The Fijian Schoolboys lit up Canberra with their fearless running rugby but were eventually overpowered 61-26 by a clinical Australian Schoolboys outfit in the first of their two-match series.
Fiji made a dream start, refusing to kick and backing their trademark offload game from deep.
Jone Kunaqio finished a stunning 95-metre team try, leaving the Australians scrambling, before Sailosi Taka restored the lead minutes later after a powerful run from winger Ratu Vonolagi.
Their first kick of the match, a chip from inside their own 22, typified Fiji’s ambition but led to an unfortunate head clash that forced Aussie centre Josh Barr from the field.
However, the high-risk approach began to cost Fiji.
A loose pass on their goal-line gifted Australia’s William Trostel an easy try, and a series of penalties reduced the visitors to 14 men. From there, Australia took control through their scrum and forward pack, with James Finegan scoring twice before halftime for a 26-14 lead to the home side.
Fiji kept fighting, with Vonolagi producing a spectacular escape from his own in-goal, but another loose offload handed Keegan Daly a try that swung momentum fully to the home side.
Saturday’s match kicks off at 2pm.
