Frank Lomani’s game-ending kick may have drifted wide of the posts, but that mattered little for Fiji’s players. As the final whistle blew on the Rugby World Cup group stage match, they could now celebrate beating Australia for the first time in the tournament’s history – and a first victory against the Wallabies since 1954.
The joyous celebrations that followed the 22-15 win were worthy of the historic occasion: substitutes ran onto the pitch to embrace their teammates, while others fell to the ground in disbelief. Soon after, the players huddled together and – as is a tradition for Fijian rugby teams – sang a hymn to give their thanks to God.
Often struggling against “tier one” nations – so-called because they play in rugby’s top-level international competitions – the Flying Fijians, as the team is nicknamed, have failed to get past the pool stages of a Rugby World Cup since 2007, when they lost a memorable quarterfinal against South Africa. “We wanted to change … our identity, what we stood for,” said Raiwalui, who was appointed head coach in February.
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