Live: Kangaroos looking shell-shocked by fast-starting Fijians in World Cup

Tom Dearden and Sam Walker aren’t making great last-tackle plays at the moment and there’s another one as Dearden runs it and, instead of going through the hands out to the left, tries the long ball and puts Bradman Best in the firing line of winger Ronald Philitoga.

Best offloads and Jacob Preston manufactures a decentish chip, but the Kangaroos definitely look out of sorts.

Cameron Murray, Keaon Koloamatangi and Lindsay Smith leave the field.

Pat Carrigan, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Jacob Preston replace them.

So Reuben Cotter will shift into the middle. Kevin Walters will hope the changes can restore some order.

Fiji almost breaks through the middle via Waqa Blake but it’s called back for an obstruction by Mitchell Priest, who was standing in the line impeding Blayke Brailey.

Even so, the defence from the Kangaroos was caught napping, with Keaon Koloamatangi not filling in the gap from the left after the ball went right. So when the ball came back the other way there was room under the posts.

We saw two Kangaroos intercept tries last week and Kotoni Staggs tries to nab one himself here as Fiji fires it left.

In the end, the leaping Aussie centre can only get one hand to it as he sticks his mitt out, probably saving a try on the overlap.

Kitione Kautoga makes good metres down the left and has a chance for a quick play-the-ball but Blayke Brailey hangs on too long and is pinged for a penalty.

Fiji will get into Australian territory again and look to take the lead.

The Fijian defence is rushing and frustrating the Aussies, and a gang tackle forces the ball out of Tom Trbojevic’s grasp on the 40m line.

Here comes the Bati’s best chance so far.

It looked like there might have been an obstruction as the Kangaroos shifted left, but lucky for the Aussies they didn’t score, so the bunker couldn’t get involved.

Instead they spun it right and Sam Walker thought he saw space in behind, but his grubber was quickly snaffled up by Bayleigh Bentley-Hape.

You might need to hit a refresh, Phillip.

The Kangaroos look certain to score down the left before Daniel Saifiti arrives out of nowhere to cut down Tom Dearden 3 metres short. Then Waqa Blake makes a flying catch to intercept the bouncing ball.

But Fiji knocks on again! Giving the Kangaroos yet another chance.

Fiji gets a set restart and a quick play-the-ball, and Api Koroisau looks to exploit from dummy half, but his no-look pass is out in front of Waqa Blake and he can’t handle.

Sam Walker’s first kick is long and straight to winger Semi Valemei and he drops it cold.

It’s definitely gone backwards, as evidenced by him making contact in front of the 20m line and the ball bouncing behind it, but referee Gerard Sutton calls a knock-on.

The Fijians spin it right early in their first set and fullback Bayleigh Bentley-Hape shows great speed to poke his nose through, but is eventually reined in by Bradman Best on debut.

The Fijians’ Noqu Masu prayer has been sung and the Kangaroos are in position to kick off.

Let’s hope everyone shows the appropriate reverence lest they be pilloried by certain members of the media.

The lyrics are on the big screens at either end of the stadium, which is a nice touch for any neutrals.

A lot of people say they’ve dreamed of playing for Australia since they were a kid, but no everyone has proof.

Bradman Best does, and tonight he makes good on that pledge.

The moment the draw came out, this second round was highlighted as one without many genuine contests in it with clear favourites in every game.

So far the closest games of the past three days have been Tonga vs Lebanon in the men’s and Fiji vs PNG in the women’s, and both of those were 36-point blowouts.

All told, with Australia-Fiji still to come tonight, the overall scoreline reads a ridiculous 550-26 (that’s 264-22 in the men’s and 286-4 for the women).

New Zealand’s Kiwi Ferns just had the biggest win of the tournament with their 92-0 victory over France in Christchurch and I don’t see that getting topped, although the Jillaroos will surely give it a shake against Wales next Sunday.

France was also the victim of the biggest blowout on the men’s side, with an 82-0 to England yesterday.

Pretty wild for an event that kicked off with a two-point thriller between the Kangaroos and Kiwis.