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Recap: Australia v Fiji LIVE | Rugby World Cup
By RugbyPass
Follow all the action from the second match of the 2019 World Cup on the RugbyPass live blog as Fiji take on Australia in Sapporo.
Keep up to date with the latest score, stats and join the conversation from anywhere in the world in our Live Match Centre (click here).
While the Wallabies will head into this fixture as favourites to emerge with victory, Fiji will be just as eagerly be eyeing up a shock win over their Pacific neighbours.
The Flying Fijians haven't tasted success against the Australians since 1954, but the side that head coach John McKee has named suggests that 66-year drought could be in jeopardy if his side can fire on all cylinders under the roof of Sapporo Dome.
French-based wingers Semi Radradra and Josua Tuisova headline the strong Fijian starting XV, which will be led by captain and blindside flanker Dominiko Waqaniburotu.
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He, alongside fellow loose forwards Peceli Yato and Viliame Mata, have been tasked with the unenviable job of shutting down Australia's fierce-looking back row, which consists of injury returnee David Pocock, the Fijian-born Isi Naisarani and captain Michael Hooper.
Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika has also reinstated Nic White and Christian Lealiifano as his halves combo, while Fijians Marika Koroibete and Samu Kerevi will be expected to wreak havoc against their nation of birth.
READ MORE:
* Emotions running high for Samu Kerevi ahead of Fiji clash
The match is scheduled to kick-off at 1:45pm local time.
Australia:
1. Scott Sio, 2. Tolu Latu, 3. Allan Alaalatoa, 4. Izack Rodda, 5. Rory Arnold, 6. David Pocock, 7. Michael Hooper, 8. Isi Naisarani, 9. Nic White, 10. Christian Lealiifano, 11. Marike Koroibete, 12. Samu Kerevi, 13. James O’Connor, 14. Reece Hodge, 15. Kurtley Beale.
Reserves: 16. Jordan Uelese, 17. James Slipper, 18. Sekope Kepu, 19. Adam Coleman, 20. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 21. Will Genia, 22. Matt Toomua, 23. Dane Haylett-Petty.
Fiji:
1. Campese Ma’afu, 2. Sam Matavesi, 3. Peni Ravai, 4. Tevtia Cavubati, 5. Leone Nakarawa, 6. Dominiko Waqaniburotu, 7. Peceli Yato, 8. Viliame Mata, 9. Frank Lomani, 10. Ben Volavola, 11. Semi Radradra, 12. Levani Botia, 13. Waisea Nayacalevu, 14. Josua Tuisova, 15. Kini Murimurivalu.
Reserves: 16. Tuvere Vugatoko, 17. Eroni Mawi, 18. Manasa Saulo, 19. Tevita Ratuva, 20. Mosese Voka, 21. Nikola Matawalu, 22. Alivereti Veitokani, 23. Vereniki Goneva.
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Latest Comments
Nah, that just needs some more variation. Chip kicks, grubber stabs, all those. Will Jordan showed a pretty good reason why the rush was bad for his link up with BB.
If you have an overlap on a rush defense, they naturally cover out and out and leave a huge gap near the ruck.
It also helps if both teams play the same rules. ARs set the offside line 1m past where the last mans feet were😅
Go to commentsYeah nar, should work for sure. I was just asking why would you do it that way?
It could be achieved by outsourcing all your IP and players to New Zealand, Japan, and America, with a big Super competition between those countries raking it in with all of Australia's best talent to help them at a club level. When there is enough of a following and players coming through internally, and from other international countries (starting out like Australia/without a pro scene), for these high profile clubs to compete without a heavy australian base, then RA could use all the money they'd saved over the decades to turn things around at home and fund 4 super sides of their own that would be good enough to compete.
That sounds like a great model to reset the game in Aus. Take a couple of decades to invest in youth and community networks before trying to become professional again. I just suggest most aussies would be a bit more optimistic they can make it work without the two decades without any pro club rugby bit.
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