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World Cup shock: Flying Fiji upset Eddie Jones' Wallabies

17 Sep 2023

TOPSHOT - Fiji's right wing Jiuta Wainiqolo salutes the crowd at the end of the France 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Australia and Fiji at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Etienne, south-eastern France on September 17, 2023. (Photo by Olivier CHASSIGNOLE / AFP) (Photo by OLIVIER CHASSIGNOLE/AFP via Getty Images)

Simione Kuruvoli inspired Fiji as they edged past Australia 22-15 with a fine performance at the Rugby World Cup.

Fiji’s brilliance at the turnover, combined with the clinical boot of Kuruvoli, saw them pick up their first win of the tournament after last week’s defeat by Wales.

Australian full-back Ben Donaldson was opportunistic early on and punished a Fiji high tackle when he converted the first opportunity of the game to give Australia a 3-0 lead after three minutes.

The Pacific Islanders sought a response through scrum-half Kuruvoli, who tied the score before converting another penalty to give his side a 6-3 lead after 20 minutes.

Fiji hold out for a huge historic win ??#RWC2023 | #AUSvFIJ pic.twitter.com/g1MLP9ijZV
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 17, 2023

The first try of the game came in the 22nd minute through Mark Nawaqanitawase. The winger chased the long ball, took a quick line-out and combined with Samu Kerevi before he received the offload to add five more to to Australia’s tally.

But the Wallabies’ hard work started to unravel through ill-discipline and they started to concede needless penalties, much to the delight of Kuruvoli who added six more and the half ended 12-8 in favour of the Fijians.

Fiji extended their lead when Carter Gordon misjudged the bounce of a high ball which invited Josua Tuisov to storm through and make it 19-8 in the 42nd minute.

Suliasi Vunivalu went over late on for Australia after Fiji scored another penalty but it was not enough and they held on to complete a memorable 22-15 victory.

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Comments

16 Comments

Def Kiwi 689 days ago

Not a shock. I have money on Fiji making it to QF

SF 689 days ago

Nothing against the Wallabies, but I'm glad for Fiji. Always love watching them. Good to see them starting to Master the basics to go with their breathless flair.

It is good for world rugby.

DC 689 days ago

what shock well i bet hamish mclennon is trying to find the contract he signed with edddie to rip it up and burn it Dave Rennnie will be a proud fiji suppporter today. australia might not make it out of the pool now

OJohn 689 days ago

We are still suffering from Rennie's hopeless coaching

JT 689 days ago

Yes, no shock, Eddie has trown the dice and stuckout, big ask next week against wales but 23 on 23 anything is possible. This is not to state that the wallabies will not be a force going forward over the next few years but leaving hooper at home is just one of many things they will look at with a level of regret.

Pecos 689 days ago

Not a shock. His young squad has clearly been picked with RWC27 in mind. Eddie won't admit it but this RWC was already a write-off.

Kenward K. 689 days ago

'Go give yourselves uppercuts.'

- Eddie Jones

Ace 689 days ago

Fiji's game management really sucks. They nearly failed to close out this one and they should have beaten Wales handsomely. They'll have only themselves to blame if the don't make the QFs.

Poe 689 days ago

Go Fiji. Enjoyed the ITC commentators. 'Their forwards play like backs and their backs play like forwards' ! Someone get them black jersey's with silver palm trees .. Also. 'Everyones favourite second team. Nice. Fair. Deserved.

GH 689 days ago

Why is it a shock? The shock was on the previous week when we saw Fidji submitted to their old demons of ill discipline and technical faults against a poor Welsh team. This evening we saw a serious quasi-european-like team, mastering their opponent and scoring at any opportunity. The same style with a bit more of Fidjian passion and you'll get... oh boy, the french team 😲 😁

Lee Byron 689 days ago

Well said.

Lee Byron 689 days ago

Why is it a shock? Fiji was always going to beat the Wallabies. The question was by how and how many points. We lost the game against Wales, we were not beaten.

Poe 689 days ago

Yep. That I saw. Would be good if the refs look at why Fiji couldn't play two phases on attack without the ozybro's killing the ball... Fiji can cut loose now and get bonus points and points difference.

Bob Marler 689 days ago

Well deserved victory Fiji! Now for a Japanese upset…

giorgi 689 days ago

Now I should agree with those pundits and fans who repeatedly underlined that Eddie Jones is no longer a tough coach.

Poe 689 days ago

Maaate. He talks a tough uppercut ...

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BC 9 minutes ago

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Hellhound 9 minutes ago

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Super Rugby is not nearly as strong and good as it was. It needs to add teams from Argentina or SA. The current model doesn't work anymore. It's still a good competition, but also a former shadow of itself.

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Hellhound 23 minutes ago

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Hammer Head 1 hour ago

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TokoRFC 1 hour ago

New Zealand just needs to look at the NPC to change eligibility laws

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IkeaBoy 1 hour ago

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None of us are! Sure as long as she makes the effort but don’t get too excited!

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Then we’ll get 30 PTS dumped on us in the Quarters.

Business as usual, pal!

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YeowNotEven 1 hour ago

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Give Tane a run yeow Joe.

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TokoRFC 1 hour ago

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Can they replicate that in Ireland though?

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JW 1 hour ago

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DP 1 hour ago

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They’ll copy SA and France, it’s the only way for sustained success.

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JW 1 hour ago

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TokoRFC 1 hour ago

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