Inept Australia outwitted, outfought and outclassed by fantastic Fiji

What do Emmanuel Macron and Eddie Jones have in common? Apart from them both being 173cm tall, they know what it’s like to get booed by a packed French rugby stadium.

The president of La République copped a nasty reception when he opened the World Cup in Paris last weekend, and the Wallabies boss got something similar every time his face appeared on the big screen at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Étienne.

What must that feel like? Can any of us even grasp the emotions coursing through his bloodstream in that moment? After all, Jones hasn’t increased an entire nation’s state pension age or provoked angry protests. His greatest sins are failing to get the best out of England and providing cynical quotes at press conferences. Perhaps he is so unpopular because he acts like everyone is against him as he positions himself as the most misunderstood and unlucky man in the world.

Then again, maybe he is. Or close to it. Because, over 80 minutes against the hard runners of Fiji, who this time married intense carries with a bit of nous and unnerving accuracy at the breakdown, Jones watched on as a series of events classed as “coach-killers” consigned his team to an infamous 22-15 defeat.

Eddie Jones is not a popular man in Saint-Étienne. Photograph: Aurélien Morissard/AP

Australia lacked cohesion and composure. They’d follow up a slick move down the line with an aimless kick to no one. A swift steal on the ground would precede a knock-on. A dominant carry would come to nothing as the necessary support at the ruck failed to arrive.

Once they managed to string together a series of successful plays. Around the 23rd-minute mark, Richie Arnold pinched the ball. Sure, he was on the ground and off his feet, but Andrew Brace, the referee, waved play on so Nic White hoofed a monstrous kick that took an awkward bounce and bobbled out for a stunning 50-22. Mark Nawaqanitawase then wrestled the ball free and played a quick lineout for Samu Kerevi on the gallop. The centre wasn’t beyond the five metre line, but Brace waved play on so he popped pass for Nawaqanitawase before the winger crashed over for a try.

Maybe Jones was right all along. Maybe those five defeats in the build up to the World Cup meant nothing. Maybe their poor discipline – which saw them concede 18 penalties to Fiji’s seven – wouldn’t hurt them in the long run. Jones said his team was one that would be defined by moments rather than a clear strategy or identity. Chaos would be their guiding light. And, with a little help from the officials, they had their moment to lay down a marker.

It’s a good plan if the players can stitch enough of those moments together. But inaccuracy at the ruck and an inability to stifle the relentless Fijian fetchers meant the Wallabies’ free-wheeling jazzy vibe took on a staccato beat. There was no tempo, no rhythm. It was a tough watch for anyone with gold in their heart.

One moment summed up their ineptitude. A box kick was hoisted high and Carter Gordon zeroed in on it. Nawaqanitawase had his back turned but his eyes fixed on the dipping pill. Both jumped towards it without conviction and allowed it to bounce, a cardinal crime in this game. Josua Tuisova gathered, pinned his ears back and slid over in the corner.

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Australia’s World Cup fate is still in their hands. Beat Wales and they’ll be in the mix for a spot in the quarter-finals. Points differences will play a role – and they can thank a swift pick-and-go try from Suli Vunivalu for some damage control in that regard – but at least they’re still in the competition. The real question is where this leaves Australian rugby as a concept.

How on earth can a team outside of the Six Nations or Rugby Championship hand them such a pasting? Fiji didn’t win this through mindless ball carries from muscled men with little regard for their safety. Australia were outwitted, outfought and outclassed. They become the first so-called tier-one nation to succumb to a side that still scrapes an existence in relative obscurity between World Cups.

This is Australia’s first loss to their island cousins since 1954. Back then a dodgy call at the scrum gave full-back Taniela Ranavue an easy kick to secure the 18-16 result. This time another scrum penalty gave Fiji the chance to strip Australia of a losing bonus point they scarcely deserved. If nothing else, let this game compel those in charge of their sport, especially at Rugby Australia, to share a field with the smaller nations that have given as good as they’ve got this tournament.