Rugby Live

Finished Montpellier

Australia 55 - Fidji 12

Australia

Fiji

  1. Wallabies into last eight with Fiji win

    Wallabies into last eight with Fiji win

    Australia recovered from a sloppy start to thrash a below-strength Fiji 55-12 at Mosson Stadium on Sunday to safely book their place in the World Cup quarter-finals against England or Tonga. More

  • Live Commentary

    Time:80'
    • Australia
    • Fiji
    • 80' Ref blows for full-time. 27 points for Matt Giteau and a satisfactory day for the Aussies. 55-12. They are looking very good and England are set to meet them in the quarter-finals! For Fiji, they live to fight another day and a much more important game with Wales, which will decide which side goes through to the knock-out stages. Can't wait for that one on September 29. Thanks for joining us.
    • 79' Rabeni makes some good ground and the ball is chipped through for Neivua who is just unable to gather in the corner. Australia win the lineout and Tuqiri takes Cordingly's box kick and bursts from defence, the ball is shipped to Giteau and Mitchell is put over in the left corner for his hat-trick. Superb try from the Aussies! 55-12.
    • 76' It's all Australia now, although their game has lost a little shape since the subs came on.
    • 73' Huxley bursts through the middle and Waugh feeds the ball to Hoiles for the replacement to go over on the left. 50-12.
    • 71' Giteau makes it 45-12 as a streaker runs the length of the pitch. Stewards not quick enough to catch him!
    • 69' Fiji work the ball through their backs but Neivua is well checked on the left touchline. Lewaravu makes great break from a lineout, the ball is moved to the right but the Aussies turn the ball over. Latham hacks up field, Tuqiri receives the ball and feeds Mitchell who goes over in front of the posts. 43-12.
    • 66' Huxley comes on for Staniforth, he goes to flyhalf and Giteau goes back to the centre.
    • 66' Staniforth is off with what looks like an injured shoulder.
    • 65' Fiji on the attack, but ball is knocked on by Rawaqa.
    • 63' Big hit again by Rabeni, this time on Staniforth, who takes a knock with his first touch of the ball.
    • 63' Staniforth on for Barnes, Giteau goes to stand off.
    • 62' Fiji concede penalty for holding on, Giteau takes quick tap and Latham almost over in the corner. But he's held up and gives away penalty for not releasing.
    • 58' McMeniman on for Elsom, Freier on for Moore and Cordingly on fro Gregan.
    • 57' Giteau on target again. 38-12.
    • 56' Aussies have scrum in left corner of Fiji's half. They produce a good drive, the ball is worked wide and great hands from Giteau puts Ashley-Cooper through for their fourth try. 36-12.
    • 54' Big hit on Barnes by Rabeni, but the young flyhalf retains possession well. Bit of a set to between Rabeni and Latham after a great cross kick from Barnes.
    • 51' Tuqiri makes good yards from the kick off, Gregan puts up a poor box kick and Rauluni gathers well. Scrum down Fiji in Australia half.
    • 50' Fiji concede penalty from restart and Giteau steps up for another shot at goal. Nice kick. 31-12.
    • 48' Conversion from Bai makes it 28-12. Well played Fiji. Bai only just made it back in time for this game as he was called away on Friday to attend the birth of his third child, born four hours drive away in Clermont.
    • 47' Rauluni spots a gap and bursts through lineout, Ratuva is in support and shows good pace to go over for Fiji's second try. Great effort. 28-10.
    • 45' Huge scrum from Australia but they're penalised for wheeling. Fiji take quick tap but the ball is lost in midfield and Giteau clears up to halfway.
    • 43' Huge kick from Barnes and Australia win lineout for Fiji taking it into touch. Vickerman wins throw and Barnes sends over a drop goal. Well played! 28-5.
    • 42' Giteau slots the kick from just right of the posts to make it 25-5.
    • 41' Barnes kicks off for the start of the second half and Australia immediately win the ball and launch an attack down the left. Fiji concede penalty for not rolling away.
    • 40' Ref blows for half-time. Australia clearly on top but there is life left in this Fijian side - if they can retain possession and cut out the mistakes then we may see some more tries from the Pacific Islanders in the second half. 22-5.
    • 40' Fiji win their throw and their pack drives into Aussie defence. It's spread wide and it goes to Neivua and the wing shows great power to crash his way over in the left corner, despite the attentions of about four Wallabies defenders. 22-5. Nice try!
    • 40' Waugh fails to take highball and Elsom forced to tidy up in his own 22m area. Lineout Fiji gives them one last attacking chance in this half.
    • 38' Aussies spill the ball from kick off and Fiji make a rare incursion into Wallabies half. Qovu brusts through but the ball was knocked on and ref calls him back for a scrum Australia.
    • 35' Great hands by the Aussies and the ball reaches Giteau on the left and he puts through a deft chip which Fiji run into touch. Lineout Australia 5m from Fiji line. Aussies win their throw, launch a series of attacks and Giteau finally goes over for his second try. 22-0.
    • 33' Delasau takes a high ball well. Gregan gets penalised for too much talking - ref had warned him earlier for being too vocal. Fiji kick down into Aussies half but ref awards free kick against them for delaying throw!
    • 32' Two more points for Giteau and two more points for Australia. 17-0.
    • 30' Smart grubber by Latham and Mitchell wins the chase to touch down for Aussies' second try. 15-0.
    • 29' Aussies knock on lineout tap down. They've made more mistakes than usual this game. But they steal ther scrum and kick down for another lineout 10m from Fiji line. They win their throw but again the lineout is messy.
    • 27' Fiji fail to roll away from tackle and Aussies awarded penalty. Looks a tad harsh. Giteau slots the kick from in front of the posts and Australia move 10-0 up.
    • 25' Fiji delay engagement in at the scrum and free kick awarded to Wallabies. Aussies opt for scrum and start series of attacks in Fijian half. Wallabies recycling well but not really going anywhere as Fiji defence is good.
    • 23' Long lineout throw allows Aussies to launch backs move. Tuqiri again clear on the right but this time he has a foot in touch!
    • 21' Kunavore finds superb clearance kick. Fiji knock on at the lineout and it's scrum down Australia.
    • 20' Tuqiri free on the right but Latham's pass ruled forward. Lucky for Fiji!
    • 19' Great running from flanker Elsom, supported by Latham and then Gregan. Aussies attack halted 5m out and Fiji then win penalty. Ligairi takes a quick tap but then slices kick. Aussie lineout on Fiji 22m line.
    • 18' Giteau makes it 7-0.
    • 17' Tuqiri is put clear by Palu down the right. The Fiji defence covers well and haul down their countryman, but he throws a pass up that ends up in Giteau's hands and the talented centre goes over for the first try. 5-0.
    • 15' Aussies find some space in Fiji half thanks to slick passing. Barnes feeds Palu and the big number eight is almost through but he knocks on. Aussies concede penalty and Fiji break from deep before kicking up field.
    • 14' Superb touch finder from Barnes gains Aussies 40m. Inch perfect kick!
    • 13' Barnes misses touch and Ligairi counters. Australian tackling is good but tackler fails to roll away and Fiji awarded penalty and kick for the corner.
    • 10' Ratuva pinches the ball and breaks up field superbly, setting up an attacking position for Fiji in Wallabies 22m area.
    • 8' Barnes find some space down the right side but Fiji defence holding firm. Fiji knock ball on and it's scrum down.
    • 6' Neivua is charged down but Qovu collects the ball and find touch on 22m line.
    • 4' Giteau makes a few yards but is penalised for not releasing and Fiji clear their lines.
    • 3' Wallabies nick the scrum and Palu makes a powerful drive before Giteau chips through into Fiji 22m area.
    • 2' Loose pass from Palu sees Barnes knock on.
    • 1' Fiji get the game going through Luveniyali. Australia take kick cleanly and find good touch in Fiji half.
    • - Fiji have decided to rest most of their best players for this game and save them for the crucial pool tie with Wales later this month. Fiji are unbeaten so far with two wins but clearly they do not fancy their chances against the Wallabies.
    • - Australia are without their captain Stirling Mortlock, absent with a shoulder injury, but otherwise name a full-strength team. Veteran George Gregan skippers the side from scrum-half and equals Will Carling's record for captaining your country. Berrick Barnes again starts at fly-half as cover for injured Stephen Larkham.
    • - Hello and welcome to Eurosport's online commentary of the day's first World Cup game - the Pool B clash between Australia and Fiji from the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Monpellier.

  • Summary

    Australia versus Fiji
    Giteau 17’, 36’, Mitchell 31’, 70’, 79’, Ashley-Cooper 57’, Hoiles 74’ Tries Naivua 40’, Ratuva 47’
    Giteau 17’, 31’, 57’, 70’ Conversions Bai 48’
    Giteau 28’, 42’, 50’ Penalties  
    Barnes 44’ Drops  

Live Team Line-Up

  • Referee: N Owens

  • Australia

    Manager: John Conolly

    On the Field

    • Dunning Substitution Out (58′)
    • Moore Substitution Out (58′)
    • Sheperdson
    • Chisholm
    • Vickerman
    • Elsom Substitution Out (58′)
    • Waugh
    • Palu Substitution Out (67′)
    • Gregan Substitution Out (58′)
    • Barnes Substitution Out (63′)
    • Tuqiri
    • Giteau Tries×2
    • Ashley-Cooper Try
    • Mitchell Tries×3
    • Latham

    Subs

    • Cordingley Substitution In (58′)
    • Staniforth Substitution In (63′) Substitution Out (67′)
    • Huxley Substitution In (67′)
    • Freier Substitution In (58′)
    • Hoiles Substitution In (67′) Try
    • McMeniman Substitution In (58′)
    • Holmes Substitution In (58′)

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None

  • Fiji

    Manager: Ilivasi Tabua

    On the Field

    • Yalayalatabua Substitution Out (60′)
    • Sauturaga
    • Qiodravu
    • Domolailai Substitution Out (41′)
    • Rawaqa
    • Talei Substitution Out (63′)
    • Ratuva Try
    • Qovu
    • Dunivucu Substitution Out (41′)
    • Luveniyali Substitution Out (41′)
    • Naivua Try
    • Bai
    • Kunavore Substitution Out (65′)
    • Delasau
    • Ligairi

    Subs

    • Koyamaibole Substitution In (63′)
    • rabeni Substitution In (41′)
    • Railomo Substitution In (60′)
    • Gadolo
    • Lewaravu Substitution In (41′)
    • Raulini Substitution In (41′)
    • Lovobalavu Substitution In (65′)

    Injured

    None

    Suspended

    None