Wallabies strike late to edge out Fiji in British & Irish Lions warm-up Test
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
Wallabies captain Harry Wilson scoring a late game-changing try during Australia's 21-18 rugby union Test match win over Fiji on July 6.
PHOTO: AFP
Follow topic:
NEWCASTLE – Australia lost starting fly-half Noah Lolesio to injury as they came from behind with a late try on July 6 to beat Fiji 21-18 in their only warm-up for the Test Series against the British & Irish Lions.
Captain Harry Wilson crossed a minute from time for the try that gave Australia a measure of revenge for their loss to Fiji at the 2023 World Cup but fell short of the convincing win they would have wanted before facing the Lions in three Tests.
“Massively relieved, because you want to get a result,” said coach Joe Schmidt.
“But disappointed with the performance and I know the players will be looking for more out of themselves, and that has to happen in a very short space of time.
“Thirteen days’ time, we won’t be afforded the number of errors that Fiji gave us,” he added, referring to the first Test against the Lions in Brisbane on July 19.
“They (Fiji) were superb. Some of the players we knew would be elusive and quick and powerful, and they turned up and were all those things.”
Schmidt had more positive news on Lolesio than would have been expected after he slammed his head into the turf in a tackle on the hour mark and had to be stretchered off the field in a neck brace at McDonald Jones Stadium.
“He appeared to be in good shape,” he said. “I think it was whiplash and his head hit the ground. So I’m hopeful that’s going to be something that will resolve itself reasonably quickly. (But) we won’t take any risks with him.”
The team said they did not think Lolesio would have to go through concussion protocols before being able to play again.
Fiji scored tries through debutant Salesi Rayasi and Lekima Tagitagivalu either side of half-time and had eight points from the boot of fly-half Caleb Muntz but came up just short of a first win over the Wallabies in Australia since 1954.
“Very proud of my brothers, we came together in one week, prepared to put it out there today,” said Fiji captain Tevita Ikanivere.
“I know it’s a disappointing loss, losing in the last minute, but thankful to them for giving their all.”
David Porecki and Fraser McReight found the try-line to give the Wallabies a 14-0 lead in the first half, but Fiji fought back to go into the dying stages with the advantage.
However, Australia skipper Harry Wilson crossed the line two minutes from the end and Ben Donaldson slotted the conversion to rescue the win for the hosts.
A day earlier, the Lions were similarly unconvincing in a lacklustre 21-10 win against the NSW Waratahs at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney, with head coach Andy Farrell admitting to “a bit of frustration”.
A disjointed Lions side struggled to assert themselves and adjust to the playing style of the Waratahs, despite the home side missing a host of key players who were on duty for Australia against Fiji.
“I mean, there’s a bit of frustration there, but it’s nice to get a win,” he said.
“Disappointed though with the amount of possession and territory that we had, and how we dealt with certain situations.
“It was a different type of game. But are we glad that’s happened to us? Yeah, we are, because there’s some good learnings.”
Scottish centre Huw Jones (two) and English scrum-half Alex Mitchell scored the Lions’ tries, while the Waratahs crossed the line via Darby Lancaster and Ethan Dobbins.
In other key matches on July 5, New Zealand beat France 31-27 in Dunedin, while world champions South Africa saw off Italy 42-24 in Pretoria. REUTERS, AFP
