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Wallabies to 'tighten' the defensive screws for Fiji clash
Boosted by seven players with Fijian heritage in their World Cup squad, the Wallabies are preparing for a physical – and emotional – onslaught in their crucial Rugby World Cup pool clash against the Pacific islanders.
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Fiji are expected to enter the Saint-Etienne match on Sunday (Monday AEST) breathing fire after they fell short against Wales in their opening pool game.
The Fijians rallied from a 32-14 deficit, scoring twice in the last seven minutes before former NRL star Semi Radradra knocked on close to the line in the dying seconds, condemning his team to a 32-26 loss.
The Wallabies, meanwhile, had an easier time in their tournament opener, banking a 20-point win over Georgia to sit top of pool C, with two teams moving through to the quarter-finals at the end of the preliminary phase.
Barring any upsets through the pool stage, those results mean Fiji must beat Australia to clinch a play-off spot.
Rugby World Cup
Pool A
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Italy
1
1
0
0
5
2
France
1
1
0
0
4
3
Uruguay
0
0
0
0
0
4
New Zealand
1
0
1
0
0
5
Namibia
1
0
1
0
0
Pool B
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Ireland
1
1
0
0
5
2
South Africa
1
1
0
0
4
3
Tonga
0
0
0
0
0
4
Scotland
1
0
1
0
0
5
Romania
1
0
1
0
0
Pool C
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Australia
1
1
0
0
5
2
Wales
1
1
0
0
5
3
Fiji
1
0
1
0
2
4
Portugal
0
0
0
0
0
5
Georgia
1
0
1
0
0
Pool D
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Japan
1
1
0
0
5
2
England
1
1
0
0
4
3
Samoa
0
0
0
0
0
4
Argentina
1
0
1
0
0
5
Chile
1
0
1
0
0
Wallabies winger Mark Nawaqanitawase celebrated his 23rd birthday at a French primary school on Monday, with the students serenading him before they swamped the players for autographs.
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Of mixed Fijian and Italian heritage Nawaqanitawase briefly considered playing for the island nation before deciding to represent his country of birth.
“There was one of those moments where for a split second I was thinking of going down that path but I guess I’m grateful for how things have turned out,” said Nawaqanitawase, who scored one of the four tries in Australia’s win.
“It’s obviously pretty special, having Fijian heritage, and I’ve been been watching them ever since I was growing up as well and there’s a few players in there as well that I’ve looked up to.
“Sunday will be a special moment for myself and the family and it’ll be a very exciting match.”
Marika Koroibete, Samu Kerevi, Langi Gleeson, Suliasi Vunivalu, Rob Valetini and Issak Fines-Leleiwasa are the other players with Fiji blood ties.
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Putting the Australians on notice, Fiji totalled 1106 run metres in Bordeaux, forcing the Welsh to make a staggering 237 tackles.
Radradra, who played 94 games and scored 82 tries in the NRL for Parramatta before switching codes in 2017, topped the tally with 160m.
The athletic Nawaqanitawase, who has been likened to former Wallabies fullback Israel Folau for his skill in the air, led the Wallabies’ charge with 143m from his 13 carries.
He acknowledged his team would need to stiffen their defence after the Georgians found some gaping holes, particularly in the outside channels.
“It shows how much the Fijians are carrying the ball, so credit to Wales, they defended well and we managed to get the win,” said Nawaqanitawase.
“I think any team coming up against Fiji is going to have to tighten up a few things.
“We’ve had that game and we’ve got to fix up a few things and obviously each game we want to improve.
“We’ll want to tighten up and make sure that we’re connected because they’re going to bring a lot of mystery. They can do anything out of nothing so we’ve just got to make sure we’re connected and ready for a couple of things.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Big empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
34 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to comments