Australia v Fiji saw the dream run of the Bati brought to an abrupt halt as the 2017 Rugby League World Cup favourites showed just why they are with a 10 try to one powerhouse display.
The headline act will be Valentine Holmes again who scored six tries this time to make it 11 tries in two games, but the Kangaroos were too good for Fiji all over the park.
Fiji tried hard, but fell short, however their efforts in this World Cup and the fact they have now made the semi finals in the last three tournaments should be recognised and applauded.
Read on for our full review of the match.
AUSTRALIA v FIJI MATCH REVIEW
RESULT – Who Won?
AUSTRALIA 54
Tries: B. Slater (14), V. Holmes (18), V. Holmes (26), D. Gagai (32), V. Holmes (42), B. Slater (48), V. Holmes (52), V. Holmes (66), D. Gagai (70), V. Holmes (76)
Goals: C. Smith 7 Conv
FIJI 6
Tries: S, Vanivalu (60)
Goals: A. Koroisau 1 Pen
How did they win?
Having a winger scoring six tries will usually result in victory, but it wasn’t all down to Valentine Holmes’ try scoring heroics.
Australia were able to withstand the early pressure from Fiji, even going down 2-0 to a penalty, a margin that was enough for victory last weekend against New Zealand. But once Billy Slater opened the scoring on the back of a Michael Morgan break and Valentine Holmes caught the perfect cross field kick for his a few three minutes later the Kangaroos were on their way.
Fiji held OK in the first half after that, a lucky try to Valentine Holmes after an awful 5th tackle play from Cameron Smith got the perfect rebound, and Dane Gagais super run after Josh Dugan almost slipped through the Fiji defence the tackle before. 22-2 at the break, but Fiji weren’t looking too bad and an early might have made a game of it.
That didn’t happen as Valentine Holmes ran in his third jut two minutes after the break with a long range intercept and Billy Slater sliced through Fiji’s defensive line not long after and the score 34-2 and game over. The combination of Morgan-Cronk-Dugan delivered another try for Holmes before another try scoring machine Suliasi Vanivalu got Fiji first and only try of the evening.
The battle for the rest of the game was whether Holmes would match his five try feat from the weekend before, and despite Dane Gagai chiming in from the opposite wing to get the sweet, sweet service of the Kangaroos halves for his second try, Holmes did indeed get his fifth and a sixth to break his record.
In the end it was 10 tries to 1, and either of England v Tonga will be worried at the ease that Australia got past one of the in form teams in the tournament.
What did we learn?
For all of Fiji’s great run at the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, it is very hard to beat a side like Australia at their best in the big games. The Kangaroos have too much experience and too many winners, and proved as much on Friday night.
When it comes to winning, you can’t beat Slater-Cronk-Smith.
The big match up on paper was the five eighth position, and Michael Morgan certainly took the honours this time for Australia. Once again Jarryd Hayne goes missing when there’s an actual chance of winning something for your side he goes missing. He attracted a few penalties and even caused a scuffle in the opening minutes. Michael Morgan meanwhile was involved in a lot of the Kangaroos tries, and once again justified his selection ahead of Cameron Munster and James Maloney.
What was the Moment of the Match?
Not a big match turning moment, as a final score of 54-6 can only mean that there was no vital event that lead to the scoreline, but something that summed up the night for both sides.
Not long after halfway through the first half Australia were leading by just 10 (9 – 12 points). The Cameron Smith attempted a grubber from dummy half that went straight into the Bati defence and lobbed back into Smith’s waiting arms who proceeded to throw the ball left, which ended in a Valentine Holmes try. And all way too easy.
Instead of a weak last play option, Australia turn it into point immediately. And at that stage it really looked as if the Fijians had accepted their fate in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.
Any other bits and pieces?
- Just can’t get enough of that pre game hymn from the Bati. Shows why the World Cup is better than NRL. Nice touch to the ceremony after the game too.
- Jarryd Hayne’s shoulder charge and follow up attention to the head of Billy Slater caused a melee in the opening minutes. Good to see as others rushed in that he was on the ground and quickly made his way to the back of the queue as others rushed in. Then tried to plead ignorance of his involvement. It proved a window into the game as he contributed little after that. Although he was targeted, the performance showed that despite all his skills, he appears not to have enough toughness to win the big games.
- The Suncorp Stadium crowd looked a little poor. No real surprise. Why have a Semi Final and a Grand Final, both involving Australia, at the same ground a week apart. For those who can afford to go to both great for you, but for most one game would probably suffice, and if you are only going to go to one game which would you choose? Organisers were better off giving Brisbane another game earlier in the tournament – preferably non Australian and at Dolphin Oval, North Ipswich Reserve or Langlands Park than back to back Australian games.
THE DOWLING-TAMATI #RLWC2017 PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT
We’ve decided that a tournament as big as the 2017 Rugby League World Cup needs a Player of the tournament, and who better than International relations specialists Kevin Tamati and Greg Dowling to name our award.
We award points on a 5-4-3-2-1 scale every match, and the results for this game is below. For the running total from all of the games visit our 2017 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP MATCH CENTRE
5 POINTS – VALENTINE HOLMES – Hard to go past a player who has scored 6 tries, most of them were more about being on the end of a good ball movement and finishing well, but that is all anyone usually asks of a winger. His last try allowed him break his own World Cup try scoring record in style.
4 POINTS – CAMERON SMITH – Big match, big performance, no wonder Qld and Melbourne have won so much.
3 POINTS – MICHAEL MORGAN – Continues to do the job at five eighth, and was more than a match for opposite number Hayne.
2 POINTS – MATT GILLETT – Loads of wrok and his best hit out of the tournament so far on home soil.
1 POINT – REAGAN CAMBELL-GILLARD – another impact off the bench of the highest value.
MATCH PREVIEW
Who: AUSTRALIA v FIJI
Where and When: LIVE Friday 24 Nov – Brisbane
When is it on TV? Channel 7 @ 6:30pm
What’s the Story?
Australia stepped up a gear last weekend against Samoa, winning 46-0, but the Samoans were very poor and Fiji have been one of the teams of the tournament. of any tier. The Kangaroos have been steadily getting more impressive each week, as they chopped and changed the team a lot during the pool games. The final 17 looks strong, and has a great balance of current superstars and some good young talent for the future. It should end in victory, but Big Mal will be wary of the potential for an upset given the way this World Cup has gone.
The Bati of Fiji knocked out New Zealand last weekend in the Rugby League World Cup’s biggest upset so far (not a surprise to us as we picked the result and margin), and if anything Fiji should have won by 20 not 2 points. But New Zealand were quite poor and deserved their early exit from the tournament.
Brisbane get their first taste of the Rugby League World Cup this weekend which has travelled across Northern Australia, NSW, Victoria, Perth, PNG and New Zealand. Australia will hopefully put on a show for the locals, along with Fiji who have entertained thus far. Wondering how the acoustics will be for the Fiji pre game hymn. A World Cup highlight so far.
To find out more of the results and how these got here, why not visit our 2017 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP MATCH CENTRE
Who Will Win and Why?
Australia should have too much, but looking across the team sheets there really isn’t that much between them. Except for the big three. Slater, Cronk, Smith. All serial winners at the highest level, and the gulf between Fiji and Australia in these positions in huge, and likely to be the difference. Sure Jarryd Hayne is quality, but is he that much better than Michael Morgan, a player who has impressed like Hayne has done in his career, but has Origin and Premiership wins under his belt. For us it comes down the winning experience of the big three.
Australia by 12
Who to watch for?
A name we’ve thrown up before just about every game has been Viliame Kikau, and he hasn’t let us down. One of the lesser known but more impressive of the Fijians has been a vital cog down the left side for the Bati. A massive unit, but capable of playing like a back, he will cause problems for Australia based on his tournament form.
We’ve avoided offering up Jarryd Hayne as the player to watch as that is too obvious, and he will already get enough exposure, and he’s a jerk.
For the Australians it is a big list of superstars, so down the other end of the pool, but no less impressive this tournament has been Reagan Cambell-Gillard. Was not even in the squad until Andrew Fifita chose to play for Tonga, the Penrith forward has taken his opportunity and is now in the top 17 Australian players. It looks likely he’ll be there for years to come too.
TEAMS
Who’s in the Teams?
AUSTRALIA
1 Billy Slater, 2 Dane Gagai, 3 Will Chambers, 4 Josh Dugan, 5 Valentine Holmes, 6 Michael Morgan, 7 Cooper Cronk, 8 Aaron Woods, 9 Cameron Smith, 10 David Klemmer, 11 Boyd Cordner, 12 Matt Gillett, 13 Josh McGuire 14 Wade Graham, 15 Jordan McLean, 16 Reagan Cambell-Gillard, 17 Tyson Frizell 18 Felise Kaufusi, 19 Tom Trbojevic, 20 Josh Mansour, 21 James Maloney
FIJI
- Kevin Naiqama (c) 2. Suliasi Vunivalu 3. Taane Milne 4. Akuila Uate 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Jarryd Hayne 7. Henry Raiwalui 8. Ashton Sims 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Eloni Vunakece 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Brayden Williame 13. Tui Kamikamica 14. Joe Lovodua 15. Jacob Saifiti 16. Junior Roqica 17. Ben Nakubuwai 18. James Storer 19. Salesi Faingaa 20. Sitiveni Moceidreke 21. Pio Sokobalavau
MATCH REVIEW
Coming soon.
After the game obviously.
THE DOWLING-TAMATI #RLWC2017 PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT
We’ve decided that a tournament as big as the 2017 Rugby League World Cup needs a Player of the tournament, and who better than International relations specialists Kevin Tamati and Greg Dowling to name our award.
We award points on a 5-4-3-2-1 scale every match, and the results for this game is below. For the running total from all of the games visit our 2017 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP MATCH CENTRE
