'13 WC | Semi Final | Australia 64-0 Fiji | Wembley

[Timmah]

19-man squad: Cameron Smith (capt), Paul Gallen (vc), Greg Bird, Darius Boyd, Daly Cherry-Evans, Cooper Cronk, Robbie Farah, Andrew Fifita, Jarryd Hayne, Greg Inglis, Brett Morris, Nate Myles, Josh Papalii, Corey Parker, Matthew Scott, James Tamou, Brent Tate, Sam Thaiday, Johnathan Thurston

19-man squad: Peni Botiki, Jayson Bukuya, Petero Civoniceva, Kane Evans, Aaron Groom, Marika Koroibete, Apisai Koroisau, Daryl Millard, Ryan Millard, Kevin Naiqama, Waisale Ligani Naiqama, Vitale Junior Roqica, Ashton Sims, Tariq Sims, James Storer, Akuila Uate, Eloni Vunakece, Sisa Ledua Waqa, Semi Radradra Turagasoli Waqavatu


Referee
Richard Silverwood
Touch Judges: Robert Hicks & Tim Roby
Video Referee: Ben Thaler
2nd Video Referee: Henry Perenara​

 

[Misanthrope]

Can't see an upset happening here. Hopefully Fiji are able to match the defensive effort from the last showdown with Oz and improve their attack.

 

[Burns]

Think we'll end up with a similar score line to the group match. Although if Fiji do get some early possession they might be able to bag a few tries and disrupt the Australians.

Providing that the majority of the crowd stays after the ENG v NZ game, I imagine they'll enjoy some heavy support from a 60K + crowd.

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

If Australia put on their strongest team, or the team that beat the USA, it won't be like the group game...

 

[Burns]

If Australia put on their strongest team, or the team that beat the USA, it won't be like the group game...

Attempting to be optimistic about the result and that it won't end up being a flogging, haha.

Although I would like to think that the score will be closer and the match more competitive than the 2008 Semi-Final when Australia beat Fiji 52-0.

 

[Tone83]

Would like to see a valiant effort from fiji, but not too valiant if sheens actually picks the right oz team. I don't want to give him any excuse to put a shit team in the GF.
However if he picks a crappy team for it I hope fiji give oz a big scare. Would love to see a shocker from boyd and any mozzes that turn up.

I do think fiji are improving and becoming a genuinely formidable team. If they have a playoff for third I wouldn't put it past Fiji to upset England, despite the last result.

 

[Misanthrope]

If Fiji had Hayne and Sutton on deck as their halves, they'd have been in with a shake, I reckon. They lack a real organiser who can match it against top class opposition.

 

[Tone83]

Agreed. I love Hayne on the Aussie side and think he should be about the 4th man picked every time (behind GI, Cam, and JT), but I would have really loved to see him as 6 on this Fijian side, wow.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

I think it'll be closer than the 52-0 result in 2008, but it ll probably be similar to the group game. Australia will probably put more points on in this one.

Fiji will be competitive for a bit but as mentioned they lack that organising structure.

 

[grouch]

Fiji will put on a better showing than the pool match between these two, but so will the Aussies. I expect a similar margin

 

[taste2taste]

Fiji remind be of NZ 15 years ago.

Great forward pack, danerous backs...but no halves.

Hopefully in 10yrs Fiji will be able to genuinely challenge the big 3.

 

[Pierced Soul]

i think this will be a similar score line to the pool match if not worse for fiji. australia's attack finally clicked against the usa and they'll be looking to build upon that. hope the conditions are good and we see naqaima and uate get more ball

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

Roos by 20+

 

[Chicken_Hunter]

Fiji 28 Australia 14

 

[adamkungl]

Gooo Fiji!

 

[miguel de cervantes]

Will be closer than the group game, which was played in appalling conditions not to Fiji's favour.

Come on Fii!

 

[Paullyboy]

Obviously we all want Fiji to do well, but the reality is that it's going to be a 40+ win for Australia.

 

[Billythekid]

Anything less than a 30 point loss would be a good result imo. Hopefully another good performance at the world cup sees players more willing to play Fiji. Let's also hope that they get more games between now and the next world cup to give players more encouragement and to keep them improving.

In the mean time i'm looking forward to this game.

 

[Springs]

Australia to win obviously. Other than that, don't know.

Australia has had two really soft games coming into this one. If Inglis clicks, they could put a score on. If not, probably Aus by 20 or so. Hayne has to be centre.

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Will this be the biggest crowd for any Fiji national team to play in front of?