Fiji scores historic win over Australia

Fiji scores historic win over Australia

Fiji beat Australia for the first time at the Rugby World Cup on Sunday at the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium in the French city of Saint-Étienne. The island nation is now back in the race to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Issued on:

1 min

Fiji, who had lost narrowly to Wales in their opening game, are now in line for a spot in the knockout stages, leaving Australia needing to beat the Welsh and setting up the prospect of a nail-biting tussle to decide the top two places in the pool.

Simione Kuruvoli kicked four first-half penalties to give Fiji, better known for their running rugby, a 12-8 lead at the break and a Wallaby defensive error allowed Josua Tuisova to score a try early in the second half.

Fiji opened up a 22-8 lead with 12 minutes left before Suli Vunivalu reduced the deficit with a try for Australia, for whom Mark Nawaqanitawase also scored a first-half try. 

(FRANCE 24 with Reuters and AFP)