Key events
1h ago
Summary
2h ago
Full-time: Australia 36-22 Fiji
2h ago
CONVERTED TRY! Australia 36-22 Fiji (Preston, 76)
2h ago
CONVERTED TRY! Australia 30-22 Fiji (Valemei, 70)
2h ago
CONVERTED TRY! Australia 30-16 Fiji (Trbojevic, 63)
2h ago
CONVERTED TRY! Australia 24-16 Fiji (Trbojevic, 58)
2h ago
Penalty! Australia 18-16 Fiji (Walker, 55)
2h ago
TRY! Australia 16-16 Fiji (Trbojevic, 49)
2h ago
CONVERTED TRY! Australia 12-16 Fiji (Valemei, 44)
3h ago
Half-time: Australia 12-10 Fiji
3h ago
CONVERTED TRY! Australia 12-10 Fiji (Walker 34)
3h ago
CONVERTTED TRY! Australia 6-10 Fiji (Milne, 26)
3h ago
TRY! Australia 6-4 Fiji (Valemei, 18)
3h ago
CONVERTED TRY! Australia 6-0 Fiji (Staggs, 7)
4h ago
Kick-off!
4h ago
Fiji XIII
4h ago
Australia XIII
5h ago
Preamble
Summary
Jonathan Howcroft
Thank you for joining me tonight. Australia march on, but they were given an almighty scare by Fiji. Catch you back here next weekend.
The final round of group matches begins on Friday evening with England desperate to pile on points against PNG in Wollongong. Then it’s up to the Gold Coast for NZ v Fiji on Saturday afternoon, before Australia take on Cook Islands in Townsville that evening.
Lebanon and France begin Sunday’s action at Commbank Stadium, but it is the second half of that double header: Tonga v Samoa, that is poised to provide the highlight of the world cup so far. If you only watch one match this tournament, make it that one.
Australia can now look ahead to a final round tune-up against Cook Islands before a blockbuster semi-final against Tonga or Samoa. Fiji are not yet out of the picture but they will need to beat New Zealand to stay alive.
Ah, lovely, Donoghoe has been named player of the match after all. He gives his post-match TV interview wearing an Australia jersey and speaking in a Novocastrian accent.
Despite being on the losing side Kurt Donoghoe was my player of the match, with halves partner Brandon Wakeham not too far behind. It’s so good for international rugby league that a team seventh on the rankings can take it to the world champions in such a manner.
If that was an audition for places in Australia’s best XIII, I’d argue only James Tedesco and Blayke Brailey advanced their causes significantly.
The forward pack is becoming a major concern. New Zealand bullied them in round one and, according to Roosters coach Trent Robinson, Fiji “outmuscled them” tonight.
ShareFull-time: Australia 36-22 Fiji
A wholehearted effort from the Bati, but an underwhelming Kangaroos prevail in Brisbane.
78 mins: Should Australian fans celebrate winning ugly or be worried at how unconvincing the Kangaroos have been in their opening two matches?
ShareCONVERTED TRY! Australia 36-22 Fiji (Preston, 76)
The Kangaroos ice it. 10m out against a tiring defensive line Brailey sets the play in motion, Walker controls the tempo at first receiver, Dearden is sharp on his outside, and Preston steams through the resulting hole and behind the posts.
75 mins: Leiu with a high tackle on Smith running out of defence and Australia get more breathing room.
Walters is only going to use three of his four interchanges.
74 mins: Fiji accept the long drop-out and attack from the 30m line. Navale hammers into the defensive line. Wakeham and Donoghoe try to manufacture something in broken field. Australia are well set, can something happen on the last? No! Wakeham’s kick is too heavy and Bostock can mark in-goal. The winger tears off on the counter – but he taps a metre or two after the 20m line and the possible rebound score is called all the way back to its origin.
72 mins: Australia are flagging again as Donoghoe and Wakeham urge their forwards downfield off the back of a set restart. They reach the 10m line on the last Wakeham hoists it, but Best marks in a contest! Then the Knight is hustled in-goal to force a drop-out. This is heroic stuff from the Bati.
ShareCONVERTED TRY! Australia 30-22 Fiji (Valemei, 70)
Maybe Fiji have some fight left after all! From the penalty, Fiji drive to the 20m, then the brilliant Donoghoe takes over, taking possession, angling his run to the left, holding his pass, drawing in defenders, then executing his third inch-perfect cutout to Valemei to slide over in the corner! Trbojevic again left grasping at air – and both wingers on that edge have hat-tricks!
Wakeham keeps the game alive with a curled conversion that only just sneaks through!
Valemei matches Trbojevic with his third. Photograph: Matt Roberts/AAPShare
Updated at 06.51 EDT
68 mins: It’s not a great set though and it ends with Tedesco corralled by Saukuru and a few bodies coming together from both sides. If the scoreline was closer there could be some late needle but both sets of players look too exhausted to put their dukes up.
67 mins: It’s all getting a bit scrappy now as fatigue sets in and the pitch cuts up. Both those factors contribute to Milne clotheslining Tedesco and inviting Australia on yet another attack.
66 mins: Australia line up another shot but it’s a weak one with Walker overhitting his short pass to the onrushing Murray and the Souths lock is absolutely ironed out by Donoghoe.
65 mins: All the running is with Australia now. Trbojevic pads his stats, Smith is busy, Fa’asuamaleaui is forceful, and by the last there’s momentum in the red zone and almost an opening on the left where Trbojevic pops up unexpectedly! Walker takes control, dropping the ball on his boot and Tedesco almost wins the chase – but the ball is pushed behind for a drop-out.
ShareCONVERTED TRY! Australia 30-16 Fiji (Trbojevic, 63)
The rub of the green continues to go Australia’s way. Fiji look to have forced an error with their aggressive defence but instead of gathering the loose ball there’s a knock-on. The Kangaroos relish the broken field. Best eats up the metres on the left. Brailey sends play back infield, Tedesco controls the tempo, then it’s catch-and-pass to the right for Trbojevic to complete his hat-trick! Walker kicks a couple more points for good measure.
Convention now dictates the Manly winger will earn the player of the match award, despite not having a very good game.
Trbojevic seals his hat-trick. Photograph: Dave Hunt/EPAShare
Updated at 06.50 EDT
62 mins: Wakeham and Donoghoe have been superb. They march Fiji downfield to the left, then on the last the former bombs to the corner and the latter grabs it and almost touches down, but runs out of play. So so close.
60 mins: Australia look to be matching Fiji in the physical battle for the first time as the Bati energy levels start to drop. The Kangaroos still look disjointed though with the rarely-sighted Best knocking on.
ShareCONVERTED TRY! Australia 24-16 Fiji (Trbojevic, 58)
James Tedesco is the difference between these sides. His previous try assists were textbook assertive fullback running, this one is a fortuitous grubber that bounced the right way; that way being off a couple of boots and into the hands of Trbojevic on the right wing, the Manly man retaining his composure to step infield and flop over in contact. While the outcome of Tedesco’s kick required plenty of luck, the decision making beforehand was spot on with Turuva out of position and plenty of momentum to the side in green.
Walker curls over a tremendous touchline conversion.
57 mins: Still the Fiji pack continues to deny Australia’s forwards metres after contact. With slow ball Brailey tries to inject something and almost throws an intercept to Donoghoe in pursuit of Preston. The Fijian half can only knock-on and the Kangaroos get another shot.
SharePenalty! Australia 18-16 Fiji (Walker, 55)
On the 20m line, just to the left of the posts, Walker takes an age before eventually kicking Australia back in front.
Walker gestures before landing the penalty kick. Photograph: Dave Hunt/AAPShare
Updated at 06.37 EDT
54 mins: Australia up the tempo and scamper downfield against a retreating defence. At the 20m Brailey is tipped after contact behind play and the Kangaroos are awarded a penalty. In an indication of the state of the game, Walker has been invited to kick for goal.
52 mins: Fiji build up a head of steam on the left but Australia defend in numbers in the left corner. Kautoga tries to force his way over from a metre out. On the last the kick is up to a contest near the uprights – but it’s overhit, Best marks, and the Kangaroos get a seven tackle set.
51 mins: Australia tread water coming out of defence on the restart but Murray does well on tackle five to allow his halves to kick from halfway. Then there’s a defensive nightmare as Turuva is allowed to run opposed behind the ruck until he’s clotheslined by a frustrated Walker. The Kangaroos are a rabble.
ShareTRY! Australia 16-16 Fiji (Trbojevic, 49)
That is a 10-point swing Australia’s way. Following the penalty the Kangaroos race downfield, Murray gets a quick play-the-ball, and the green and gold ball players get to work going through hands quickly to the right until Trbojevic has enough room on the outside to scoot into the right corner. Fiji will feel aggrieved there wasn’t an obstruction penalty called against Fifita during the build-up, but the try stands.
Walker hangs the conversion attempt well to the right and the scores are level with half-an-hour to play.
Trbojevic runs in Australia’s leveller. Photograph: Chris Hyde/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 06.23 EDT
48 mins: NO TRY! Fiji drive solidly for two tackles, then on the third Donoghoe feeds Saukuru through the line! No! Obstruction! Ravosai ran a decoy line that took Fifita out of the game. So so tough for Fiji.
48 mins: Australia lose possession coming out defence on tackle two! Bostock is adamant it was a knock-on by the attempted tackler and calls for a captain’s challenge. The Bunker reveals only that the winger’s arm was disrupted in the act of passing, not the ball, and Fiji will pack a scrum 30m out.
46 mins: This is a nightmare for Australia. They are losing the battle up front and have already used three of their four interchanges. Do Fiji believe they can do this?
ShareCONVERTED TRY! Australia 12-16 Fiji (Valemei, 44)
Fiji come again following the penalty. Their forwards are all over the Kangaroos, setting up quick ball and forcing the defensive line to scramble. And in a near repeat of their opening try the Bati do it again! Donoghoe at first receiver, a massive cutout pass taking the out-of-position Trbojevic out of the game, and Valemei does the rest, sliding over into the left corner. Delirium for Fiji!
And the cheers continue as Wakeham curls over two more valuable points from the touchline.
Valemei sends Fiji into dreamland. Photograph: Matt Roberts/AAPShare
Updated at 06.22 EDT
42 mins: Walters tells the host broadcaster he wants more impetus from Australia’s defence, especially early in sets. There’s no obvious indication his players were listening as the Kangaroos restart the game with a routine set, then almost concede a try when Fiji’s kick-chase spoils Bostock in the air, the ball comes down in white hands and almost gets worked infield before Best knocks on to deny the opening.
That is the third half in a row that reveals an Australian side badly out of touch. The forwards are losing the physical battle, the halves aren’t pulling the right reins, and only Tedesco of the outside backs looks to have any pep in his step.
Kevin Walters has his work cut out oiling this machine in time for a semi-final date with Tonga or Samoa.
ShareHalf-time: Australia 12-10 Fiji
That attack is a scrappy mess with no cohesion among the playmakers and no forwards offering anything dynamic on the edge. That said, the kick on the last is inch perfect for Bostock in the left corner. The winger leaps, grabs, but fails to hold on! Fiji escape, but they will still be disappointed to go into the break behind after a stirring performance.
39 mins: Only Tedesco has looked like making something happen with individual brilliance and his trademark quickstep with strong hips buys a high shot on his 20m. The resulting penalty means the Kangaroos will have the last attack of the half.
38 mins: Australia are so disjointed. Dearden tries to run on the last but the left channel is closed off. Then Preston chips and chases into no-man’s land allowing Fiji to reassert their physical and territorial dominance.
36 mins: Walters has already used three interchange forwards as his pack struggles to gain a foothold. One of those, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, makes an incursion as Australia execute a decent restart set. Fiji respond with a completion of their own, then almost force a spoil on Dearden as the five-eighth accepts a hospital pass from Trbojevic running out of the red zone.
Updated at 06.01 EDT
CONVERTED TRY! Australia 12-10 Fiji (Walker 34)
And just like that Australia retake the lead. It’s massively against the run of play, but Fiji only have themselves to blame. There was nobody marking on the last tackle and despite a slow ruck Tedesco was able to waltz through the open front door, shimmy through traffic, then work a neat succession of passes with Walker and Trbojevic, before the halfback dabs down. That is cruel on Fiji but the second demonstration tonight of Tedesco’s value to this faltering attack.
Walker converts his own try from under the bar.
Walker puts Australia back into the lead. Photograph: Chris Hyde/Getty ImagesShare
Updated at 06.04 EDT
32 mins: Bosh! Massive kick-chase hit on Trbojevic by Kautoga who lined up his prey a long way out and nailed his target. That’s tackle one of yet another poor set, rescued by a long Dearden kick to the left corner. Fiji have the bit between their teeth now and Koroisau keeps the intensity high as he leads his troops over halfway. This is magnificent from the outsiders, they are all over the favourites.
30 mins: Another weak set for Australia as Fiji start to throw their weight around up front. There are big concerns for the Kangaroos pack. But while things are going well in tight, the news is not so good further back for the Bati with Bentley-Hape off the field.