Eddie Jones’ World Cup season with Australia is in disarray after the former England head coach admitted his injury-hit team deserved to lose to an inspired Fiji team in Saint-Etienne.
Jones saw his Wallabies outplayed by the Pacific Islanders, who blew the race to qualify for the Pool C quarter-finals wide open.
Australia now need to beat Wales in Lyon on Sunday to realistically keep alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stages.
A loss for Warren Gatland’s side would almost certainly leave Jones’ men facing an early exit. Jones had claimed in the build-up to France that his team would win the World Cup.
Jones – who returned to Australia after being sacked by England last December – also has serious fitness issues in his squad. Captain Will Skelton withdrew late from the Fiji match due to a calf problem, while fellow striker Taniela Tupou has a knee problem. Both players have already been ruled out of the match against Wales.
Josua Tuisova scored for Fiji, who defeated Australia in a shock victory in the Rugby World Cup
Impressive Simione Kuruvoli celebrated after scoring a penalty during Sunday’s match
Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones accepted blame for the defeat and congratulated Fiji on their surprise win
“It was a thoroughly deserved win for Fiji,” Jones said. “They beat us, especially around the ruck. They had three times more turnovers than us and in a close game that’s the difference. For some reason we had just left.
“If you look at the stats we dominated and scored two tries to one, but we weren’t quite ourselves so it will take some soul searching. It makes the game against Wales quite important.”
After two rounds, Wales are at the top of Group C with a perfect score of 10 points. Fiji and Australia are both six behind them and bonus points look to be crucial when it comes to who will qualify for the quarter-finals.
Fiji achieved two losing bonus points in their controversial defeat to Wales. Frank Lomani’s late missed penalty in Saint-Etienne meant Australia took home at least a point from their loss in Fiji by finishing within seven points of their opponent.
Jones’ team was in second place. They conceded no fewer than 18 penalties, allowing Simione Kuruvoli to take four penalties. In powerhouses Josua Tuisova and Levani Botia, Fiji had world-class performers at their best.
Tuisova scored a crucial try in the second half after Australia failed to claim a high kick. Jones admitted the match against Wales is now a matter of do or die for Australia.
‘We are disappointed. I am very happy for Fiji. The great thing about World Cups is that it is not the end of the road. I’m sorry. It is my mistake. “I take responsibility,” he said. “I have no doubt we will get an answer.”
Mark Nawaqanitawase scored for Australia, but his efforts were justified as his side suffered a defeat that day
This was Fiji’s first win over Australia since 1954. They dominated the clashes thanks to the physicality of the likes of Tuisova and Botia.
‘For us it is history. We gave everything to win this match,” Tuisova said. ‘We considered this match as a final. Winning this competition is incredible.”
Fiji captain Waisea Nayacalevu saw his team narrowly miss out on a comeback win against Wales but then responded against Australia. “I told the boys today was our final,” he said. It was do or die.’
Kuruvoli’s boot put Fiji ahead 12-8 at halftime. Australia was lucky to get a try. Richie Arnold stole possession, but although he played the ball on the ground, he was not penalized by referee Andrew Brace.
The Australian players were dejected at full-time and face an uphill task to qualify from their pool in the competition
Suli Vunivalu scored a try for Australia late on, but it was not enough to prevent Fiji from winning the match
Fiji’s Tevita Ikanivere, Ilaisa Droasese and Samuel Matavesi led the end-of-match celebrations
Nic White then executed a brilliant 50:22 kick. Mark Nawaqanitase chased forward and quickly grabbed the lineout before going over himself, despite his throw seemingly not going five metres.
Tuisova’s second-half effort was the key moment as Jones missed the chance to move level with Wales head coach Gatland at the top of the list for most World Cup wins with 16.
Jones was booed by the French crowd and hooked his young playmaker Carter Gordon early in the second half. His team got on the comeback trail through Simione Kuruvoli as Fiji tried their best to throw it away in a dramatic final that saw their lineout fall apart. But Semi Radradra – whose spilled ball arguably cost Fiji’s victory against Wales – made amends with a brilliant late break penalty win to deny Australia.
Nayacalevu then produced a clean line break to make the match safe. Had Lomani scored three points on the last play of the match it would not have meant a loss of bonus points for Australia, but that did not stop the raucous Fijian celebrations at the final whistle.