- Published
Australia edged to a 36-22 victory in a pulsating match against Fiji to book their place in the Rugby League World Cup semi-finals.
asserted
Australia → publish → finals
Having lost their previous five meetings against Australia by an aggregate score of 246-16, a stunned Brisbane crowd watched Fiji enjoy territorial advantage in the first half and take a 16-12 lead after the break.
However, the momentum switched back to Kevin Walters' side in a crucial 60-second spell.
asserted
momentum → lose → spell
Solomone Saukuru raced in to seemingly put Fiji 20-12 ahead - but when it was ruled out for obstruction, Australia immediately went up the other end and Tom Trbojevic scored to bring the teams level.
asserted
teams → race → end
Trbojevic, who looked vulnerable in defence, crossed twice more for Australia and Jacob Preston added a further try after Semi Valemei had completed his hat-trick for Fiji.
asserted
Valemei → look → Fiji
"There are definitely some areas to improve on," Trbojevic told Premier Sports.
asserted
Trbojevic → be → Sports
"We didn't start as we wanted to and couldn't get a flow.
asserted
we → start → flow
We just needed to play our style of footy.
asserted
We → need → footy
"We weren't at our best but we came away with two points.
asserted
we → come → points
We need to improve.
asserted
We → need → ?
We've got to enjoy a win but we've got to be our harshest critics too."
asserted
we → get → win
Brisbane Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs had opened the scoring for Australia on his home ground, while Sam Walker capped his debut with a try and 12 points with the boot.
asserted
Walker → open → boot
But the manner in which their pack were outmuscled - and in which they allowed Taane Milne and Valemei to score - will be a concern for Walters, whose team head into the last four despite delivering two unconvincing performances in beating New Zealand and Fiji.
asserted
team → outmuscle → Zealand
New Zealand will take on Fiji in a make-or-break final pool game on Saturday, 31 October (04:30 GMT), having overcome an early scare themselves in their 82-16 victory over the Cook Islands in Christchurch.
asserted
Zealand → take → Christchurch
Jamayne Isaako, who is joining Melbourne Storm next term, took the headlines as he scored a record 38 points for the Kiwis.
asserted
he → join → Kiwis
It was the perfect way for Stacey Jones' team to bounce back from their 24-22 opening Group A defeat by Australia but it did not go entirely to script, as the Cook Islands recovered from 12-0 down to lead 16-12.
asserted
Islands → bounce → script
With two-time World Cup winner Valentine Holmes in their ranks, Karmichael Hunt's team responded superbly as Esom Ioka grabbed a hat-trick of tries in response to early efforts from Isaako and Ronaldo Mulitalo.
asserted
Ioka → respond → Isaako
However, from there it was one-way traffic as the Kiwis took control to lead 36-16 by the break.
asserted
Kiwis → take → break
Isaako crossed three times overall, while Test debutant Tanner Stowers-Smith, Mulitalo and Casey McLean each scored twice.
asserted
Smith → cross → ?
Scott Sorensen, Kodi Nikorima, Te Maire Martin, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Keano Kini, who replaced injured star full-back Kalyn Ponga in the New Zealand line-up, also claimed tries.
asserted
who → replace → tries
Isaako's points haul - which included 13 conversions - eclipsed Tasesa Lavea's previous mark of 32 points in a single game, which was recorded against the same opposition in 2000.
asserted
which → include → 2000
Kiwi Ferns roll towards Samoa or England clash
asserted
Ferns → roll → clash
New Zealand's women had earlier thrashed France 92-0 in the same stadium, with Apii Nicholls scoring four tries.
asserted
Nicholls → thrash → tries
Stacey Waaka and Mele Hufanga both claimed a hat-trick of tries in a dominant performance by the co-hosts.
asserted
Waaka → claim → hosts
Mackenzie Wiki, Raecene McGregor and Tenika Willison all crossed twice with Chantay Kiria-Ratu and Kaiyah Atai also going over in an 18-try demolition job.
asserted
Ratu → cross → job
The Kiwi Ferns have now defeated France by a combined score of 236-0 across three World Cup encounters.
asserted
Ferns → defeat → encounters
New Zealand, who defeated Fiji 18-12 in the their opening match, will round off their Pool B campaign against Papua New Guinea on Saturday, 31 October (06:45 GMT).
asserted
who → defeat → Saturday
Ricky Henry's side look set to face either Samoa or England in the semi-finals of the competition.
asserted
side → look → competition
Fiji face France in the other remaining group match on Saturday, 31 October (02:20 GMT).
asserted
Fiji → face → Saturday
The Aporia
