Lack of game management
Noah Lolesio had a tough outing in Newcastle, eventually leaving the field on the hour mark after a heavy tackle.
One decision in particular stood out.
The Wallabies had moved into a 14-0 lead and looked in control with time almost up in the first half. The obvious option was to kick for touch. Instead, the Brumbies playmaker produced a speculative chip kick, Fiji won the ball and Salesi Rayasi scored in the corner, ultimately changing the game, as the visitors dominated the second half.
Lolesio took a high-stakes gamble, and it almost cost his team dearly. Against the Lions, the Wallabies will not be so lucky.
Fundamental flaws
In Newcastle, both sides had opportunities to kill off the game. World-class Wallabies fullback Tom Wright will not enjoy his video review session with the coaching staff this week, after his forward passes cost the Wallabies two tries.
The first to Potter on 15 minutes was closer, but the pass was forward.
On 48 minutes with the Wallabies starved of attacking opportunities, Wright again played the ball to Potter, drawing a defender and passing under pressure in his attempt to create space for the winger, who chipped through for Max Jorgensen to score. The pass from Wright to Potter was ruled forward, however, and the Wallabies lost another valuable opportunity.
After the game, Schmidt highlighted both forward passes as skill errors that the team must address.
The Wallabies also missed 29 tackles against Fiji, who exploited the space. The Lionsโ brilliant Scottish five-eighth, Finn Russell, will be even more ruthless.
Jorgensen is fresh and fit
Three months ago, Jorgensen suffered an ankle injury after a hip-drop tackle against the Hurricanes. The winger pounded his fists into the turf, fearing he would miss the rest of the Super Rugby season, and potentially the Lions series, which had been motivation to resist offers from NRL clubs.
In his first game back, Jorgensen was sharp, and constantly asked questions of the physical Fiji defence.
His performance wasnโt perfect โ there was a knock on in the 70th minute and three missed tackles โ but Jorgensenโs class makes it easy to forget he is only 20-years-old.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Jorgensen got to know each other even better during long days spent in the gym as they recovered from injuries and, in tandem with Wright and centre Ikitau, they can cause real trouble for the Lionsโ defence if used correctly.
McReight is the real steal
Fraser McReight continues the strong tradition of class Wallabies to wear the No.7 jumper, and he was relentless against Fiji.
McReightโs all-action display was rewarded with a well-taken try on 38 minutes, but it was his work at the breakdown that continues to impress.
In November, McReight outplayed Irelandโs Josh Van der Flier in similar fashion, causing havoc at every ruck possible.
There were two turnovers, on 20 minutes and 73 minutes, but it was his final one that was vital with the game on the line. If Fiji had scored, it almost certainly would have been too late for the Wallabies.
Like any good No.7, McReightโs timing at the breakdown was sublime. He let Fiji second-rower Isoa Nasilasila barrel in, neatly avoiding contact, to set himself up for the perfect steal when his side needed it most.
Wilson the perfect captain in a crisis
Harry Wilson is a Wallabies captain who prefers to let actions, rather than barked orders, do the talking. Against Fiji on Sunday, he articulated himself perfectly at exactly the right time.
Alongside his almost telepathic understanding with McReight in the back row, Wilson has an ability to stay cool in tense situations.
The pressure on the Wallabies to win against Fiji was enormous. A win was desperately needed for seeding ahead of the World Cup draw in December and, just as importantly, to give them confidence ahead of the Test series against the Lions.
The Wallabies had completed six phases before Wilson decided to take the responsibility of winning the game on his shoulders at the death.
He sprinted over to take the ball from McReight, spinning acrobatically to place it down as four Fijian defenders dived to the turf with him. Wilson won the game, and potentially the captaincy for the Lions series.
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