Read up on all the one-sided action here.
Final thoughts
Anyone still hiding behind the couch while Fiji were beaten to a pulp can come out now. That was the Kangaroos at their most ruthless, and neither Tonga nor England will be particularly thrilled by the prospect of what awaits them in the final. Put simply, I can’t see how the Kangaroos can lose the final if they reproduce that sort of form.
A word for Fiji though, who lit up the competition with their previous performances only to run into a Kangaroo-shaped wall. They got a try, which is more than most teams managed, and very nearly had two, but they were simply outclassed by the world’s best team.
Holmes to score seven in the final? It sounds almost as ridiculous as scoring 11 in a week. Thanks for joining me, catch you next time.
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Man of the moment Val Holmes is pretty modest, praising his teammates for helping him score six tries. “Big credit to the team, it’s an unbelievable team - probably the best team I’ve played in.”
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“We’ve just got to throw the ball to Val Holmes,” says Cam Smith with regards to the final. Hard to argue.
FULL-TIME: Australia 54-6 Fiji
It’s all over. Fiji are put out of their misery. But really tonight was all about Val Holmes. Six tries tonight. Eleven tries in a matter of days. Crazy. Hats off to the Kangaroos who were ruthless for 75 minutes.
79 mins: The Kangaroos have steamrollered Fiji tonight - who haven’t even been that bad. Australia will be red hot favourites for the final... more so.
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TRY Australia 54-6 Fiji (Holmes)
76 mins: That’s it. He’s done it. The joy of six for Holmes. Special stuff. He races away to get it down in the corner, just about fending off Naiqama. Smith misses again.
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75 mins: I’m going to go out on a limb and say the Kangaroos will see this one out. Fiji are still probing though... Vunivulu almost goes over, but loses it over the line.
#RLWC2017 #AUSvFIJ pic.twitter.com/RFAOrEelFw
— Kenë (@therealkene) November 24, 2017
TRY Australia 50-6 Fiji (Gagai)
71 mins: This is brutal. Gagai grabs a double, charging through the stretched defence with little trouble. Smith misses the kick.
70 mins: Surely Holmes can’t break his own record in the space of a few days? He’s got 10 minutes to get a sixth try. I wouldn’t bet against it. Poor old Fiji. They haven’t played too badly - they’re just not on the same level as the Kangaroos.
TRY Australia 46-6 Fiji (Holmes)
67 mins: That man Holmes. Another five-try haul. Amazing stuff. Quick hands along the back, Dugan does well to get the final ball away and Holmes goes over. Again. The boy’s on fire. Smith adds the two points.
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65 mins: Full set for the Kangaroos from inside the 20. Good kick from Smith. They haven’t scored for a while.
TRY Australia 40-6 Fiji (Vunivalu)
61 mins: They’ve got one back! Well done that man. Momentum took Vunivalu over as he charged towards the line while picking up a low pass in the corner. The kick swings wide.
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58 mins: The Kangaroos are working through their sets like the machine they are. It’s been a training drill for them. Or rather, they’ve made it look like a training drill - they’ve been that much better than Fiji. Uate almost - aaaalmost - races away, but last-man Slater gets a tackle in that slows him down just enough for the defence to catch up.
56 mins: Well this is fast becoming academic now. I hope it doesn’t turn into a slaughter - Fiji have been too entertaining this tournament to suffer that fate. They’re still getting the odd sniff of the line but the Kangaroos look untroubled - indeed one stray pass and you suspect they’ll race away to the other end for another.
TRY Australia 40-2 Fiji (Holmes)
52 mins: The Kangaroos are looking unstoppable. Holmes with another; straightforward stuff, a final pass to the sideline and he squeezes in with not a tackle in sight. Smith with another two.
51 mins: Naiqama tries to find a way out from behind his own line, but he’s swamped by a sea of green and gold. Fiji clinging on to respectability.
TRY Australia 34-2 Fiji (Slater)
49 mins: A couple of dummy passes and Slater slices through the Fiji defence to extend the lead. This is all getting a bit predictable. Smith adds two points.
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47 mins: Is there any way back for Fiji? Call me Mr Pessimism but I can’t see how.
45 mins: Fiji are still battling away, they just don’t have the same class as the Kangaroos - too many errors. Another sloppy kick gives away possession just as they were looking to build pressure.
“I checked the score earlier on and the Australians were 2- 0 down. I attempted to do responsible parent things and now the game is seemingly beyond them. I will now follow a path of grossly irresponsible parenting in the hope that they can turn things around. I apologise to my daughters for any future emotional issues but supporting the underdog is so important.” Phil Withall, via email
I like a man who gets his priorities right. If they’re going to turn this around, they’ll need all the help they can get Phil - including spur-of-the-moment offspring-related superstitions. I’m sure the kids will understand.
TRY Australia 28-2 Fiji (Holmes)
42 mins: Well that’s precisely the opposite of what they needed to do. Holmes with the intercept and there’s no stopping him as he races right up the other end to touch down. Uate gets close... but nothing more. Smith with a simple kick for the extras.
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Second half
41 mins: Here we go again. Fiji need to start this half the way they started the last one - getting in the Aussies’ faces and shaking them out of their natural game. Only this time they need to maintain that intensity for the whole 40 minutes instead of the first five. While maintaining discipline. Against the best side in the tournament. Piece of cake.
Half-time - Australia 22-2 Fiji
Gagai spills the ball out of play and that’s it for the half. Kangaroos in control. See you after the break.
39 mins: Time’s almost up for Fiji to get back in the game before the break. It would certainly make things more interesting. Unfortunately I think the hosts are more likely to add to their tally. Milne looks like he’s hurt his arm.
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37 mins: The Kangaroos race up the other end and aaaalmost get a try, but the final ball to Cronk is palmed forward by Slater under pressure. No one is surprised when the try is ruled out.
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36 mins: Short answer, no. There was a glimmer from Nakubuwai, who was held up close to the line by three Kangaroos, but the defence was just too strong and Fiji end up losing it.
35 mins: Fiji on the attack from a short kick. They earn a penalty and will have a chance to put pressure on the line. Can they do it?
TRY Australia 22-2 (Gagai)
33 mins: A long pass from Cronk finds Gagai, who dodges and weaves his way inside to find the line. Smith has no trouble adding the two points.
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32 mins: Will Fiji tire as we get closer to the break? They’ve put a lot of effort in to keep the Kangaroos to 16 points. The Kangaroos look like they could still go up a gear.
30 mins: The Kangaroos aren’t doing anything spectacular but they’re ruthless when they get within whiffing distance of the line. Fiji have battled hard in defence but they’re just being outclassed in the basics. A good set from Fiji is let down by a wayward pass from Hayne. Milne didn’t have a chance of getting that one.
TRY Australia 16-2 Fiji (Holmes)
26 mins: Simple stuff for the Kangaroos as a bit of draw and pass puts Holmes over the line in the corner. This is looking ominous. Holmes now has eight tries for the tournament. Smith misses the kick by inches.
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25 mins: Good defence initially from Uate but Fiji concede another penalty close to their line. This is not looking good. Dugan almost breaks through the line, but cries out in agony as his ankle gets crushed in the final tackle. He’s up and about moments later though. Well done lad.
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24 mins: Hayne kicks it dead... despite my pre-match hype he’s had a bit of an iffy one so far. Even his body language doesn’t look great. The Kangaroos march up the other end on their next set. They can smell blood.
23 mins: A comedy of errors from Fiji yet again allows the Kangaroos to build some pressure. You can’t fault the passion but the focus is lacking.
21 mins: Well it was looking like we were in for a proper contest for a little while there. Penalties are proving costly for Fiji, giving the Kangaroos too many chances to build/relieve pressure. The visitors need to get their hands on the ball and complete their sets. Play stops as Saifiti twists a knee in a tackle. He’s limping off, grudgingly so.
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TRY Australia 12-2 Fiji (Holmes)
19 mins: A kick to the corner, Vunivalu leaps to reach it ... and misses. Too high. Holmes sweeps in behind him to touch down. Smith adds the cherry with the boot.
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17 mins: The Kangaroos are finding their rhythm now, putting plenty of pressure on the line. Fiji just about hanging on.
TRY Australia 6-2 Fiji (Slater)
15 mins: Morgan somehow barges his way through the Fiji line and then it’s simple stuff for the Kangaroos with several players free. Slater is the one who gets the pass and charges over the line untroubled. Smith with the extras.
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13 mins: Montoya under pressure behind his own line. He can’t get back out before being tackled. Kangaroos on the front foot.
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11 mins: Poor decision by Gillett but Fiji are going to have to ride their luck tonight if they’re going to make a fist of it. It doesn’t seemed to have fazed them too much. They take it deep into Kangaroos’ territory with their next set - although the hosts come straight back with it. They’re starting to build some momentum.
9 mins: Looks like we could be in for a game here people, Fiji looking fearless against the Kangaroos... who come within a whisker of scoring the first try. Dear oh dear, Gillett tries to pass it right in the corner when he should have gone himself. The ball flies out the sidelines.
PENALTY Australia 0-2 Fiji (Koroisau)
Koroisau kicks it over from right in front. First blood to Fiji.
5 mins: Kamikamica with a smash of a tackle on Holmes, who loses the ball. Good start by Fiji. Nothing in it so far, in fact you’d have to say the visitors are edging it slightly. Early doors though.
3 mins: Australia with their first set manage to make it all way up to the 10m mark. The kick deflects off a Fijian foot and goes out. It wasn’t played at though so it’s a Fiji feed in.
2 mins: Some push and shove after a high shoulder on Slater. Fiji are very much fired up, the Kangaroos are firing back. Discipline could prove a factor tonight.
🤗
— RLWC2017 (@RLWC2017) November 24, 2017
Who wants a hug?#AUSvFIJ#RLWC2017 pic.twitter.com/OuhnXE6pyX
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Kick-off
1 min: Smith gets things started with the boot. Sims with a nice offload as they make some early inroads. They’ll certainly need to produce something special to get through this Kangaroos defence.
That’s the singing over. It’s business time. Australia to kick things off.
So powerful!#AUSvFIJ#RLWC2017 pic.twitter.com/dMy2Te2nnr
— RLWC2017 (@RLWC2017) November 24, 2017
I’m sure I just saw a bunch of Tonga fans in the crowd. For a second I had one of those bloggers’ nightmares, when you suddenly think you’ve been talking about the wrong semi-final for the last 20 minutes.
Here they come, strolling onto the pitch to a chorus of cheers and the low buzz of an amped-up didgeridoo. Anthems coming up.
Remember when I said overconfidence could potentially be a chink in the Kangaroos’ armour? Well Meninga hasn’t been too happy with how training went earlier this week. That said, apparently there was a big improvement for their final session.
Much as I’ve been waffling on about Hayne, Fiji are hardly a one-man team. They have a powerful forward pack and a backline that includes Akuila Uate, Kevin Naiqama and Suliasi Vunivalu. Restricting the Kiwis to just two points was no mean feat, and in Mick Potter they have a very shrewd coach. At the very least they should pose a few uncomfortable questions for the Kangaroos.
It’s a fairly cool night in Brisbane. Just under 23C. The fans seem happy enough.
Here’s how they line-up. No surprises.
Your semi-final #AUSvFIJ team list!#RLWC2017 pic.twitter.com/Ci9V2xqwLe
— RLWC2017 (@RLWC2017) November 24, 2017
Hayne v Meninga
A lot has been said about Australia’s immense defence – for the record, they’ve conceded 10 points in four games this tournament, and head into the semis on the back of two shutouts – but if there’s one player capable of producing a bit of magic to get Fiji over the line, it’s the rejuvenated Jarryd Hayne. Not only that, but he’ll be feeling pretty fired up considering Mal Meninga uses every chance he gets to mention how Hayne wasn’t playing well enough to get in the Kangaroos side. Even this week he couldn’t help himself.
“He’s their control man, Fiji’s getting through their sets and he’s putting a good kick in or controlling the ends of sets really well,” Meninga trumpeted. “He can play anywhere, Jarryd. He can play one, he can play centre, wing, which he does at rep level, and six for Fiji. He’s that type of player, he’s a great individual, a great talent and he can play a number of positions. He wasn’t playing well enough to make our squad.”
We get it Mal, you can stop now.
Preamble
Evening everyone, I hope you’ve still got your work clothes on because we’re now entering the business end of the Rugby League World Cup. We’re down to four teams with each side just two games away from glory – although Fiji’s win over New Zealand last time out means they’ll take home a decent slice of the glory pie regardless of tonight’s result. That shock win in Wellington also means this is the first time since the World Cup expanded in 1995 that the Big Three haven’t featured in the final four. Good for the sport, great for the Kangaroos, not so good for David Kidwell.
Can Fiji spring another, even more mahoosive, shock tonight? In the words of that bald guy from Princess Bride – inconceivable. If the Kangaroos line-up wasn’t formidable enough, the history books make pretty grim reading for Fiji. The Fiji v Australia semi-finals at the previous two World Cups produced wince-inducing scorelines – with the Kangaroos romping home 52-0 in 2008 and 64-0 in 2013. Obviously, the eligibility situation has been tweaked just a tad since then. For starters, Jarryd Hayne scored three tries for the Kangaroos in the 2013 clash – now he’s lining up against them. Will an injection of world-class talent be enough for Fiji to spring their biggest surprise yet? A win might still be beyond them at this stage - but if they manage to make a game of it against the dominant force in rugby league, it will represent a huge leap forward for Mick Potter’s men.
On the other side of the pitch, bowing out gracefully in the semi-finals, or the final for that matter, is simply not an option for the Kangaroos. Anything less than back-to-back World Cups will be deemed a failure. And rightly so. The Kangaroos have so much talent to burn they occasionally set off smoke alarms. Overconfidence could be an issue. They might even be undercooked, having not been seriously tested since the opening game against England last month. But with this sort of quality at their disposal, it shouldn’t matter. Whether that’s how it pans out remains to be seen.
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Richard will be here shortly. In the meantime, have a read of this by Nick Tedeschi, on the latest incumbent of the New South Wales hot seat:
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