Stoked with win but not performance: Wallabies' White
A last-ditch try by skipper Harry Wilson saved Australia's blushes in Newcastle with a 21-18 victory ensuring they won't head into their three-Test series against the Lions on the back of an embarrassing loss.
But Joe Schmidt's men still have a ton of work and little time before their July 19 opener in Brisbane.
Their error tally, aimless kicking and missed tackles on Saturday are a major concern as they take on the best of the four nations.
"Stoked with the win, not the performance," said a relieved White, who came off the bench to replacing starting No.9 Tate McDermott.
"There were moments where we were really good and there were moments where we just missed a few things and things we can control, and that's the disappointing thing.
"We'll deep dive into that, get into our review ... first and foremost is finding out what we didn't do right within the way we wanted to play the game and then fix that.
"We've got a bit of time together after that and we've got a bit of work to do.
"We'll get that right and give ourselves a chance of getting a result."
Asked if the Wallabies were confident of upsetting the Lions, White replied "definitely".
With Fiji beating them in their last Test, at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and sitting only one spot behind Australia at nine in the world rankings, White said the Pacific Islanders presented as a formidable opponent.
"Fiji bringing plenty of physical pressure and then also obviously big game pressure and fatigue pressure," the 35-year-old said.
"They're a good side and we had to find a way to win there."
Superstar recruit Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii didn't get much time and space with the ball at centre while the Wallabies didn't use his aerial prowess to their advantage.
White defended the former NRL gun's contribution.
"Sometimes he's going to attract some attention and open up space for others and some games there will be space for him but I thought he did his job really well ... and that's just how the game goes sometimes," White said.
The Wallabies' squad for the Lions series will be named on Friday in Brisbane and star forwards Will Skelton and Rob Valetini, who missed the Fiji Test through injury, are expected to be available.
Waratahs halfback Jake Gordon and Reds playmaker Tom Lynagh, who also sat out the Fiji match, will be back in contention for the Lions.
The Wallabies lost hooker Dave Porecki, who hadn't played a Test match since the World Cup due to injury, to a head knock. He has a history of concussion which could impact on his chances of playing against the Lions.
No.10 Noah Lolesio was stretchered off in the second half, but was cleared of serious injury.
Veteran playmaker James O'Connor missed squad selection for Fiji and his chances of making the list for the Lions didn't seem to improve despite Lolesio's injury and poor game.
Coach Schmidt felt Ben Donaldson did a solid job after replacing Lolesio while Lynagh has also been training with the squad after recovering from a hand injury.
Veteran halfback Nic White was happy with the win but not the performance after the Wallabies' preparation for the British and Irish Lions was almost derailed by Fiji.
A last-ditch try by skipper Harry Wilson saved Australia's blushes in Newcastle with a 21-18 victory ensuring they won't head into their three-Test series against the Lions on the back of an embarrassing loss.
But Joe Schmidt's men still have a ton of work and little time before their July 19 opener in Brisbane.
Their error tally, aimless kicking and missed tackles on Saturday are a major concern as they take on the best of the four nations.
"Stoked with the win, not the performance," said a relieved White, who came off the bench to replacing starting No.9 Tate McDermott.
"There were moments where we were really good and there were moments where we just missed a few things and things we can control, and that's the disappointing thing.
"We'll deep dive into that, get into our review ... first and foremost is finding out what we didn't do right within the way we wanted to play the game and then fix that.
"We've got a bit of time together after that and we've got a bit of work to do.
"We'll get that right and give ourselves a chance of getting a result."
Asked if the Wallabies were confident of upsetting the Lions, White replied "definitely".
With Fiji beating them in their last Test, at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and sitting only one spot behind Australia at nine in the world rankings, White said the Pacific Islanders presented as a formidable opponent.
"Fiji bringing plenty of physical pressure and then also obviously big game pressure and fatigue pressure," the 35-year-old said.
"They're a good side and we had to find a way to win there."
Superstar recruit Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii didn't get much time and space with the ball at centre while the Wallabies didn't use his aerial prowess to their advantage.
White defended the former NRL gun's contribution.
"Sometimes he's going to attract some attention and open up space for others and some games there will be space for him but I thought he did his job really well ... and that's just how the game goes sometimes," White said.
The Wallabies' squad for the Lions series will be named on Friday in Brisbane and star forwards Will Skelton and Rob Valetini, who missed the Fiji Test through injury, are expected to be available.
Waratahs halfback Jake Gordon and Reds playmaker Tom Lynagh, who also sat out the Fiji match, will be back in contention for the Lions.
The Wallabies lost hooker Dave Porecki, who hadn't played a Test match since the World Cup due to injury, to a head knock. He has a history of concussion which could impact on his chances of playing against the Lions.
No.10 Noah Lolesio was stretchered off in the second half, but was cleared of serious injury.
Veteran playmaker James O'Connor missed squad selection for Fiji and his chances of making the list for the Lions didn't seem to improve despite Lolesio's injury and poor game.
Coach Schmidt felt Ben Donaldson did a solid job after replacing Lolesio while Lynagh has also been training with the squad after recovering from a hand injury.
Veteran halfback Nic White was happy with the win but not the performance after the Wallabies' preparation for the British and Irish Lions was almost derailed by Fiji.
A last-ditch try by skipper Harry Wilson saved Australia's blushes in Newcastle with a 21-18 victory ensuring they won't head into their three-Test series against the Lions on the back of an embarrassing loss.
But Joe Schmidt's men still have a ton of work and little time before their July 19 opener in Brisbane.
Their error tally, aimless kicking and missed tackles on Saturday are a major concern as they take on the best of the four nations.
"Stoked with the win, not the performance," said a relieved White, who came off the bench to replacing starting No.9 Tate McDermott.
"There were moments where we were really good and there were moments where we just missed a few things and things we can control, and that's the disappointing thing.
"We'll deep dive into that, get into our review ... first and foremost is finding out what we didn't do right within the way we wanted to play the game and then fix that.
"We've got a bit of time together after that and we've got a bit of work to do.
"We'll get that right and give ourselves a chance of getting a result."
Asked if the Wallabies were confident of upsetting the Lions, White replied "definitely".
With Fiji beating them in their last Test, at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and sitting only one spot behind Australia at nine in the world rankings, White said the Pacific Islanders presented as a formidable opponent.
"Fiji bringing plenty of physical pressure and then also obviously big game pressure and fatigue pressure," the 35-year-old said.
"They're a good side and we had to find a way to win there."
Superstar recruit Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii didn't get much time and space with the ball at centre while the Wallabies didn't use his aerial prowess to their advantage.
White defended the former NRL gun's contribution.
"Sometimes he's going to attract some attention and open up space for others and some games there will be space for him but I thought he did his job really well ... and that's just how the game goes sometimes," White said.
The Wallabies' squad for the Lions series will be named on Friday in Brisbane and star forwards Will Skelton and Rob Valetini, who missed the Fiji Test through injury, are expected to be available.
Waratahs halfback Jake Gordon and Reds playmaker Tom Lynagh, who also sat out the Fiji match, will be back in contention for the Lions.
The Wallabies lost hooker Dave Porecki, who hadn't played a Test match since the World Cup due to injury, to a head knock. He has a history of concussion which could impact on his chances of playing against the Lions.
No.10 Noah Lolesio was stretchered off in the second half, but was cleared of serious injury.
Veteran playmaker James O'Connor missed squad selection for Fiji and his chances of making the list for the Lions didn't seem to improve despite Lolesio's injury and poor game.
Coach Schmidt felt Ben Donaldson did a solid job after replacing Lolesio while Lynagh has also been training with the squad after recovering from a hand injury.
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The Lions returned to Maitland for the first time on the tour of 1899 and have continued a tradition in recent times with visits on the tours of 1989, 2001 and 2013. lining the streets in tribute. About 50 members of the rugby community, with representatives from the Lions, Rugby Australia, Rugby NSW, Hunter Rugby and individual clubs from across the Hunter region, gathered at the Telerah cemetery for a moving ceremony on Sunday. The visit came after the Lions overcame a spirited NSW Waratahs to win 21-10 in Sydney on Saturday night. Evans said the British and Irish Lions were eternally grateful to the Maitland Rugby Club for their stewardship of Seddon's grave site. "It is a thrill to be here as Lion 616 and pay due respects to Lion 11, Robert Seddon. "He died so tragically but made such an awfully important contribution to our legacy. "Legacy is important for the game, but for Lions in particular. Waugh paid tribute to the Maitland Blacks for continuing to maintain Seddon's grave site. "Robert Seddon was the Lions' first ever captain, and he lost his life at the tender age of 28 in a sculling accident," Waugh said. "Robert was a remarkable athlete. Capped three times for England, he scored tries for the Lions against teams including Auckland and NSW and even kicked goals in Aussie Rules games against Bendigo and Port Adelaide. "He was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2013." Waugh said the rugby union community from opposite sides of the world was united at the cemetery. "To stand here 137 years later paying tribute to a lost member of the rugby family speaks to the remarkable bond we share. The universal bond is, I believe, our greatest strength," he said. Maitland Blacks president Pat Howard said the club had honoured a pledge to maintain Seddon's grave site ever since. "It's a poignant part of our history, the links between Robert Seddon and the Maitland Rugby Club," Howard said. "I've been hearing of so many former tours when the Lions have come out to visit their captain in Maitland, including the 1913 tour. "The story of Robert Seddon is one we hold dear to our hearts. We look after his grave in honour of that, and it's a really important part of our history." British Lions chairman Ieuan Evans and Australian Rugby Union CEO Phil Waugh joined in Maitland, NSW on Sunday to pay tribute to the first Lions captain Robert Seddon. Seddon, 28, tragically drowned in a boating accident in the Hunter River on August 15, 1888, and he was buried in Maitland the next day, with the funeral one of the largest held in the city to that time. The Lions returned to Maitland for the first time on the tour of 1899 and have continued a tradition in recent times with visits on the tours of 1989, 2001 and 2013. lining the streets in tribute. About 50 members of the rugby community, with representatives from the Lions, Rugby Australia, Rugby NSW, Hunter Rugby and individual clubs from across the Hunter region, gathered at the Telerah cemetery for a moving ceremony on Sunday. The visit came after the Lions overcame a spirited NSW Waratahs to win 21-10 in Sydney on Saturday night. Evans said the British and Irish Lions were eternally grateful to the Maitland Rugby Club for their stewardship of Seddon's grave site. "It is a thrill to be here as Lion 616 and pay due respects to Lion 11, Robert Seddon. "He died so tragically but made such an awfully important contribution to our legacy. "Legacy is important for the game, but for Lions in particular. Waugh paid tribute to the Maitland Blacks for continuing to maintain Seddon's grave site. "Robert Seddon was the Lions' first ever captain, and he lost his life at the tender age of 28 in a sculling accident," Waugh said. "Robert was a remarkable athlete. Capped three times for England, he scored tries for the Lions against teams including Auckland and NSW and even kicked goals in Aussie Rules games against Bendigo and Port Adelaide. "He was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2013." Waugh said the rugby union community from opposite sides of the world was united at the cemetery. "To stand here 137 years later paying tribute to a lost member of the rugby family speaks to the remarkable bond we share. The universal bond is, I believe, our greatest strength," he said. Maitland Blacks president Pat Howard said the club had honoured a pledge to maintain Seddon's grave site ever since. "It's a poignant part of our history, the links between Robert Seddon and the Maitland Rugby Club," Howard said. "I've been hearing of so many former tours when the Lions have come out to visit their captain in Maitland, including the 1913 tour. "The story of Robert Seddon is one we hold dear to our hearts. We look after his grave in honour of that, and it's a really important part of our history."
