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England – Japan: A curious assist by the head of pillar Marler
The “Wallabies” offered Fiji the lead after the first half with their mistakes and fouls against the rules, when Simione Kuruvoli converted all four free kicks.
The decisive five was scored at the beginning of the second half by the best player of the game, Josua Tuisov, when he took advantage of the fatal hesitation of the Australian back rows during a rather routine kick-off.
The Australians were then able to reduce the score, but another series of inaccuracies deprived them of a chance to turn the ball around. In regulation, they could have come up with a point for defeat by less than eight points, but Frank Lomani did not convert the free kick from long range.
“I’m emotionally drained at the moment,” admitted Fiji head coach Simon Raiwalui after the match. “It was a great game right up until the end. We played to the limit and I think a few of the boys will still be sore but I’m very proud of them.”
Fiji beat their second top-flight opponent in three weeks, shocking England at Twickenham in their final pre-tournament warm-up.
After a week off, the Fijians will face Georgia. If they don’t falter, they will be very close to a third quarter-final appearance in history.
Australia must beat group leaders Wales if they are not to face their first ever group exit.
“We were out for a reason today. It was a well-deserved win for Fiji,” admitted Australian coach Eddie Jones, whose men committed 18 fouls against seven opponents.
For a long time, the Japanese kept pace with the favored Englishmen, who were again held in the first half mainly by kicker George Ford.
In the 56th minute at 12:13, the Japanese stopped playing because they were expecting the referee’s whistle. However, they failed to notice that the ball bounced off prop Joe Marler’s head to scorer Courtney Lawes, which is not against the rules.
The defenders of the silver medal broke the match in their favor with a curious five, they didn’t let the opponent into anything and in the set time after the action of Joe Marchant, they also won a bonus fifth point.
The South Africans, who left only striker Damian Willems in the starting line-up compared to the opening duel with Scotland, practically decided with four fives in the opening twelve minutes. It was the fastest bonus point gain in the history of the WC.
In total, the “springboks” scored twelve fives, and Cobus Reinach and Makazole Mapimpi scored a hat trick during the first half. Damian Willemse also scored 15 points thanks to five conversions and one layup.
Reinach needed less than 25 minutes for three fives, which is the second fastest hat trick at the World Cup. This South African grinder also holds the record, he scored three times in twenty minutes against Canada four years ago.
The “Springboks” lost miller Malcolm Marx during the week, who injured his knee in training. In his place, the offensive clutch and the most productive player of the last championship, Handré Pollard, was additionally called up.
Rugby World Cup Results:
JAR – Romania 76:0 (33:0)
Fives: 3rd, 9th and 24th Reinach, 7th, 64th and 68th Mapimpi, 55th and 62nd Williams, 12th Willemse, 43rd Fourie, 53rd Penalty Five, 74th Le Roux. Conversions: Willemse 5/7, de Klerk 2/4. Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France). Player of the Match: Makazole Mapimpi (JAR).
Australia – Fiji 15:22 (8:12)
Fives: 23. Nawaqanitawase, 68. Vunivalu – 43. Tuisova. Conversion: Donaldson 1/2 – Kuruvoli 1/1. Penalties: 3. Donaldson – 12, 21, 27 and 33. Kuruvoli, 66. Lomani. Referee: Andrew Brace (Wales). Player of the Match: Josua Tuisova (Fiji).
England – Japan 34:12 (13:9)
Fives: 24. Ludlam, 56. Lawes, 66. Steward, 80.+1 Marchant. Conversion: Ford 4/4. Penalty kicks: 4th and 40th + 2 Ford – 15th, 23rd, 32nd and 54th Matsuda. Referee: Nika Amašukeli (Georgia). Player of the Match: George Ford (England).
Source CT sport, bbc.com, rugbyworldcup.com
2023-09-17 21:58:49
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