- Group D: Australia 39-21 Fiji
- Controversial Reece Hodge tackle marred contest
Australia survived a considerable scare to clinch victory in their opening World Cup match against Fiji, who were left with a sense of injustice in defeat. Two second-half tries for the Wallabies hooker Tolu Latu swung the match in their favour before a late flourish, but Fiji can feel aggrieved at Reece Hodge’s high tackle on Peceli Yato that went unpunished and forced their star flanker off during the first half.
Hodge was sweeping round to tackle Yato, who was charging towards the try-line after Australia had been caught napping by a quick Fiji lineout. Hodge’s tackle was high with minimal use of the arms and appeared to make contact with Yato’s head. It could well have been a penalty try and certainly a card of either colour but it went unpunished, the referee Ben O’Keeffe opting against consulting the TMO.
Written by Gerard Meagher
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/sep/21/australia-grind-out-untidy-win-over-fiji-in-their-rugby-world-cup-opener under the title “Australia rally to Rugby World Cup win as Fiji count cost of high Hodge tackle”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
