In 1952, when Fiji first played Test rugby against Australia, huge crowds flocked to the spectacle. Having worn boots only since 1938, the Fijians played the all-out attack that became their trademark and, in their first Test against the Wallabies, scored rugby’s fastest try – a 16-second effort at the SCG. The tour drew record crowds – three-times the Bledisloe Cup series – and established a flamboyant rivalry.
Now, a new chapter. Australia’s Rugby World Cup pool match against Fiji is the biggest challenge yet in the Eddie Jones era. The 63-year-old coach used the five Rugby Championship Tests as a “pre-season” selection shootout for this World Cup and the Wallabies lost every one. But Jones had his eye on a bigger goal – finding and blooding young players to shake up this 2023 tournament, then win the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
