Source : the age
It’s half-time. What a half it was indeed. The Kangaroos might be leading 12-10, but no one saw the Fijians being right in the hunt. Certainly the bookies didn’t – they wrote Apisai Koroisau’s men off, suggesting the Kangaroos were 42 point favourites.
Despite some early nerves and mistakes (three), the Fijians responded and managed to hold the ball in the greasy conditions from about the 15 minute mark.
Australia 12, Fiji 10 – half time
Kangaroos hit back! James Tedesco magic from the fifth tackle. Rather than kick, the Clive Churchill Medallist breaks through and he links up spectacularly with his Roosters teammate Sam Walker. Walker got two touches in a split second and scores his first Test try.
Suffice to say Kevin Walters is breathing a sigh of relief.
Australia 12, Fiji 10 – 35th minute
Fiji are in again! It’s a great try. A grubber from halfback Brandon Wakeham and the back-rower Taane Milne jumps on it, picks it up cleanly and scores.
What a turnaround! In the space of 10 minutes, the Fijians have scored two and they’re in front.
Fiji were $50 outsiders. They’re not looking like that after 30 minutes.
Australia 6, Fiji 10 -31st minute
Fiji hit back! It’s the a beautiful cut out pass from five-eighth Kurt Donoghoe and Semi Valemei scores out wide for the visitors.
Australia 6, Fiji 4 – 19th minute
Staggs! The skipper James Tedesco is in at first-receiver and he puts Kotoni Staggs through a hole and the Brisbane Broncos centre scores.
Sam Walker – the new halfback on debut – bangs over the conversion. It’s his first points in green and gold.
Kangaroos 6, Fiji 0 – 9th minute
It’s wet and there’s a lot going on. As Andrew Voss says, “It’s helter-skelter.” Indeed.
The Fijians have already spilled the ball a few times inside the opening 10 minutes. It’s humid and it’s slippery.
It’s the Kangaroos with a scrum about 30m out.
Australia 0, Fiji 0 – 8th minute
Rain, what rain? Fiji made 52m in their first set of six and got on the outside of Australia’s left-edge early. Good signs early for Fiji.
Australia doesn’t get past the 40 in their first set of six too. But dear oh dear, the winger Semi Valemei has spilt the clearing kick. It went backwards but he gave himself up and the referee awards Australia the scrum.
Australia 0, Fiji 0 – 2nd minute
The anthems are done. It won’t be a full house but around 35,000 expected. There’s been plenty of rain over the past week and that’s continued this afternoon.
Walters has made wholesale changes to the side that came from behind to beat Kiwis.
Of the 13 that started, there’s only three survivors: winger Jack Bostock, centre Kotoni Staggs and prop Keaon Koloamatangi.
There’s a few players making their debuts too, including the man wearing the No.7 jersey: Sam Walker. Walker – the Roosters premiership-winning halfback – partner Tom Dearden in the halves.
James Tedesco is the other big change. The Roosters No.1 replaces Reece Walsh in the jersey and captains the Kangaroos too.
The 33-year-old looked calm and relaxed. On Walker, he said: “He’s had a big year, he debuted for the Maroons and now the Kangaroos. He’s just excited to get out there.”
