The Wallabies have avoided a massive upset by posting 27 unanswered points against a brave Fiji outfit to eventually win 39-21 in their Rugby World Cup opener under the dome in Sapporo.
Heavily favoured to win the opening match of Pool D, the Wallabies found themselves in deep trouble this afternoon when Fiji leapt out to a 21-12 lead early in the second half.
But Michael Cheika's troops refused to panic and they produced four tries in a 16-minute stretch to overhaul Fiji and kick off their Rugby World Cup campaign with a bonus-point win.
Hooker Tolu Latu scored two of those four tries in the second term, while Fiji-born duo Samu Kerevi and Marika Koroibete also crossed the stripe to close out the scoring.
Captain Michael Hooper and winger Reece Hodge had scored earlier in the first half, before the Wallabies found themselves trailing 14-12 at the break.
Fiji opened the scoring with a Ben Volavola penalty goal in the fourth minute and they put the Wallabies on the back foot only three minutes later with a superb team try finished off by Peceli Yato in the right-hand corner.
Yato touched down after Fiji launched an attacking raid from inside its own half, which was highlighted by outstanding supported play from the Pacific Islanders.
Fiji's second try, a runaway effort scored by Waisea Nayacalevu just after half-time, sent a scare through the Wallabies camp and helped establish a nine-point lead.
The two-time World Cup champions, however, chose not to crumble and their fitness and class proved the difference as they eventually took charge on the scoreboard.
Aside from their six tries, the Wallabies added to their points tally with conversions from Matt Toomua (two) and Christian Lealiifano, while Hodge contributed a penalty goal in the 50th minute.
The Wallabies next face their chief rival in Pool D, Wales, in Tokyo on September 29 and Fiji back up when it plays Uruguay in Kamaishi on Wednesday.
Look back at how the action unfolded in our blog.
