Wallabies beat gallant Fijians

Israel Folau and Henry Speight scored a double each as the Wallabies defeated the Vodafone Flying Fijians 37-14 at the AAMI Stadium in Melbourne today.

Folau scored the opening try of the match in the fourth minute after winning an aerial contest from Fijian fullback Kini Murimurivalu and touching down in the corner.

Bernard Foley converted and gave the hosts a 7-0 lead.

Foley extended Australia’s lead by 10-0 two minutes later from a penalty.

Fijian born winger Henry Speight scored his second test try of his career in the 17^th minute after scoring in the corner, extending the lead to 15-0. Foley failed to convert.

Australia was reduced to fourteen players for ten minutes after Folau was sin-binned for a high tackle on Naulia Dawai.

Foley slotted in another penalty for the hosts while Ben Volavola missed Fiji’s only penalty of the first half as the Wallabies went to the break with a 18-0 lead.

Folau got his fifth test double early in the second half and a successful conversion from Foley extended Australia’s lead by 25-0.

Winger Vereniki Goneva scored Fiji’s first try after Leone Nakarawa won the ball from a turnover and sliced a neat pass out-wide to the veteran to score. Volavola converted as the scores narrowed to 25-7.

Captain Stephen Moore came off the bench and made his presence felt by scoring the fourth try for Australia. And a successful conversion by Foley increased their lead to 32-7.

The gallant Fijians applied pressure whenever they could and a good drive to the Australian line saw winger Timoci Nagusa claim their second try of the match. Volavola converted successfully.

Speight had the final say of the match as he dived in the corner after collecting a well swung pass from Quade Cooper.

The Vodafone Flying Fijians will head home on Monday to prepare for their next test against Italy in Suva next Saturday while Australia will take on Scotland next weekend.

By Reginald Chandar