SAINT ETIENNE – After a promising opening weekend, the place Georgia was dispatched with relative consolation and conviction, Australia’s World Cup took a darkish flip through the second week. Shedding Taniela Tupou was one factor, however Will Skelton, blossoming as captain, following him onto the Medicab was scarcely plausible.

Each succumbed to delicate tissue accidents sustained at coaching. Not a brand new phenomenon for the Wallabies lately, and the topic of a evaluation commissioned on the finish of the 2022 season, the findings of which have been by no means publicly launched.

From outdoors the internal sanctum, it’s pointless speculating in regards to the trigger and the extent of every harm. However there may be greater than a whiff of historical past repeating itself.

The official line was that Skelton could be given proper up till the final minute to show his health. That additionally felt greater than a bit whiffy, and so it proved when Skelton was seen coming into the stadium dragging a moon boot.

Australia being with out their two energy forwards thus opened the door, not for historical past to repeat itself however, however for historical past to be written. Fiji’s win in St Etienne was simply their fourth in opposition to Australia, the primary since 1972, and far more convincing than the 22-15 score-line instructed.

Tupou’s absence meant a heavy onus handed on to Angus Bell, who duly obliged with a robust early hit up, establishing Ben Donaldson’s opening penalty aim.

As anticipated, Fiji threw all the things on the Wallabies; arduous, early and sometimes, however the Wallabies’ lateral protection was pretty much as good because it has been all yr, and the tackling prepared.

In all places, the collisions have been jarring; this was no place for half-measures, with or with out the ball.

When Fiji intelligently labored area for large Semi Radradra to get a menacing rumble on, Samu Kerevi lined him up and smashed him into the turf with conviction. Payback was Josua Tuisova isolating and going full steamroller on Carter Gordon. Minutes later, Tuisova repeated the dose on Rob Valetini, seemingly only for enjoyable.

Semi Radradra of Fiji speaks with Mark Nawaqanitawase of Australia after exchanging their match shirts. (Picture by Pauline Ballet – World Rugby/World Rugby by way of Getty Photographs)

The sport broke open within the 24^th minute when Rory Arnold was afforded extraordinary licence by referee Andrew Brace to hook a turnover again off the deck. Nic White wasn’t ready round to argue the niceties, ripping off an impressive 50:22, for Mark Nawaqanitawase to show himself sharpest man on the pitch and engineer himself a attempt from the fast throw-in, albeit the throw in not fairly going the total 5 metres.

Issues have been properly poised at halftime, however went south for the Wallabies quickly after, Gordon and Nawaqanitawase getting their wires crossed on a excessive kick, leaving Tuisova with an unattended quick lane to the attempt line.

One factor the Wallabies did nicely within the first half to be decisive of their defensive resolution making, As is critical in opposition to a strong, in-your-face opponent. This was a basic mine/yours outfield cricket catch snafu, the place the error, if there was to be one, wanted each gamers to be committing to the ball, not each seeing the opposite out of the nook of their eye, and pulling out.

The second half degenerating into an arm-wrestle favoured just one aspect. Fiji was profitable the collision, the turnover, the scrum and the maul, and with it, the penalty rely. And so they have been doing simply sufficient of their weakest swimsuit, the lineout.

Ben Donaldson of Australia seems dejected at full-time following the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between Australia and Fiji at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard on September 17, 2023 in Saint-Etienne, France. (Picture by Chris Hyde/Getty Photographs)

Questioning the place a circuit-breaker may come for the Wallabies, Nick Frost ambling throughout area into an outmanned contact state of affairs spoke to an absence of ‘go-forward’ focus.

Joran Uelese charging into the hip of a Fijian decoy runner spoke to desperation minus the requisite finesse.

Ben Donaldson nudging a penalty kick 10 metres to the 10m line as a substitute of the 5m line spoke to an absence of goal and confidence.

What the Wallabies did have although was loads of resolve, and an environment friendly maul within the 68^th minute opened the door for Suliasi Vunivalu to ferret his approach over. With a wonderful exit from Donaldson, steals from Matt Philip and Frost, and issues again to a one-score sport, all of a sudden it was Fiji who have been beneath stress.

Fiji held their nerve nonetheless, and held their passes. Provided one closing likelihood to go 60 metres for a draw, the Wallabies closing effort got here to nothing; Andrew Brace giving the Fijian scrum the pay they in all probability ought to have had a lot earlier.

Worthy winners, Fiji may need helped themselves extra if not for his or her tendency to disregard the apparent route by the fingers, and overuse the floating miss cross to their wingers.

On the plus aspect, spectacular goalkicking by halfback Simione Kuruvoli, who struck a formidable 5 objectives till changed early within the second half, was an illustration of a mature aspect with readability of mission, blissful to build up factors.

Put up-mortems and free recommendation will little doubt come thick and quick for the Wallabies. However regardless of the damage and injury, there mustn’t be a clouding of what’s required this week; a fast dusting off and a full concentrate on Wales.

That’s simpler stated than accomplished; the prospect of an early journey house looms giant, however coach Eddie Jones, simply as he did when speaking to media instantly afterwards, will do all he can to put on the flak, and hold his ‘younger crew’ – and all its flaws – on the very best path ahead.

With Group C everybody’s favorite, enjoyable group – other than the Wallabies – there are nonetheless many prospects in retailer. Who is aware of how essential Wales scratching out two late tries in opposition to Portugal on Saturday, or Frank Lomani’s late penalty miss – which did not deprive Australia of a bonus level – will show?

In all places else, the second weekend of matches went largely to plan, by way of anticipated winners and losers, though how every of the primary contenders acquired there was fairly a blended bag.

Uruguay is a crew on the up, and so they triggered France loads of complications, with the 27-12 score-line just one level bigger than New Zealand’s loss on opening evening. Which form of units issues up superbly for when the All Blacks and Uruguay conflict in Lyon, on the 5^th October.

Having made quite a few modifications from Paris, France’s second unit may need anticipated a extra fluent, and percentage-boosting win. However within the swimming pools the place there are two clear standouts and the remainder – with due respect to Italy – the matches in opposition to the so-called ‘Tier Two’ nations don’t carry an enormous significance.

Run some gamers into type, keep harm free, tick it off and transfer on to the following one.

Oh, and don’t choose up any purple playing cards alongside the way in which! New Zealand fell brief on this regard, Ethan De Groot carelessly turning his shoulder into contact and struggling a deserved sanction. Two matches after tackle-school low cost will nonetheless see him obtainable for the quarter-final, nevertheless it’s truthful to say that his World Cup hasn’t gone to plan to this point.

There was so much to love in regards to the All Blacks’ efficiency, most notably their intent. The need to play expansively was ever-present however, save for a skittery closing ten minutes, there was a refreshing directness and ease to their sport.

The All Blacks now have the very best a part of a fortnight off till they sort out Italy, who will present considerably extra complications than what the Namibians have been capable of present. That also needs to coincide with the return of Sam Cane, Shannon Frizell and Jordie Barrett, and a change of substances approaching the enterprise finish of the event.

Eire managed to sneak by the primary week, and acquired by their bruise-a-thon in opposition to Tonga; comfortably on the scoreboard, much less so within the residing of it. Regardless of the thrill round France and South Africa to this point, they gained’t handle to sneak beneath the radar for for much longer.

Having survived criticism for loading too many forwards onto their bench, South Africa duly changed their injured hooker, Malcolm Marx, with a again, Handre Pollard, carrying their 4 halfbacks alongside for good measure.

One factor to take from this, is that in the case of squad composition, there isn’t any template. Sides minimize their material in line with the fabric they’ve at their disposal, and what works in a single camp could be unworkable in one other.

Timing can be key. It’s one factor to interchange a participant within the first week, however as elimination matches loom, insurance coverage performs – to make sure squad depth is maintained – start to lose significance. It’s about what the very best remaining 23 can do that basically issues.

This is applicable to Australia as a lot as anybody. If issues aren’t circled in opposition to Wales, then whoever makes up the broader squad will rely for little.

So, after a heck of a day at Geoffroy Guichard Stadium, all roads now result in Lyon. It’s going to be one monumental week. Agonising and anxious. Jones versus Gatland. Boyo’s and yobbo’s wandering round in droves. All the pieces to play for.