Australia will miss the Cup quarter-finals for the second consecutive tournament after being thumped 31-12 by Fiji in Hong Kong.
Drawn in a pool of death with New Zealand and Fiji, the schedule duly proved fatal for the Aussies after a loss to the New Zealanders on Friday night was followed by a comprehensive defeat at the hands of Fiji.
Australia rallied to beat Kenya 28-12 in their final pool game but will now play in the Challenge Trophy quarter-finals on day three against Portugal. The best they can finish is ninth.
Australia had been highly competitive with Fiji this year and beat them last start but on a sweltering afternoon in Hong Kong, the Olympic champions were far too good.
Aminiasi Tuimamba scored in the first minute but Australia responded soon after through Ben O’Donnell, after he scooped up a loose ball and raced in.
The Aussies couldn’t regather at the next re-start and Fiji made them pay, with Jerry Tuwai scoring and then Tuimamba scoring his second on the stroke of halftime.
Missed tackles and turnovers continued to plague the Aussies in the second half, and when Maurice Longbottom left the blindside open from a scrum, Tuwai scooted away for his second.
Questionable refereeing at the breakdown and a yellow card hurt the Aussies even more, and Vilimoni Botitu grabbed a fifth try to seal the game.
Dylan Pietsch again scored a late try but it was too little too late.
Two tries to Henry Hutchison helped secure the Aussies' win later in the night over Kenya, with Maurice Longbottom and Lachie Miller also crossing.FIXTURES
Saturday April 6
4:13pm - Australia vs Fiji
7:33pm - Australia vs Kenya
SQUAD
1. Nick Malouf (vc), 34 caps, University of Queensland
2. Simon Kennewell, Norths (Sydney), 15 caps
3. Jeral Skelton, Brothers, 10 caps
4. Lachlan Miller, Southern Cross University (Coffs Harbour), 2 caps
5. Lewis Holland (C), Queanbeyan, 43 caps
6. Ben O’Donnell, Randwick, 15 caps
7. Tim Anstee, Eastwood, 20 caps
8. Liam McNamara, Sunnybank, 12 caps
9. Henry Hutchison, Randwick, 22 caps
10. Dylan Pietsch, Randwick, 12 caps
11. Maurice Longbottom, Lloyd McDermott Rugby Development Team, 11 caps
12. Joe Pincus, Easts (Sydney), 2 caps
13th Brandon Quinn, Gordon, 14 caps
