The Wallabies Week 2 match-up of the 2023 Rugby World Cup continues where they took on Fiji yesterday morning our time at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in St Etienne, France. Wallabies may have took the first three pointer & the TRY scoring points on the board, but it’s Fiji who made the most out of several three-pointer penalties through the posts going into the break 8-12. Later on, Fiji went on to extend their lead off the one and only TRY while continuing to score another few three-point penalty goals. Although Wallabies scored another TRY back, but at the end of the day, the winner goes to the Fiji after they def. them for the first time in 69 years 15-22. Wallabies will need to must win that next game v Wales on Monday in Lyon to try & finish 2nd in Pool C that will see them go into the Quarter-Finals next month, while Fiji will have a week off before taking on Georgia next Sunday in Bordeaux.
The best No.9 half-back on ground goes to Simione Kuruvoli from Fiji, having contributed a lot of the points that saw them stay ahead before his side found the winning touches towards the end. He might not be the tallest, but he’s so excellent at kicking all over the pitch thanks to his impressive physicality including these conversions between the two posts, as well as clear & effective communication that got the best out of his team including an improved 2nd half run.
There’s also a towering second rower who helped Fiji stay ahead in none other than Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta at No.5. Not only he has such a tall frame with NZ provincial rugby & Super Rugby experience, but also so powerful when it comes to his physicality mainly in attack that gifted his side the maximum amount of points opportunities possible. They both are gonna keep it calm over the next two RWC games v Georgia & Portugal, so no pressure whatsoever before QFs time.
And Rob Valetini did the best he can to try & stop Fiji in its tracks in the No.8 Wallabies shirt. He’s got a great all-round game as always as being tested with his visual and physical contribution that led to some opportunities along the way when it comes to accruing these points. But unfortunately, ill-discipline & a lack of fire from the Wallabies back half saw Fiji take the upper hand, which is very worrying indeed if they lose again v Wales or else they’ll have to fly straight back home.