There’s a whiff of wind in Australia’s sails but their defence will be tested by a Fijian side in superior form
In 1952, when Fiji first played Test rugby against Australia, huge crowds flocked to the spectacle. Having worn boots only since 1938, the Fijians played the all-out attack that became their trademark and, in their first Test against the Wallabies, scored rugby’s fastest try – a 16-second effort at the SCG. The tour drew record crowds – three-times the Bledisloe Cup series – and established a flamboyant rivalry.
Now, a new chapter. Australia’s Rugby World Cup pool match against Fiji is the biggest challenge yet in the Eddie Jones era. The 63-year-old coach used the five Rugby Championship Tests as a “pre-season” selection shootout for this World Cup and the Wallabies lost every one. But Jones had his eye on a bigger goal – finding and blooding young players to shake up this 2023 tournament, then win the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
