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FULLTIME - Wallabies supporters breathe a sigh of relief, after an excellent second-half response to Fiji's first-half siege. Check out the full wrap here.
Australia – 39 Fiji - 21
83 mins - Pick and go Fiji, they edge to the line...knock on, and that will do us.
80 mins - Fiji with some rare second-half possession as they hunt for a consolation try. Just a metre from the Aus line. Penalty, they'll launch again.
78 mins - Fiji win a defensive penalty and clear the danger as the match ticks to a close.
75 mins - Toomua tanks one with the tryline beckoning. Fiji scrum 5m out from their own line.
72 mins - TRY AUSTRALIA - Superb setpiece from Aus. Haylett-Petty delivers a lovely quick pass at the end of it to set Koroibete free to sprint 40m to score. Conversion is over.
69 mins - TRY AUSTRALIA - Too much pressure and patience, kerevi tucks it under his arm and barrels over from just a metre out. 20 straight points for the Wallabies as the conversion sails over.
68 mins - Aus marching the maul yet again, 5m out now.
67 mins - Aus keeping things much tighter now as they pick and go from the base of the ruck. Now they move wide, Koroibete goes close. Fiji turn it over on their own line, clear as far as the Aus 22m. Great scrambling defence from the Fijians.
65 mins - Dominant scrum from Aus and they'll grab yet another penalty. Touchfinder sees us to a lineout about 10m from the Fiji tryline.
64 mins - Fiji spill it as they move the ball wide. Aus scrum on their own 10m.
62 mins - TRY AUSTRALIA - Clinical stuff from the Wallabies as Latu nabs his brace in a near carbon copy of his effort minutes earlier. Big shift in momentum now with Fiji down to 14 men. Toomua can't convert, but Aus have their first lead of the game.
61 mins - There goes that yellow card referee O'Keeffe warned Fiji about, as they infringe with Aus metres from the line. 5m lineout again...
60 mins - Aus break immediately from the restart, Koroibete rips off 60m down the right touch. Cuts inside and they're inside the Fiji 22m...
57 mins - TRY AUSTRALIA - Third-time lucky from the five-metre lineout indeed, as Latu finishes off the back of a well-executed maul. Hodge sprays the conversion though, and Fiji still lead.
57 mins - Third time lucky with the 5m lineout?
56 mins - They drive to the line... Latu goes close but Fiji infringe again. Close to a yellow card now, Mr O'Keeffe lays down the law.
55 mins - Another Wallabies penalty, they'll look for another 5m lineout.
54 mins - Aus penalty, they go to a 5m lineout.
52 mins - Aus look to run their way out from the restart but it's tough going against this Fijian defence. Genia makes his presence felt immediately with a great box-kick, Fiji lineout on their own 22m.
50 mins - Fiji penalised for not rolling away. Aus should have a straightforward three points here as they look to the posts...Hodge makes no mistake.
49 mins - Aus bungle the linout and Fiji clear again. Aus win the lineout and work through the phases, slowly to the Fiji 22m...
48 mins - Hooper breaks clear off a shortball, 10m out now... and Fiji win a crucial turnover the breakdown and clear, but only as far as the Aus 22m.
47 mins - Aus with some attacking ball, to the Fiji 22m they go.
44 mins - TRY FIJI - Terrible pass in midfield from Kerevi sees the ball bounce free, and Nayacalevu pounces and sprints 50m clear to dive over under the cross bar, where he's enveloped by his teammates. What a start to the second half for Fiji.
44 mins - Monster hit from Pocock off the line-out, Aus win a penalty and win the lineout just inside the Fiji half...
42 mins - Radradra claims another bump-off victim and Fiji win a penalty at the ruck. They go to the lineout at the Aus 22m.
41 mins - Hooper carries from the restart. White clears with a box-kick, into touch at halfway for a Fiji lineout.
Second half underway...
HALFTIME - What a half of rugby! The Fijians have come to play and Australia have, so far, failed to match their physicality. Join us back shortly for the second stanza to see if the Pacific Islanders can pull off a titanic upset.
40 mins - Volavola kicks straight to touch to send them into the sheds.
39 mins - O'Connor skips out of a couple of tackles as Aus reel off the metres. Playing much more directly now, and it's paying off. White knocks on and Fiji feed a scrum on their own 22m.
38 mins - Yato looks to have failed his HIA. That's a massive blow for Fiji.
36 mins - TRY AUSTRALIA - Patient build-up by the Wallabies and eventually Hodge is able to cash in on an overlap out wide. Conversion is wide.
35 mins - Wallabies roll the maul from the lineout but the Fiji defence kills it off. 5m out now...
34 mins - They move inside the Fiji half and earn another penalty, opt for the lineout 10m from the Fijian line.
32 mins - Aus penalty after conceding the turnover.
31 mins - Aus lineout 10m inside the Fiji half as a half-hearted 'Waltzing Matilda' rings through the Sapporo Dome.
30 mins - Volavola will have naother crack at the posts here, 38m on the angle... curls it inside the right-hand upright to make it a seven-point lead.
29 mins - Kerevi able to snare a loose ball and clear deep, Radradra runs it back with interest, finds Tuisova who puts O'Connor on his backside. Penalty Fiji, Aus offiside at the breakdown. They've had all of the ball so far.
27 mins - Aus hold firm with the scrum, my goodness there are some serious collisions happening out here. Fiji lineout 15m out...
26 mins - Fiji dragged down metres short, ball spills into touch and Aus bizarrely throw the lineout quickly and put themselves under all sorts of pressure. Fiji swarm and push them back over the line. 5m scrum under the shadow of the posts for Fiji, huge chance.
25 mins - Aus pinged for obstruction and Fiji will have another chance to attack, lineout at the Aus 22m.
22 mins - Fiji with great line speed defensively, force the loose ball and swoop back into the Aus half courtesy of another damaging Yato carry. Penalty won, Volavola calls for the kicking tee...sends it over from 30m out on a slight angle to extend the lead.
20 mins - Aus keep the ball in hand from the restart. Fiji offside, and Hodge takes us to an Aus lineout at the Fiji 22m.
18 mins - TRY AUSTRALIA - Hooper hits a short ball from a close range ruck and powers his way over the line. Fantastic effort.
18 mins - Huge scrum Aus, they inch towards the Fiji line...
16 mins - Fiji snaffle a loose pass but fumble at the ruck. Aus scrum 22m from the Fiji line now.
15 mins - Australia throw the lineout near halfway. Wide they go and Koroibete has space to work with, cuts inside and they move to the Fiji 22m...
13 mins - Yato with a rampaging run through the middle of the park and Fiji right back on the attack. Volavola with a well-weighted cross field kick, Radradra soars to reel it in but fumbles as he comes to ground just metres from the line. It's all go here.
11 mins - Wallabies with some attacking ball from the restart but Fiji win a turnover with some physical work at the breakdown. They can do no wrong so far.
8 mins - TRY FIJI - Beautifully worked try from 60m out, some deft interplay on the right edge as Tuisova wreaks havoc with a strong run, then sends Peceli Yato over with acres of space in the corner. What a start for the underdogs. Volavola can't convert.
7 mins - Kerevi drives his legs, Aus work to halfway and hoist one high....
6 mins - Australia win the restart but the ball's quickly in touch. Fiji throw the lineout on their 22m, Volavola clears deep.
4 mins - Volavolva opts for the shot at the posts and sends it over from handy range. First blood Fiji.
3 mins - Volavola with a smart touchfinder, Australia pinned in their own 22m. Fiji fly in defensively, White is caught and they win the turnover penalty 10m from the Aus line.
2 min - Hodge gets sat down by a huge bump off, before areial ping-pong ensues. Radradra tucks it away and moves past halfway...
1 min - Kiwi referee Ben O'Keeffe gets the contest started. Fiji bungle the kick-off and Latu was almost able to regather and dive over the try-line.
We're underway...
4:44pm - Anthems in the bag, and Fiji deliver a fearsome bole challenge. Let's do ythis.
4:40pm - Both teams are out on the pitch under the dome in Sapporo. What a sight. Should be fast-paced rugby out there today.
Kia ora and welcome to live updates of the Wallabies and Fiji, as they kick off their World Cup campaign in Sapporo.
Commentary will be available from 4:45pm.
In the meantime, enjoy the latest from The Cup 19 podcast team below.
- Hansen backs Mo'unga to shine against Springboks
- Kolisi pleased to earn respect back from All Blacks
- Fearless predictions for RWC19
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe
TAB betting odds: Australia - $1.13 Fiji - $5.40
Line ups:
Fiji: 15-Kini Murimurivalu, 14-Josua Tuisova, 13-Waisea Nayacalevu, 12-Levani Botia, 11-Semi Radradra, 10-Ben Volavola, 9-Frank Lomani, 8-Viliame Mata, 7-Peceli Yato, 6-Dominiko Waqaniburotu (capt), 5-Leone Nakarawa, 4-Tevita Cavubati, 3-Peni Ravai, 2-Sam Matavesi, 1-Campese Ma'afu.
Reserves: 16-Veremalua Vugakoto, 17-Eroni Mawi22-Alivereti Veitokani, 23-Vereniki
Australia: 15-Kurtley Beale, 14-Reece Hodge, 13-James O'Connor, 12-Samu Kerevi, 11-Marika Koroibete, 10-Christian Leali'ifano, 9-Nic White, 8-Isi Naisarani, 7-Michael Hooper (c), 6-David Pocock, 5-Rory Arnold, 4-Izack Rodda, 3-Allan Alaalatoa, 2-Tolu Latu, 1.Scott Sio
Reserves: 16-Jordan Uelese, 17-James Slipper, 18-Sekope Kepu, 19-Adam Coleman, 20-Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 21-Will Genia, 22-Matt To'ouma, 23-Dane Haylett-Petty.
Pre-match banter:
Fiji to target breakdown against Wallabies
AAP
Fiji have spent two months honing ways to match Australia's breakdown prowess, believing that will be the key to unlocking a momentous upset win at the Rugby World Cup.
Accomplished assistant coach Tabai Matson revealed the 'Flying Fijians' have been preparing as if the Wallabies will field openside flankers Michael Hooper and David Pocock in their starting pack for Saturday's clash in Sapporo.
Matson said his team's hard work through an extended southern hemisphere winter together had them quietly confident they could live up to the darkhorse tag bestowed on them.
"Could we achieve an upset?" he said. "If we prepare well and click on the day, it'll be a good game and we have a chance.
"We feel a bit like David and Goliath, but we'll see. You look at Pocock and Hooper and a number of other Wallabies, and they are world class, so the breakdown is something we've focused on for the last two months."
Fiji are no mugs themselves in the back row, with captain Dominiko Waqaniburotu among his country's most consistently impressive players in accruing 45 caps.
He should be joined by another star of the French club scene, Viliame Mata, and Harlequins flanker Semi Kunatani. Mata and Kunatani were in the Fijian sevens team that won a historic gold at the Rio Olympics.
All three are athletic, but have added a ball-winning element to their game under the eye of head coach John McKee and fellow-Kiwi Matson, who previously coached at Canterbury and the Crusaders.
Matson is convinced Fiji will be a more formidable than the side that suffered double-figure losses to Australia, England and Wales at the previous World Cup.
With four more years of top-flight European rugby under the belts of many players and the addition of stars like prolific former NRL tryscorer Semi Radradra, Matson believes a considerable improvement looms from his ninth-ranked side.
"You have to deliver when it matters, and we missed moments against England and against Wales - and you just can't do that," Matson said.
"[Since then] World Rugby have done a fantastic job with the support to tier-two teams and that has had an effect. We are definitely better prepared and the margins have closed."
Newshub.
