The Australian Under 20s have defeated Fiji 50-25 in their second pool match at the IRB Junior World Championship in Italy overnight.
Coach David Nucifora’s squad showed its depth, piling on eight tries to three, despite 10 changes being made to the side which defeated Tonga 54-7 four days earlier.
Australia held a converted try advantage when scores were 14-7 midway in the opening half, before poor discipline saw Fiji have a player sent to the bin in the 13th and then 30th minute.
The Junior Wallabies took control of the match with an extra man on the field, piling on three tries and racing away to a 33-10 lead by halftime.
Fiji fought back in a more even encounter in the second half, scoring 15 points to Australia’s 17.
Coach Nucifora said he was happy to share the workload among his squad and said he would field a different XV again for Australia’s final pool match against France on Saturday (Sunday AEST).
“There were high shots everywhere to start with, it was like they came with the intention to really rough us up,” Nucifora said.
“I thought we played reasonably well in the first half, there was a fair bit of ball movement and we managed to hang on to the ball for good periods.
“The forwards scored a couple of tries from driving mauls, I thought Michael Hooper and Blake Enever were particularly good.
“The game got a bit scrappy in the second half, it’s about 30 degrees and sunny here, so the boys were really feeling it by the end of the game.
“It’s great the everyone has had a run now, but a different team again will play France on Saturday (Sunday AEST).”
Australia is bidding to end New Zealand’s three year unbeaten run at the world’s premier age-grade Rugby tournament.
Fox Sports will telecast Australia’s third pool match against France LIVE on Fox Sports 1 at 4am AEST and the semi-finals (Fox Sports 2 from 2am AEST) and finals LIVE on Fox Sports 3 from 1am AEST. The IRB will provide live streaming of 10 matches via www.irb.com/jwc .
Australia 50 (Eddie Bredenhann, Michael Hooper, Jarrad Butler, Ted Postal, Damon Anderson, Silvia Silvia, Jacob Woodhouse, Blake Enever tries; Bredenhann 5 cons) bt Fiji 25
Australia U20s (15-1): Jacob Woodhouse, Damon Anderson, Tom Kingston, Simon Morahan, Kimami Sitauti, Ben Volavola, Ed Bredenhann, Jarrod Butler, Michael Hooper (c), Ted Postal, Luke Jones, Blake Enever, JP Pradaud, Siliva Siliva, Scott Sio. Reserves: Hugh Roach, Paul Alo-Emile, Greg Peterson, Ed Quirk, Matt Lucas, Bill Meakes, Rohan Saifoloi.
Match Schedule/Telecast detail
Pool Game 3
Saturday 18th June – Australia v France
Venue: Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
Kickoff: 20:10 local / 4:10am (Sun) AEST
LIVE Fox Sports 1 – 4am
Semi Finals
Wednesday 22nd June, Treviso
Venue: Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso
Semi 1 (2nd seed v 3rd seed): 18:00 local /2am (Thurs) AEST
Semi 2 (1st seed v 4th seed): 20:10 local/4.10am (Thurs) AEST
LIVE Fox Sports 2 - 2am/ 4am
JWC Finals
Sunday 26th June
Venue: Stadio Plebiscito, Padova
3 v 4
Kickoff: 17:10 local / 1:10am (Mon) AEST
LIVE Fox Sports 3 – 1am
1v 2
Kickoff: 19:10 local / 3:10am (Mon) AEST
LIVE Fox Sports 3 – 3am
