Latest update December 19th, 2024 3:22 AM
Rugby World Cup 2015: Australia 28-13 Fiji
Australia on attack during their match with Fiji. (Getty Images)
BBC Sport – Australia made a stuttering start to their World Cup campaign as they failed to earn a bonus point in their win against Pool A rivals Fiji in Cardiff.
An even start saw Australia’s Bernard Foley and Fiji’s Nemani Nadolo trade penalties, before the Wallabies took control with two David Pocock tries.
Prop Sekope Kepu stepped over from close range to extend their lead after the restart, before Fiji fought back.
Ben Volavola reduced the gap, only for Foley’s penalty to ease Aussie fears.
However, the Wallabies’ inability to make their dominance count and score a fourth try to earn a bonus point means they are already a point behind England and Wales in a group containing four of the world’s nine best teams.
Michael Cheika’s side looked on course to match England’s four-try victory over Fiji last Friday after a clinical first-half performance.
But, after scoring their third try within seconds of the restart, Australia lost their way as Fiji battled back with their free-flowing attacking approach.
Aussies among favourites
Holders New Zealand are the overwhelming favourites to defend their title, but the Wallabies have been touted as the team most likely to stop the All Blacks.
Australia have made great strides since Cheika took over last year, with the 48-year-old coach tightening up the Wallabies scrum, while refusing to compromise their adventurous attacking play.
And a ruthless performance in the opening 40 minutes at the Millennium Stadium seemed to justify Australian expectations of mounting a realistic challenge to lift their third World Cup.
After weathering early pressure, Cheika’s side began to use their kicking game to pin back the Fijians and took control when Pocock twice finished driving mauls.
The Wallabies opened up the Fijian defence three minutes into the second half when Kepu showed nimble footwork to touch down.
But they failed to capitalise on this commanding position to win the extra point that both England and Wales managed in their opening matches.
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