Australia v Fiji, 23 September

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AUSTRALIA v FIJI
23 September 2015
KO: 16:45
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Live on [tbc]

Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Touch judges: Nigel Owens (Wales) & Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)

A. Head to Head

19 Played 19
16 Won 2
1 Drawn 1
2 Lost 16
546 Points 221

B. Recent Form

5 June 2010
Canberra Stadium, Canberra
49 – 3 to Australia

23 September 2007
Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier, France
55 – 12 to Australia

9 June 2007
Subiaco Oval, Perth
49 – 0 to Australia

18 September 1998
Parramatta Stadium, Sydney
66 – 20 to Australia

C. Teams

AUSTRALIA

15 Israel Folau
14 Adam Ashley-Cooper
13 Tevita Kuridrani
12 Matt Giteau
11 Rob Horne
10 Bernard Foley
09 Will Genia

08 David Pocock
07 Michael Hooper
06 Scott Fardy
05 Rob Simmons
04 Kane Douglas
03 Sekope Kepu
02 Stephen Moore (c)
01 Scott Sio

16 Tatafu Polota-Nau
17 James Slipper
18 Greg Holmes
19 Will Skelton
20 Dean Mumm
21 Nick Phipps
22 Matt Toomua
23 Kurtley Beale

FIJI

Metuisela Talebula, Waisea Nayacalevu, Vereniki Goneva, Gabiriele Lovobalavu, Nemani Nadolo, Ben Volavola, Nikola Matawalu; Netani Talei, Akapusi Qera, Peceli Yato, Leone Nakarawa, Tevita Cavubati, Manasa Saulo, Talemaitoga Tuapati, Campese Ma'afu.

Replacements: Viliame Veikoso, Peni Ravai, Isei Colati, Nemia Soqeta, Malakai Ravulo, Nemia Kenatale, Joshua Matavesi, Asaeli Tikoirotuma.

Id say Wales are better set to counter Pockock/Hooper than England are.  That will be a tasty match when they meet.

Fiji have made a match of it but looking very tired now.

Australia in serious danger of missing out on the BP here.

I'm so impressed at Fiji battling so hard at this point in the game. They must be shattered.

trebellbobaggins wrote:Id say Wales are better set to counter Pockock/Hooper than England are.  That will be a tasty match when they meet.

Fiji have made a match of it but looking very tired now.

Maybe, but then you look at the recent results for England and Wales vs Oz and I do wonder about that statement. But then I guess Wales are going to play a 'world class center partnership'

Have to say England's result vs a fresh Fiji is being put into perspective tonight

Well I definitely thought Australia played better against Fiji than the English, but it was the latter who got the BP. Will that matter?

Well i was wrong. After a short turnaround thought Fiji would tire in the last 1/4

I am verey surprised that Australia did not get the bonus point try. But then you have to take your hat off to Fiji. they never gave up played right to the very end.

It makes the England v Wales game this week very interesting indeed. I guess it will depend on how the injuries too both teams effect the out come.

That Fijian team might come good by the time they play Wales

And could those commentators get any more excited when they got to mention either Hooper or Pocock?

Hearing swing low at the MS was a low point for me, kind of explains how the price of the tickets has effected neutral audiences...

I don't think Wales will be as loose as Australia were. We just don't have the players to do what Australia do, I am worried about the break down against Fiji though.
It was a good competitive game, though now Fiji have been knocked out, hopefully they will not try as hard.

Notch wrote:Well I definitely thought Australia played better against Fiji than the English, but it was the latter who got the BP. Will that matter?

If Australia lose to England then it matters.

lostinwales wrote:

trebellbobaggins wrote:Id say Wales are better set to counter Pockock/Hooper than England are.  That will be a tasty match when they meet.

Fiji have made a match of it but looking very tired now.

Maybe, but then you look at the recent results for England and Wales vs Oz and I do wonder about that statement. But then I guess Wales are going to play a 'world class center partnership'

Yep.

It was great to hear Swing lo Sweet Chariot at the Australia v Fiji game. Shane Williams sounded like he was getting quite Irate.

majesticimperialman wrote:It was great to hear Swing lo Sweet Chariot at the Australia v Fiji game. Shane Williams sounded like he was getting quite Irate.

Nothing great about England fans disrespecting the opposition at all, just like the time they decided to drown out Fiji's Cibi at Twickenham.

mikey_dragon wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:It was great to hear Swing lo Sweet Chariot at the Australia v Fiji game. Shane Williams sounded like he was getting quite Irate.

Nothing great about England fans disrespecting the opposition at all, just like the time they decided to drown out Fiji's Cibi at Twickenham. [/quote

At least England stood and face the Cibi.

Unlike the Welsh team that cried about the All Blacks doing the Haka and giving them an advantage.  So the All Blacks had to the Haka in the dressing room.

Do you remember that mikey_dragon?

majesticimperialman wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:It was great to hear Swing lo Sweet Chariot at the Australia v Fiji game. Shane Williams sounded like he was getting quite Irate.

Nothing great about England fans disrespecting the opposition at all, just like the time they decided to drown out Fiji's Cibi at Twickenham. [/quote

At least England stood and face the Cibi.

Unlike the Welsh team that cried about the All Blacks doing the Haka and giving them an advantage.  So the All Blacks had to the Haka in the dressing room.

Do you remember that mikey_dragon?

That is not what happened at all Madge. Get your facts right before you write.

maestegmafia wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:It was great to hear Swing lo Sweet Chariot at the Australia v Fiji game. Shane Williams sounded like he was getting quite Irate.

Nothing great about England fans disrespecting the opposition at all, just like the time they decided to drown out Fiji's Cibi at Twickenham. [/quote

At least England stood and face the Cibi.

Unlike the Welsh team that cried about the All Blacks doing the Haka and giving them an advantage.  So the All Blacks had to the Haka in the dressing room.

Do you remember that mikey_dragon?

That is not what happened at all Madge. Get your facts right before you write.

What are the facts then mas?

I seem to remember that the All Blacks having to perform the Haka in their dressing room.

majesticimperialman wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:It was great to hear Swing lo Sweet Chariot at the Australia v Fiji game. Shane Williams sounded like he was getting quite Irate.

Nothing great about England fans disrespecting the opposition at all, just like the time they decided to drown out Fiji's Cibi at Twickenham. [/quote

At least England stood and face the Cibi.

Unlike the Welsh team that cried about the All Blacks doing the Haka and giving them an advantage.  So the All Blacks had to the Haka in the dressing room.

Do you remember that mikey_dragon?

That is not what happened at all Madge. Get your facts right before you write.

What are the facts then mas?

I seem to remember that the All Blacks having to perform the Haka in their dressing room.

They didn't have to.

Search for it online and you will read what happened.

maestegmafia wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:It was great to hear Swing lo Sweet Chariot at the Australia v Fiji game. Shane Williams sounded like he was getting quite Irate.

Nothing great about England fans disrespecting the opposition at all, just like the time they decided to drown out Fiji's Cibi at Twickenham. [/quote

At least England stood and face the Cibi.

Unlike the Welsh team that cried about the All Blacks doing the Haka and giving them an advantage.  So the All Blacks had to the Haka in the dressing room.

Do you remember that mikey_dragon?

That is not what happened at all Madge. Get your facts right before you write.

True.

And you're clutching at straws here Madge. This was from a past era and we've moved on from it. Don't try and expand the subject onto different fields, just accept that there were some stupid England fans at today's game killing the atmosphere.

majesticimperialman wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:It was great to hear Swing lo Sweet Chariot at the Australia v Fiji game. Shane Williams sounded like he was getting quite Irate.

Nothing great about England fans disrespecting the opposition at all, just like the time they decided to drown out Fiji's Cibi at Twickenham. [/quote

At least England stood and face the Cibi.

Unlike the Welsh team that cried about the All Blacks doing the Haka and giving them an advantage.  So the All Blacks had to the Haka in the dressing room.

Do you remember that mikey_dragon?

That is not what happened at all Madge. Get your facts right before you write.

What are the facts then mas?

I seem to remember that the All Blacks having to perform the Haka in their dressing room.

If I remember rightly it was the 100 year centenary game between us. The very first game between us involved the Haka with our anthem in response, so to mark the 100 years we requested the same. But the All Blacks kicked off and decided to perform it behind closed doors as, according to them (and something I agree with), the Haka is not about giving the crowd a show it is for their own benefit spiritually, etc. So it didn't matter to them where they performed it. But they certainly weren't forced to do it in the changing room. They just didn't like the request for a team respond.

How is singing at a game killing the atmosphere?

Wrong. The 100 year game was the year before and the All Blacks agreed with the anthem going after the Haka. The next year the WRU demanded the same and the All Blacks just refused to do the Haka, doing it in private instead.

HammerofThunor wrote:Wrong. The 100 year game was the year before and the All Blacks agreed with the anthem going after the Haka. The next year the WRU demanded the same and the All Blacks just refused to do the Haka, doing it in private instead.

Really? OK. Good googling. I was going on (poor) memory. Not sure the the WRU 'demanded' it, more a request, but the outcome was the same. I still think the Haka shouldn't be so sacrosanct that it dictates the order of everything in rugby. At their home, yes why not. That's the benefit of being at home. But around the world? Not for me. Allow the home team to sing after if they want. Why not? It doesn't really fall in with rugby's values either IMO, forcing the agenda and dictating to others. We're more about a handshake and equality aren't we? Just my opinion of course.

P.s. 'Wrong'. Lovely turn of phrase you've got there. Very confrontational. I suspect you need a hug

So, Australia - with the advantage of good weather and a tired Fiji - couldn't get the bp or even get a better points difference than England managed. That puts a different perspective on things.

The winner of England-Wales will be in good shape to top the po

For me, neither England nor Aus were on fire. Fiji however have been notably sub par. Fiji can be so much better than this. Which is dissapointing for neutrals. You at least want the mid-tier teams to panic the top teams at least for a little while...
Fiji have been atrocious at times. Very poor with basic handling errors...

Before people start shouting Fiji are one of the two sides in this Group you would expect
the Tier 1 sides to beat.Bonus point MAY be vital BUT England,Wales,Australia versus
each other will decide the Group.

mikey_dragon wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:It was great to hear Swing lo Sweet Chariot at the Australia v Fiji game. Shane Williams sounded like he was getting quite Irate.

Nothing great about England fans disrespecting the opposition at all, just like the time they decided to drown out Fiji's Cibi at Twickenham.

Looking at the pictures it was mainly people in fijian shirts singing.

LondonTiger wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:It was great to hear Swing lo Sweet Chariot at the Australia v Fiji game. Shane Williams sounded like he was getting quite Irate.

Nothing great about England fans disrespecting the opposition at all, just like the time they decided to drown out Fiji's Cibi at Twickenham.

Looking at the pictures it was mainly people in fijian shirts singing.

Were the Fijian shirt wearers ranks not swollen by a hefty dose of non-Fijian vested interest groups?

Griff wrote:

HammerofThunor wrote:Wrong. The 100 year game was the year before and the All Blacks agreed with the anthem going after the Haka. The next year the WRU demanded the same and the All Blacks just refused to do the Haka, doing it in private instead.

Really? OK. Good googling. I was going on (poor) memory. Not sure the the WRU 'demanded' it, more a request, but the outcome was the same. I still think the Haka shouldn't be so sacrosanct that it dictates the order of everything in rugby. At their home, yes why not. That's the benefit of being at home. But around the world? Not for me. Allow the home team to sing after if they want. Why not? It doesn't really fall in with rugby's values either IMO, forcing the agenda and dictating to others. We're more about a handshake and equality aren't we? Just my opinion of course.

P.s. 'Wrong'. Lovely turn of phrase you've got there. Very confrontational. I suspect you need a hug

I know. Sorry. Read it afterwards and I sound like a complete Tinkywinky (which may or may not be accurate!) Also going off memory. Although I would say demand is a fair term as they refused to budge and hence it was done in the changing room (or where-ever it was). Personally I'd scrap the anthems completely but happy for the Haka, sivu, etc to continue.

Was a pretty entertaining match, I thought.  Was at the MS last night and the crowd was pretty good, too.  It was a bit short of being a sell out but not too bad.  

Biggest annoyance was the train situation.  Still a major incompetant cockup.  Two hours for a train?  There is no need for that. One would think they have never major events in Cardif.......

doctor_grey wrote:Was a pretty entertaining match, I thought.  Was at the MS last night and the crowd was pretty good, too.  It was a bit short of being a sell out but not too bad.  

Biggest annoyance was the train situation.  Still a major incompetant cockup.  Two hours for a train?  There is no need for that.  One would think they have never major events in Cardif.......

I had tickets for the match but didn't go for precisely that reason. I would have had to have left the match 10 minutes early and literally sprinted to get one of only two trains that FGW had scheduled for afterwards to get m home last night. The only other alternative was to stay in Cardiff a come back today.

Unacceptable by the train company.

Did they not do drills for the kinds of number expected for a World Cup (I mean even mathematically on a computer) so that they'd know in advance the demands on the system and the methods required to rectify them?

It seems they just let the WC creep up on them with scant concern for the numbers that would be coming through the system. Strange that the venue would even be considered in light of the obvious bottleneck logistics that are reported to be happening after each game.

SecretFly wrote:Did they not do drills for the kinds of number expected for a World Cup (I mean even mathematically on a computer) so that they'd know in advance the demands on the system and the methods required to rectify them?

It seems they just let the WC creep up on them with scant concern for the numbers that would be coming through the system.  Strange that the venue would even be considered in light of the obvious bottleneck logistics that are reported to be happening after each game.

The trains out of Cardiff have been a problem for as long as anyone can remember. The Friday night games in the 6 Nations especially are chaotic. It's a shame because the stadium is impressive and located centrally but it's just a nightmare for visiting fans (and home fans if they don't live in Cardiff itself).

Yet nothing is done.

Is parking a major issue? Going next Friday.

I was in south Wales last Sunday, I was heading from Chepstow to Cardiff around 7pm and the queue of traffic Eastbound on the M4 and A48 was incredible!!!

From the second I entered the M4 to Heath hospital was not moving!

The train lines and road network is very fragile, 1 accident or a big event and South East Wales goes into shutdown.

That said why would you leave Cardiff straight after the game? If your going make a day of it, or even a weekend, enjoy the city!

Fanster wrote:I was in south Wales last Sunday, I was heading from Chepstow to Cardiff around 7pm and the queue of traffic Eastbound on the M4 and A48 was incredible!!!

From the second I entered the M4 to Heath hospital was not moving!

The train lines and road network is very fragile, 1 accident or a big event and South East Wales goes into shutdown.

That said why would you leave Cardiff straight after the game? If your going make a day of it, or even a weekend, enjoy the city!

Unfortunately have to be back for golf the next morning.

Scottrf wrote:

Fanster wrote:I was in south Wales last Sunday, I was heading from Chepstow to Cardiff around 7pm and the queue of traffic Eastbound on the M4 and A48 was incredible!!!

From the second I entered the M4 to Heath hospital was not moving!

The train lines and road network is very fragile, 1 accident or a big event and South East Wales goes into shutdown.

That said why would you leave Cardiff straight after the game? If your going make a day of it, or even a weekend, enjoy the city!

Unfortunately have to be back for golf the next morning.

You may just get there in time, but depending on which direction your heading you may be running a little late.

Scottrf wrote:

Fanster wrote:I was in south Wales last Sunday, I was heading from Chepstow to Cardiff around 7pm and the queue of traffic Eastbound on the M4 and A48 was incredible!!!

From the second I entered the M4 to Heath hospital was not moving!

The train lines and road network is very fragile, 1 accident or a big event and South East Wales goes into shutdown.

That said why would you leave Cardiff straight after the game? If your going make a day of it, or even a weekend, enjoy the city!

Unfortunately have to be back for golf the next morning.

And I would have had to be back for work the next day. It was a Wednesday after all.

The funny thing is was so pooly done, people were laughing about the raw incompetence of it all. One of my mates who was further behind in the queue/mess kept saying how it could be worse. Then it started to rain........

The funny thing is I usually never take the train when I go to the MS. Usually drive. But we are staying in Bath for a few days and getting tixx for the match was a last minute decision.

One would think that after 16 or so years of the MS, someone would figure this bit out.

How does one firgure out a 100'000 mass of people in a small city centre?

Should the Welsh assembly spend 50 million to fix a 6/7 times a year 2 hour wait?

In reality it is a 2 hour wait, Ive done it all over the world, Giants stadium for a U2 concert, Twickenham after Blues v Gloucester, Parc de prince after a 6N game, and the ANZ post lions 3rd test took over an hour to get into the station, then another to get onto the train and away.

put....on....more....trains.
trains....with....more....cars
hire....busses

a queue for a train should not be longer than the event itself......

Tell that to every major stadium in the world! It's easy to say, but nigh on impossible to do with rail regulations, and only a limited amount of parking opportunities for buses.

Sometimes you have to put your hand up and say 'yes I'm following 100/150'000 to an event that will take over a city centre, I understand this is an irregular occurence and I will be patient and courtious while I inevitably wait to leave the same time as 90% of the hoards'.

Or you do what I did Saturday and watch the following game (SA japan woohoo) in a bar that was reasonably full, enjoy my time and hop straight onto an empty train around 10pm, therefore enjoying my day, relaxing and being home at a reasonable hour.

Fanster wrote:Tell that to every major stadium in the world! It's easy to say, but nigh on impossible to do with rail regulations, and only a limited amount of parking opportunities for buses.

Sometimes you have to put your hand up and say 'yes I'm following 100/150'000 to an event that will take over a city centre, I understand this is an irregular occurence and I will be patient and courtious while I inevitably wait to leave the same time as 90% of the hoards'.

Or you do what I did Saturday and watch the following game (SA japan woohoo) in a bar that was reasonably full, enjoy my time and hop straight onto an empty train around 10pm, therefore enjoying my day, relaxing and being home at a reasonable hour.

Try that if you live 250 miles away Richard.

Jimpy wrote:

Fanster wrote:Tell that to every major stadium in the world! It's easy to say, but nigh on impossible to do with rail regulations, and only a limited amount of parking opportunities for buses.

Sometimes you have to put your hand up and say 'yes I'm following 100/150'000 to an event that will take over a city centre, I understand this is an irregular occurence and I will be patient and courtious while I inevitably wait to leave the same time as 90% of the hoards'.

Or you do what I did Saturday and watch the following game (SA japan woohoo) in a bar that was reasonably full, enjoy my time and hop straight onto an empty train around 10pm, therefore enjoying my day, relaxing and being home at a reasonable hour.

Try that if you live 250 miles away Richard.

You live 250 miles away and you made no preperations for travel, stay or enjoying the event your going to see?

Who's fault is that really?

Fanster wrote:Tell that to every major stadium in the world! It's easy to say, but nigh on impossible to do with rail regulations, and only a limited amount of parking opportunities for buses.

Sometimes you have to put your hand up and say 'yes I'm following 100/150'000 to an event that will take over a city centre, I understand this is an irregular occurence and I will be patient and courtious while I inevitably wait to leave the same time as 90% of the hoards'.

Or you do what I did Saturday and watch the following game (SA japan woohoo) in a bar that was reasonably full, enjoy my time and hop straight onto an empty train around 10pm, therefore enjoying my day, relaxing and being home at a reasonable hour.

Some people's got homes to go to. Not everybody has a backpack, a cigarette and a million miles of time to dwindle away on Easy living.

Seriously though, I fully get your point though, 'cause I'm pretty damn easy going too. Relax, chill, people watch, it'll happen.

But for the folks that aren't and that have commitments elsewhere and probably over-fill their commitments diary, well we might disagree with the speed of their living but they'll say it's legit and they want it serviced speedily

Fanster wrote:How does one firgure out a 100'000 mass of people in a small city centre?

Should the Welsh assembly spend 50 million to fix a 6/7 times a year 2 hour wait?

In reality it is a 2 hour wait, Ive done it all over the world, Giants stadium for a U2 concert, Twickenham after Blues v Gloucester, Parc de prince after a 6N game, and the ANZ post lions 3rd test took over an hour to get into the station, then another to get onto the train and away.

Serves you right for paying to go and watch U2. Just horrible 'music' 

Fanster wrote:

Jimpy wrote:

Fanster wrote:Tell that to every major stadium in the world! It's easy to say, but nigh on impossible to do with rail regulations, and only a limited amount of parking opportunities for buses.

Sometimes you have to put your hand up and say 'yes I'm following 100/150'000 to an event that will take over a city centre, I understand this is an irregular occurence and I will be patient and courtious while I inevitably wait to leave the same time as 90% of the hoards'.

Or you do what I did Saturday and watch the following game (SA japan woohoo) in a bar that was reasonably full, enjoy my time and hop straight onto an empty train around 10pm, therefore enjoying my day, relaxing and being home at a reasonable hour.

Try that if you live 250 miles away Richard.

You live 250 miles away and you made no preperations for travel, stay or enjoying the event your going to see?

Who's fault is that really?

You really are special aren't you?

You know what, sometimes it just isn't possible, and as several thousand other people were to discover on the night, it just wasn't possible for them either.

Believe me, I'd rather be waterboarded by the CIA than go to Wales, anywhere in Wales. But for a rugby match in a world cup, i'll make exceptions. However, with tickets that I received at short notice and little or no holiday available from work, the decision to travel on the day was the only credible one. As it turned out, actually, it wasn't.

Jimpy wrote:

Fanster wrote:

Jimpy wrote:

Fanster wrote:Tell that to every major stadium in the world! It's easy to say, but nigh on impossible to do with rail regulations, and only a limited amount of parking opportunities for buses.

Sometimes you have to put your hand up and say 'yes I'm following 100/150'000 to an event that will take over a city centre, I understand this is an irregular occurence and I will be patient and courtious while I inevitably wait to leave the same time as 90% of the hoards'.

Or you do what I did Saturday and watch the following game (SA japan woohoo) in a bar that was reasonably full, enjoy my time and hop straight onto an empty train around 10pm, therefore enjoying my day, relaxing and being home at a reasonable hour.

Try that if you live 250 miles away Richard.

You live 250 miles away and you made no preperations for travel, stay or enjoying the event your going to see?

Who's fault is that really?

You really are special aren't you?

You know what, sometimes it just isn't possible, and as several thousand other people were to discover on the night, it just wasn't possible for them either.

Believe me, I'd rather be waterboarded by the CIA than go to Wales, anywhere in Wales. But for a rugby match in a world cup, i'll make exceptions. However, with tickets that I received at short notice and little or no holiday available from work, the decision to travel on the day was the only credible one. As it turned out, actually, it wasn't.

Jesus Jimpy you really should watch what you accuse other people of being with statements like that.