Australia v Fiji (Sun/Mon)

[Lizard]

Tasty, tasty match.

Being played at a fucking ridiculous time - 1.45am on Monday in Syd/Melb/Bris, and 3.45am Monday in Fiji. Tournament organisers should give themseves an uppercut over this one. There is match kicking off just over 3 hours later between England (8.00pm Sunday) and Japan (4.00am Monday).

If they switched them it would be Australia 5.00am v Fiji 7.00am, and England 4.45pm v Japan 12.45am.

I hope they tell the Eng v Jpn commentators to avoid spoilers so we can watch Aus v Fiji afterwards.

[Lizard]

Will Skelton gone for a scan

[Puja]

Tupou out injured and Skelton a doubt. Come on Fiji; this could be amazing.

Wallabies lineup: Angus Bell, David Porecki, James Slipper, Nick Frost, Will Skelton (c), Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Nic White, Carter Gordon, Marika Koroibete, Samu Kerevi, Jordan Petaia, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Ben Donaldson

Res: Jordan Uelese, Blake Schoupp, Zane Nonggorr, Richie Arnold, Rob Leota, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Lalakai Foketi, Suliasi Vunivalu.


Puja

[Lizard]

[font=]

Tupou out injured and Skelton a doubt. Come on Fiji; this could be amazing.

Wallabies lineup: Angus Bell, David Porecki, James Slipper, Nick Frost, Will Skelton (c), Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Nic White, Carter Gordon, Marika Koroibete, Samu Kerevi, Jordan Petaia, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Ben Donaldson

Res: Jordan Uelese, Blake Schoupp, Zane Nonggorr, Richie Arnold, Rob Leota, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, Lalakai Foketi, Suliasi Vunivalu.


Puja

So there’ll be what, maybe 20-odd Fijians taking the field?

[UKHamlet]

It's not very often I want Australia to smash the living fuck out of a team. This will be that day.

[Sourdust]

Despite all the bullshit after our game - which wasn't their fault - I still hold a torch for Fiji. Under any normal circumstances, I'd be thrilled at the idea they might do the Aussies over. I'd pay money to see it.

But the horrible truth is that we need Aus to win this. Assuming everyone gets 5pts against Georgia & Portugal (not a given, but the safest assumption) then a Fiji win will leave us needing to get at least something out of our game against Aus, with them needing to beat us. I think we can do it, but who needs that pressure? Far better to play that match with the pressure off, be able to try a few things without worrying about the result too much, maybe get a marker of our progress.

After the Eng v Arg match it is, if anything, even less clear to me whether it's better to win this group, or come second.

[Son of Mathonwy]

Despite all the bullshit after our game - which wasn't their fault - I still hold a torch for Fiji. Under any normal circumstances, I'd be thrilled at the idea they might do the Aussies over. I'd pay money to see it.

But the horrible truth is that we need Aus to win this. Assuming everyone gets 5pts against Georgia & Portugal (not a given, but the safest assumption) then a Fiji win will leave us needing to get at least something out of our game against Aus, with them needing to beat us. I think we can do it, but who needs that pressure? Far better to play that match with the pressure off, be able to try a few things without worrying about the result too much, maybe get a marker of our progress.

After the Eng v Arg match it is, if anything, even less clear to me whether it's better to win this group, or come second.

Yeah, by letting* Fiji get 2 points out of that game we've put them in a strong position if Wales, Australia and Fiji manage one win & one loss from each other. We really don't want Fiji to get that win.

* poor choice of words

[Puja]

Confirmed now there's no Skelton, to go alongside no Tupou. Really big chance for Fiji.

I'm surprised that the Welsh are so pessimistic that they're cheering for Australia in the hope of only scraping through the group. This Australian team is far from unbeatable and your first XV have the ability to put together a very strong performance - you should be confident of getting a result against them or at the very least getting a bonus point in a loss. Cheer for Fiji to utterly batter Australia and deny them any bonus points!

Puja

[switchskier]

Come on Fiji. Tournament needs one group that's a three way tussel going into the final weeks.

[J Dory]

Would love to see Fiji knock Aus over here. LETS GO FIJI!!

[Buggaluggs]

I'm up for this game about as much as any game I can remember!

[J Dory]

Fiji need to put it through the hands instead of the wild skip passes, they have Aus in trouble here.

[Puja]

Andrew Brace has a word with Fiji about high tackles in the opening minutes. Australia put in two upright tackles immediately afterwards, including one that looked pretty close to a red - not a whisper. That's not going to be great if it's an ongoing theme...

Puja

[Donny osmond]

Come on Fiji. I'd love to see Wales qualify out of this group, but I really really really want Fiji to win this game

[Puja]

Andrew Brace has a word with Fiji about high tackles in the opening minutes. Australia put in two upright tackles immediately afterwards, including one that looked pretty close to a red - not a whisper. That's not going to be great if it's an ongoing theme...

And another! I do understand why they've put the moratorium on replays to avoid crowds putting pressure on TMOs and refs, but it's really frustrating to have something like that which looks extremely marginal and only get to see it live.

Puja

[morepork]

Ha! Big fasi on the grommit.

[16th man]

Fiji on top at the scrum and not getting anything for it from the ref.

[Puja]

Ha! Big fasi on the grommit.

Australia have clearly identified something on video analysis saying that Fiji are vulnerable if they switch back blind, as that's now been three times they've tried it. Unfortunately for them, Fiji have apparently been working on that during the week as well and the door is very solidly shut.

Interesting to see Fiji attempting to work a penalty from the scrums. They could've got that ball out for ages there, and that looked like a Fiji offence when it went down

Puja

[twitchy]

Love watching these lads.

[Puja]

Fijian number 4 needs shooting. Turnover ball, all of the backs behind him and he decides to show off his kicking. Lucky to get away with that.

Fiji need to put it through the hands instead of the wild skip passes, they have Aus in trouble here.

They're not listening to you...

Puja

[16th man]

Fiji need to put it through the hands instead of the wild skip passes, they have Aus in trouble here.

Some properly belief beggaring, half the width of the pitch heaves, completely killing overlaps.

[switchskier]

Fijian number 4 needs shooting. Turnover ball, all of the backs behind him and he decides to show off his kicking. Lucky to get away with that.

Fiji need to put it through the hands instead of the wild skip passes, they have Aus in trouble here.

They're not listening to you...

Puja

But it looks so cool so spin out 30 meter passes

[twitchy]

Fiji's 9's afro/mullet is quite something.

[Buggaluggs]

Fiji looking good. I'm feeling better about Wales now!

[Puja]

Carter Gordon's getting a right going over. Fun to watch.

Puja