Fiji records historic first win over Australia in 69 years

SAINT TIENNE (AFP): Fiji kept their Rugby World Cup quarter-final hopes alive with a thrilling and deserved 22-15 win over Australia in Saint Etienne on Sunday, their first success against the Wallabies in 69 years.

Man-of-the-match Josua Tuisova scored a second-half try and scrum-half Simione Kuruvoli contributed 15 points with the boot as the Flying Fijians bounced back from their narrow opening Pool C defeat to Wales.

Australia scored tries through wings Mark Nawaqanitawase and Suli Vunivalu but had to settle for a losing bonus point in a game in which they were always second best.

“I'm emotionally drained at the moment,” said Fiji coach Simon Raiwalui. I'm really proud of the boys. It was a great contest, a great Australian side. It's not just today. It's a culmination of the work we've done since the beginning of the campaign.” 

Australia coach Eddie Jones was gracious in defeat. “Thoroughly deserved victory for Fiji, they outplayed us,” said the veteran coach. “They executed three times more turnovers than us, and in a close game like that, that's the difference.

Fiji came into the clash knowing they could not afford to lose and but for a woeful line-out and some crucial handling errors, they would have racked up a much more comfortable winning scoreline.

Australia, who beat Georgia 35-15 last week, will now face their own must-win game against Wales in a week's time.

The Wallabies, whose captain Will Skelton pulled out an hour before kick-off after failing to overcome a calf injury, almost missed out on the losing bonus point but Fiji's replacement scrum-half Frank Lomani screwed a last-gasp penalty horribly wide.