Last-gasp try saves 'massively relieved' Australia against Fiji

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8 hours ago

Fraser McReight (R) scored one of Australia's tries in their win over Fiji (SAEED KHAN)
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt admitted he was "massively relieved" after skipper Harry Wilson scored a last-gasp try to deny a valiant Fiji 21-18 Sunday, avoiding an embarrassing defeat ahead of the British and Irish Lions series.
In their lone game before facing Andy Farrell's tourists, Australia blew a 14-0 lead in front of a full house in Newcastle, north of Sydney, before Wilson saved their blushes with a minute to go.
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It helped erase memories of their stunning 22-15 upset by Fiji during a torturous 2023 World Cup campaign when led by Eddie Jones -- their first defeat to the Pacific Islanders in 69 years.
But it will have done nothing to strike fear into the Lions, with Australia guilty of missed chances and silly mistakes, denied two tries for forward passes.
"Massively relieved, because you want to get a result," said Schmidt.
"But disappointed with the performance and I know the players will be looking for more out of themselves, and that has to happen in a very short space of time.
"Thirteen days' time, we won't be afforded the number of errors that Fiji gave us," he added, referring to the first Test against the Lions in Brisbane on July 19.
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"They (Fiji) were superb. Some of the players we knew would be elusive and quick and powerful, and they turned up and were all those things."
Fiji skipper Tevita Ikanivere said he was "very proud of my brothers".
"It's a disappointing loss, losing in the last minute, but thankful to them for giving the all today," he added.
"We lacked intelligence in the first-half, but I think we made up for it in the second-half."
- Forward pass -
Australia were without injured big guns Rob Valetini, Will Skelton and Jake Gordon and they were missed.
With Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his Fijian counterpart Sitiveni Rabuka watching, the hosts came out of the blocks with all guns blazing.
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They launched relentless attacks and got their reward on eight minutes with hooker David Porecki, in his first start since the World Cup, finishing off a driving maul as the Fiji defence collapsed.
Noah Lolesio added the extras for a 7-0 lead.
Australia looked to have nabbed their second try from a sweeping left-right move that saw wing Harry Potter dot down. But the referee called them back for a forward pass by fullback Tom Wright.
Undeterred, they kept pressing, spending sustained periods inside the Fijian half, but chances went begging as they conceded a host of turnovers and breakdown penalties.
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They finally converted another opportunity two minutes before half-time, with flanker Fraser McReight finishing an attack aided by superb hands from Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
But Australia went to sleep as the hooter sounded when Fiji collected from the restart and strung together a series of passes that ended with Salesi Rayasi's try to send them to the break trailing the Wallabies 14-5.
Fiji slotted a penalty when they returned to stay in touch and were fortunate when another Wallabies try was disallowed.
The referee again saw a forward pass in the build-up by Wright.
It was a costly error as Jiuta Wainiqolo ran the length of the field minutes later, carving through the defence to set up Lekima Tagitagivalu for a stunning converted try to put Fiji in front 15-14.
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A ragged Australia had a huge let off when another Fiji try was disallowed and adding to their woes, Lolesio left the field with a neck injury.
Caleb Muntz drilled a penalty to boost Fiji's lead and they looked destined to win before a desperate late surge from Australia that saw Wilson bust over, with Ben Donaldson converting.
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