A star turn from youngster John Porch clinched third place for Australia in the Vancouver Sevens, as they beat Fiji 19-12 in this morning’s third place playoff.
Australia reversed the result of last week’s Las Vegas Cup final in the match, claiming their first victory over Fiji in the 2015-16 series.
In just his second World Series tournament, Porch helped Australia turn around a 12-point deficit with two critical five-pointers late in the second half.
A Quade Cooper conversion put Australia in front for the first time in the match, after conceding another early lead to opposition.
Australia held a one-man advantage just 45 seconds into the match, after Fiji were handed a yellow card, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Fijians from drawing first blood, as a third minute try put them in front.
Fiji pounced on a dropped ball just shy of half-time to clinch their second five-pointer and looked assured of a 12-point half-time lead.
Aussie rookie Stephan Van Der Walt made sure his side made it on the scoresheet before the break, streaking away for a brilliant score just as half-time rang out.
Porch made it two in a row for the Aussies, finishing a scintillating run down the right edge with his first World Series try, to draw level with the reigning World Series champions.
Wallabies flyhalf Quade Cooper played his longest stint yet in the match, starting for the side in the final playoff and putting Australia in the lead with a conversion two minutes out from full-time.
Australia’s day was soured by injuries to Lewis Holland and Henry Hutchison.
Stand-in captain Holland withdrew ahead of the final playoff, leaving them with 11 players to finish the competition, while Hutchison limped off midway through the opening half.
Cooper has been slated to feature in the final two legs of the World Series, in London and Paris but for now will return to Top 14 club, Toulon.
“I’d love to be back on the series before the end of the season,” he said post-match.
“We’ve got a few crucial games coming up for Toulon but I’ll have nine days off, a bit of down time and then get back into the season.”
Cooper praise the two tournament finalists, New Zealand and South Africa and said the side was happy with their finish.
“It feels good (finishing third) but at the same time we’d like to go further.
“It was good to be out there.
“I’m feeling it right now as you can tell, I probably need to ask someone to search for a set of lungs out there.”
Australia will return home after Vancouver, with the next World Series leg in Hong Kong, on April 8-10.
