Fiji have crashed out of the 2017 World Cup after Australia thrashed them 54-6 in the semi-final at Suncorp Stadium.
The Kangaroos are through to the final, and will face either Tonga or England, after another strong display. The 2013 World Cup winners were helped by an amazing six tries from Valentine Holmes, a week after he bagged five against Samoa, and doubles by both Billy Slater and Dane Gagai in Brisbane.
On this form Australia look unstoppable regardless of who they play next.
It was a fired-up start from Fiji. Jarryd Hayne shoulder-charged Slater in the second minute and tempers boiled over. Hayne was penalized and Australia had their first attack in the Bati line, but it led to nothing.
In the fourth minute a strong hit on Holmes knocked the ball loose. Fiji had a penalty from the next set and took an early 2-0 lead. The Kangaroos should have been in front in the eighth minute, after Matt Gillett broke free. But Gillett threw a terrible pass out wide to Gagai and the chance was blown.
Five minutes the Aussies finally broke through after Michael Morgan beat his defender and found Billy Slater in the corner. Cameron Smith made it 6-2. That try was Slater’s fourth in this tournament and made him the leading try-scorer in World Cup history.
Fiji were giving away silly penalties, which allowed the Kangaroos to march downfield too easily. In the 17th minute the green and gold kicked to the left wing, Suni Vunivalu jumped early and Holmes took an easy catch to score. Smith added the extras and the defending champions were 12-2 in front.
Three minutes later Jacob Saifiti was forced off with a leg injury. Only minutes later and Josh Dugan was the next to be hurt, after he got his ankle twisted in a tackle, but he played on.
Australia kept attacking and they swung the ball to the left, finding the Bati defence napping and Holmes got an easy second try. Smith couldn’t convert from out-wide so the score remained 16-2.
Fiji were unable slow the Kangaroos’ momentum. Gagai made it four tries for Australia after Cooper Cronk released him on the right and he brilliantly stepped two tacklers.
The hosts were in complete control and Smith made it 22-2 with seven minutes left in the half. Morgan got over the line next, but the pass from Slater was forward and the try was chalked off by the video referee. Australia took its dominant 20-point lead into half-time. Fiji had only completed eight sets in the first half and missed a whopping 20 tackles.
The Bati’s night got worse 90 seconds into the second half as Holmes brought up his hat-trick. Fiji were attacking to the right and had a two on one overlap but Holmes intercepted Kevin Naiqama’s pass, stopping a certain try, and ran 90 metres to touch down. In the 47th minute Slater grabbed Australia’s sixth, and his second of the night, when he dummied and glided over easily. Smith made it 34-2 to put the Bati well and truly to bed.
The Kangaroos had their Pacific neighbours in a choke hold and they started to squeeze even more. Four minutes later Holmes got his fourth when the Aussies spread the ball to the left and Dugan put him through. Smith took it to 40-2 with another successful conversion.
The Bati finally hit back in the 59th minute when Vunivalu dived over after Naiqama’s pass. Api Korisau couldn’t add the extras. But it didn’t stop Australia scoring again, as Holmes got his fifth for the night after he was set up by Dugan again. The Cronulla flyer is on some hot streak at the moment.
Soon after Gagai crossed again, after he powered past two sliding defenders on the left edge. Fiji were simply outgunned and had no answers. Josh McGuire went off limping and is in doubt to be fit for the final.
With six minutes left Vunivalu got over the line and lost the ball, so the Kangaroos went up the other end and Holmes touched down for his history-making sixth try. Australia are well and truly on track to successfully defend their world champion crown.
