Fijians push Aussies all way

By TOM RILEY

Australia …….. 46

Fiji………………….37

The Junior Wallabies laboured to an opening victory over Fiji but made life difficult for themselves and will need to find an extra gear against Ireland on Thursday.

The Australians were forced to come from behind and play almost half an hour with 14 men after Western Force prop Marley Pearce was sent off for a high tackle.

Fiji led by eight points with 20 minutes to go but Nathan Grey's side stepped up with star man David Vaihu immense in the backline. Sevens star Darby Lancaster's superb second try put the Aussies back in front with 12 minutes to go.

Australia controlled the first half an hour to take a 24-13 lead with tries from hooker Liam Bowron and prop Nick Bloomfield, backing up Vaihu's break, and Lancaster.

Despite a yellow card to Tupeni Waqalala, the Fijians hit back with captain Motikiai Murray powering over to reduce Australia's lead to 24-20 at the break.

Vaihu set up Rohan Leahy for another Australia try after the break, but the game then flipped when the TMO found prop Pearce to have taken Mesake Vocevoce high. The Western Force prop's incident was initially given a yellow, only to be upgraded to a red.

It allowed Fiji to strike as Timoci Nakalevu gave them a five-point lead, with fly-half Isaiah Ravula extending the lead out to eight to complete a perfect night from the boot.

With the Fijians threatening to run away with the game, the injection of Teddy Wilson and Jack Bowen steadied the ship for the Junior Wallabies.

The Easts pair combined with Mason Gordon to reduce the margin to a point before Bowen found Lancaster as the flyer raced past the defence to run 60 metres for a great solo try.

Bowen's kicking game closed out the game as the Australians escaped with victory, taking them to top of Pool B after Ireland and England's 34-all draw earlier in the day.