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Australia v Fiji LIVE: Result and reaction from thrilling Rugby World Cup clash

Australia 15-22 Fiji: Fiji keep their quarter-final hopes alive with a first win over the Wallabies since 1954

Luke Baker
Sunday 17 September 2023 18:54 BST
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(Getty Images)

Fiji threw the outcome of Rugby World Cup Pool C wide open with a 22-15 win over Australia, in the first upset result of the tournament in France.

Fiji, who had lost narrowly to Wales in their opening game, are now in line for a spot in the knockout stages, leaving Australia needing to beat the Welsh and setting up the prospect of a nail-biting tussle to decide the top two places in the pool.

Simione Kuruvoli kicked four first-half penalties to give Fiji, better known for their running rugby, a 12-8 lead at the break and a Wallaby defensive error allowed Josua Tuisova to score a try early in the second half.

Fiji opened up a 22-8 lead with 12 minutes left before Suli Vunivalu reduced the deficit with a try for Australia, for whom Mark Nawaqanitawase also scored a first-half try, but Fiji held on for a first win over the Wallabies since 1954.

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South Africa 26-0 Romania, 23 mins

The maul gets South Africa with a metre or so but they knock on while diving for the line. Back for a penalty and the pack will get a chance to cause more havoc with a scrum

Luke Baker17 September 2023 14:30
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South Africa 26-0 Romania, 22 mins

Romania can’t afford basic errors like that. A lineout on halfway overthrown and the Boks attack once more.

Mapimpi’s clever kick over the top initially dealt with but a great counter-ruck by South Africa and they win a penalty. A kick to the corner, lineout incoming...

Luke Baker17 September 2023 14:29
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South Africa 26-0 Romania, 20 mins

Here was Makazole Mapimpi’s try, a lovely piece of play by Willie Le Roux to set it up. One of four Springboks tries int he first 12 minutes...

Luke Baker17 September 2023 14:26
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South Africa 26-0 Romania, 20 mins

We’ve reached the first water break. Romania have managed to stop the bleeding in the last five minutes or so.

Marius Simionescu was challenged unfairly in the air to win a penalty and the Oaks pack kept things tight with a couple of big carries in midfield.

The Springboks will be delighted with this opening quarter though

Luke Baker17 September 2023 14:25
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NO TRY! South Africa 26-0 Romania, 16 mins

Try number five for South Africa? A five-metre lineout, the driving maul gets rolling, Marco van Staden comes through the middle with the ball and rumbles over in the corner.

But it’s checked by the TMO and the two Springboks locks detach from each other and end up blocking the Romania defenders. So the score is chalked off and the Oaks can clear from the penalty

Luke Baker17 September 2023 14:21
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MISSED PENALTY! South Africa 26-0 Romania (Hinckley Vaovasa, 14 mins)

Oh no! Romania get a chance for some points on the board as the Boks are off their feet at a ruck on the 22 but Hinckley Vaovasa slides his penalty wide right.

That’s a shame for the Oaks

Luke Baker17 September 2023 14:18
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TRY! South Africa 26-0 Romania (Damian Willemse, 12 mins)

A bonus point sealed in just 11 mins and 15 seconds...

Kwagga Smith with a punishing carry, barrelling through defenders. Then a lovely bit of individualism from Damian Willemse and he shows and goes, scythes through the defensive line and glides in for the try.

Irrepressible from the Springboks so far.

Luke Baker17 September 2023 14:15
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TRY! South Africa 19-0 Romania (Cobus Reinach, 9 mins)

Oh dear. This is too easy for the Boks. Romania have absolute no defence around the base of a ruck, Cobus Reinach picks and goes, charges through a gaping hole in the middle of the defence with the slightest of dummies and races over the line.

Simply conversion for Willemse and it’s 19-0 inside 10 minutes. Reinach only needs one more try for that hat-trick we mentioned.

Luke Baker17 September 2023 14:13
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TRY! South Africa 12-0 Romania (Makazole Mapimpi, 7 mins)

The maul is actually well defended by Romania but South Africa go wide and Makazole Mapimpi scores.

Willemse fires a long pass out to Willie le Roux who draws two defenders and flicks out the back of his hand to Mapimpi to run inside and touch down. Lovely touch by Le Roux.

A seventh try in his seventh RWC appearance for the winger. This time Willemse nails the extras

Luke Baker17 September 2023 14:09
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South Africa 5-0 Romania, 5 mins

Romania off their feet at the breakdown and it’s another attacking opportunity for the Springboks as they boot to the corner.

Lineout secured and the maul sets up...

Luke Baker17 September 2023 14:08

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