On a hot afternoon at Prince Charles Park, Nadi, Fiji the Australian Schools team were defeated 18-9 by a spirited Fijian President’s XV in the first match of their five-match tour on Saturday 22 September.
The Australians seemed a little over awed with the occasion having 10 players running on for the first time in the Australian jumper and right from the outset the home side applied pressure on the visitors.
Some impressive defence from Australia’s Lolo Fakasealea ensured the Fijians weren’t the first to put points on the board and in the seventh minute the Australians found themselves 0-3 up after a successful penalty goal attempt from Tom Wilson.
Fiji hit back just three minutes later with a penalty goal of their own to lock the scores up at 3–3, which is how the scores stayed after the remaining 30-minutes of the half was dominated by solid defence.
The Australians began the second half with tremendous application and spirit, however after working their way in to the Fijians territory an intercept try to the home side saw them race out to a 10-3 lead.
Australia closed the gap shortly after with their second penalty goal of the match to make it 10-6.
The Fijians continued to apply pressure as the match wore and eventually broke the Australian defence for a second time crashing over in the 67th minute to extend their lead to nine points.
The Australians weren’t finished and a penalty goal shortly after kept the visitors hopes alive after they narrowed the gap to less than a converted try and at 15-9 were certainly not out of the match.
Despite some more hard defence work in the final minutes the Australians couldn’t muster any more points and an after-the-siren penalty to Fiji saw the home side run out victors 18-9.
The Australian Schools side will now regroup for its second match of the tour, when they meet Fijian Schools on Tuesday 25 September.
They will then travel to New Zealand to face the New Zealand Barbarians on 29 September, Samoan Schools on 2 October and finally New Zealand Schools on 6 October.
Australian Schools 9 - Fijian President's XV 18.
Australian Schools penalty goals - Tom Wilson (3).
Australian Schools side vs Fijian President's XV
1
Tomas Robertson
St. Joseph’s College
NSW
2
Tom Wilson (C)
Barker College
NSW
3
Matt Sandell
St. Joseph’s College
NSW
4
Tom Staniforth
Canberra Grammar School
ACT
5
Jack Cornelsen
Brisbane Grammar School
QLD
6
Adam Korczyk
Brisbane State High School
QLD
7
Brad Wilkin
Iona College
QLD
8
Lolo Fakaosilea
Brisbane Boys College
QLD
9
Andrew Ferris
The Kings School
NSW
10
Reece Hodge
Manly Selective High School
NSW
11
Andrew Kellaway
The Scots College
NSW
12
Tepai Moeroa
Newington College
NSW
13
Andrew Robinson
St Mary MacKillop College
ACT
14
Gareth Kalell
Brisbane Boys College
QLD
15
John Porch
Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School
NSW
Reserves
16
Siotame Kavapalu
Rowville Secondary College
VIC
17
Francois Postal
St. Joseph’s College, Nudgee
QLD
18
Neori Nadruku
St Edmunds College
ACT
19
Mitchell Whiteley
St. Ignatius’ College
NSW
20
Jack Dempsey
St. Ignatius’ College
NSW
21
Angus Pulver
Shore School
NSW
22
Jack Tuttle
St. Joseph’s College, Nudgee
QLD
23
Jonah Placid
Toowoomba Grammar School
QLD
Staff
Manager
Paul Geddes
Central Coast Grammar School
NSW
Coach
Steve Phillpotts
Brisbane Boys College
QLD
Asst Coach
Tim Rapp
Newington College
NSW
Asst Manager
John Rownes
Knox Grammar School
NSW
Skills coach
Andy Clark
Australian Rugby Union
ACT
S and C
Darren Clunn
Australian Rugby Union
ACT
Physiotherapist
Will Maher
ACT
Doctor
Dr Michael McLean
QLD
Australian Schools Tour Schedule 2012
Date
Opponent
Venue-Kickoff
22 September
Fijian President’s XV (def. Australian Schools 18-9)
Prince Charles Park, Nadi – 3:30pm (FJT)
25 September
Fijian Schools
Churchill Stadium, Lautoka – 3:30pm (FJT)
29 September
New Zealand Barbarians
Sacred Heart College, Auckland – 12:45pm (NZST)
2 October
Samoan Schools
St. Paul’s Collegiate School, Hamilton – 2:30pm (NZST)
6 October
New Zealand Schools
Auckland Grammar, Auckland – 2:45pm (NZST)