 25 Oct 2026 at 8:31pm
23′ Roos looking rattled
Fiji almost breaks through the middle via Waqa Blake but it’s called back for an obstruction by Mitchell Priest, who was standing in the line impeding Blayke Brailey.
Even so, the defence from the Kangaroos was caught napping, with Keaon Koloamatangi not filling in the gap from the left after the ball went right. So when the ball came back the other way there was room under the posts.
Sun 25 Oct 2026 at 8:28pmSun 25 Oct 2026 at 8:28pm
21′ Staggs saves the day
We saw two Kangaroos intercept tries last week and Kotoni Staggs tries to nab one himself here as Fiji fires it left.
In the end, the leaping Aussie centre can only get one hand to it as he sticks his mitt out, probably saving a try on the overlap.
Sun 25 Oct 2026 at 8:27pmSun 25 Oct 2026 at 8:27pm
20′ Lazy from the Aussies
Kitione Kautoga makes good metres down the left and has a chance for a quick play-the-ball but Blayke Brailey hangs on too long and is pinged for a penalty.
Fiji will get into Australian territory again and look to take the lead.
Sun 25 Oct 2026 at 8:23pmSun 25 Oct 2026 at 8:23pm
17′ Turbo fumbles to give Fiji a shot
The Fijian defence is rushing and frustrating the Aussies, and a gang tackle forces the ball out of Tom Trbojevic’s grasp on the 40m line.
Here comes the Bati’s best chance so far.
Sun 25 Oct 2026 at 8:18pmSun 25 Oct 2026 at 8:18pm
12′ Roos threaten but Fiji hold firm
It looked like there might have been an obstruction as the Kangaroos shifted left, but lucky for the Aussies they didn’t score, so the bunker couldn’t get involved.
Instead they spun it right and Sam Walker thought he saw space in behind, but his grubber was quickly snaffled up by Bayleigh Bentley-Hape.
Sun 25 Oct 2026 at 8:15pmSun 25 Oct 2026 at 8:15pm
Live scores?
No live scoreboard Jon. ?
– Phillip
You might need to hit a refresh, Phillip.
Sun 25 Oct 2026 at 8:12pmSun 25 Oct 2026 at 8:12pm
7′ Fiji’s defence holds out
The Kangaroos look certain to score down the left before Daniel Saifiti arrives out of nowhere to cut down Tom Dearden 3 metres short. Then Waqa Blake makes a flying catch to intercept the bouncing ball.
But Fiji knocks on again! Giving the Kangaroos yet another chance.
Sun 25 Oct 2026 at 8:10pmSun 25 Oct 2026 at 8:10pm
5′ Koroisau too slick for his own good
Fiji gets a set restart and a quick play-the-ball, and Api Koroisau looks to exploit from dummy half, but his no-look pass is out in front of Waqa Blake and he can’t handle.
Sun 25 Oct 2026 at 8:08pmSun 25 Oct 2026 at 8:08pm
3′ Early error by the Bati (and the referee)
Sam Walker’s first kick is long and straight to winger Semi Valemei and he drops it cold.
It’s definitely gone backwards, as evidenced by him making contact in front of the 20m line and the ball bouncing behind it, but referee Gerard Sutton calls a knock-on.
Sun 25 Oct 2026 at 8:07pmSun 25 Oct 2026 at 8:07pm
1′ Early warning shot
The Fijians spin it right early in their first set and fullback Bayleigh Bentley-Hape shows great speed to poke his nose through, but is eventually reined in by Bradman Best on debut.
Sun 25 Oct 2026 at 8:03pmSun 25 Oct 2026 at 8:03pm
Nothing left to do but play
The Fijians’ Noqu Masu prayer has been sung and the Kangaroos are in position to kick off.
Sun 25 Oct 2026 at 7:59pmSun 25 Oct 2026 at 7:59pm
The teams are lined up for the anthems
Let’s hope everyone shows the appropriate reverence lest they be pilloried by certain members of the media.
The lyrics are on the big screens at either end of the stadium, which is a nice touch for any neutrals.
Sun 25 Oct 2026 at 7:40pmSun 25 Oct 2026 at 7:40pm
A childhood dream realised
A lot of people say they’ve dreamed of playing for Australia since they were a kid, but no everyone has proof.
Bradman Best does, and tonight he makes good on that pledge.
Sun 25 Oct 2026 at 7:30pmSun 25 Oct 2026 at 7:30pm
A lopsided weekend of World Cup ‘contests’
The moment the draw came out, this second round was highlighted as one without many genuine contests in it with clear favourites in every game.
So far the closest games of the past three days have been Tonga vs Lebanon in the men’s and Fiji vs PNG in the women’s, and both of those were 36-point blowouts.
All told, with Australia-Fiji still to come tonight, the overall scoreline reads a ridiculous 550-26 (that’s 264-22 in the men’s and 286-4 for the women).
New Zealand’s Kiwi Ferns just had the biggest win of the tournament with their 92-0 victory over France in Christchurch and I don’t see that getting topped, although the Jillaroos will surely give it a shake against Wales next Sunday.
France was also the victim of the biggest blowout on the men’s side, with an 82-0 to England yesterday.
Pretty wild for an event that kicked off with a two-point thriller between the Kangaroos and Kiwis.