[ad_1]
The Wallabies have an entire lot of labor to do if they’re to qualify from Pool C and attain the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals after a surprising defeat in opposition to Fiji.
For the primary time since 1954 and simply the third time in historical past, the Wallabies fell to defeat in opposition to Fiji, leaving their hopes of development resting on subsequent Monday’s (AEST) conflict with Wales in Lyon.
- Look again at how the motion unfolded in our dwell weblog
Listed here are the 5 details from Saint-Étienne.
1. Wallabies open the scoring with a pleasant 50:22
Issues did not begin completely for the Wallabies, however they did rating the opening attempt, simply as they did in opposition to Georgia.
After Ben Donaldson and Simione Kuruvoli exchanged penalties, it was the boot of Nic White — beginning instead of the concussed Tate McDermott — who acquired Australia on the entrance foot for the primary time within the match.
His good field kick from inside his personal half noticed the ball land within the Fijian 22 and trickle out of play — underneath the brand new guidelines a Wallabies lineout.
Not content material with simply discipline place although, Mark Nawaqanitawase raced ahead and took that lineout shortly to Samu Koroibete.
Koroibete was smashed in a sort out, however not earlier than he lobbed the ball again inside to Nawaqanitawase, who gave Australia the opening attempt of the sport.
2. Fiji rating an opportunist attempt
Fiji have been enjoying by far the perfect rugby of the 2 groups, shifting the ball from left to proper, and spreading the sector to isolate the Wallabies defenders earlier than smashing the ball up the centre.
There was even a little bit of razzle-dazzle typical of the Fijian aptitude we have come to know and love in direction of the top of the primary half — however extremely there have been no tries for the flying Fijians.
When the attempt did finally come, although, it was sheer opportunism from Josua Tuisova.
A booming Simione Kuruvoli field kick landed smack-bang between Mark Nawaqanitawase and Carter Gordon and popped up delightfully for Tuisova, who ran the perfect a part of 40 metres to splash down within the nook and prolong Fiji’s lead.
No razzle. No dazzle, however the Wallabies have been left dazed and confused — and so they by no means recovered.
3. Carter Gordon taken off early
The Wallabies have been struggling slightly to muster any actual get ahead at that stage, so Eddie Jones needed to do one thing.
Flyhalf Carter Gordon was the participant who was withdrawn, changed by winger Suli Vunivalu, who went straight to the wing, pushing Donaldson into the ten function and prompting a reshuffle of the again three.
Vunivalu did rating Australia’s second attempt, however the resolution to take off the Wallabies 10 did increase eyebrows.
For the 50 minutes Gordon was on the sector, he made eight carries — second solely to Rob Valentini’s 11 — and carried the ball for 44 metres —the fifth most of any Wallaby.
It could have been on account of an absence of management on the sport, however given the 22-year-old’s lack of expertise and lack of canopy for him within the squad, it was an enormous name.
“He caught with Carter Gordon all over, maybe too late to alter his quantity 10,” former Wallabies centre Morgan Turinui mentioned on Stan Sport.
“As a result of as soon as that confidence is gone, it’s powerful to get it again.
“It’s as much as Eddie Jones himself to get round Carter Gordon and get what he wants out of him by way of assault with the teaching employees and in addition the opposite senior gamers.”
Jones, for his half, was unapologetic about deciding on a younger workforce.
“I’ve acquired no regrets in any respect. We’re constructing a workforce for the long run and we’re going to undergo some ache,” he mentioned.
“I made the choice to go for a youthful workforce and if that is the improper resolution then I will likely be held accountable for that.”
4. Penalties kill the Wallabies
Towards Georgia, the Wallabies have been lauded for his or her self-discipline and rightly so.
Australia conceded simply seven penalties in that opening sport — the third fewest of any workforce within the opening spherical of matches.
Sadly, that didn’t translate right into a well-drilled efficiency in opposition to Fiji.
The Wallabies gave up a whopping 18 penalties within the match that price them a hatful of factors — Simione Kuruvoli kicked 14 factors and Frank Lomani added one other three from the kicking tee.
Kuruvoli’s boot was arguably the distinction, taking advantage of the loads of possibilities that got here his technique to kick the Fijians clear and maintain them there, regardless of being outscored two tries to 1.
“When you find yourself not on the entrance foot it is fairly straightforward to provide away penalties,’ Jones mentioned post-match.
“I’m not nervous about our self-discipline, I’m nervous about not getting on the entrance foot.”
5. Fiji miss probability to go away Wallabies empty-handed
As unhealthy because the efficiency and consequence have been, it may have been worse for Australia.
The seven-point defeat means Australia come away from Saint-Étienne with a dropping bonus level — and there was no assure of that.
Lomani missed two very kickable penalties after he changed Kuruvoli as kicker together with with the ultimate kick of the sport.
Had both of these gone over then the Wallabies would have had a dropping bonus level taken away from them.
Given the tightness of Pool C, and that Wales have already crushed Fiji, each level is of big consequence in the case of making the quarterfinals as one of many high two finishers within the pool.
“It could possibly be massively essential,” Jones mentioned post-match.
“As disappointing as our efficiency was at present, to get a degree out of that could be a little bit of a bonus and that is most likely why they name it bonus factors.”
Loading
[ad_2]
Source link