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MONTPELLIER - Coach John Connolly was content for his Wallabies to register a half century of points against Fiji and claim a quarter-final place at the World Cup, but there was a lingering dissatisfaction with their performance here Sunday.
The Wallabies won easily enough on the scoreboard, 55-12, to clinch top place in Pool B and a quarter-final against either holders England or Tonga, but it was a sloppy display from the two-time champions.
"I guess we're happy with the result and if anyone had offered this to us three weeks ago we would have taken it," Connolly said.
"We're not overly happy with the way we played, but there's a certain amount of satisfaction that we scored 50-odd points, we're number one and we know where we're headed now, so that's good."
But the subtext of Connolly's post-match press conference was an unease over a loose display where the Wallabies failed to fully stamp their dominance over a second-string Fijian team, dismantled with 11 changes from the previous 29-16 win over Canada.
"The positives for us are that we achieved finishing number one and I think we played some very good rugby, but we were loose in other sections, that's a concern for us," he said.
"I think the negative thing was that mentally we weren't there for the game at times, we played as individuals, and it was very hot out there today.
"We didn't get any go-forward early and we went across the field a bit and we didn't get that momentum."
Fijian coach Ilie Tabua said he was proud of the performance from his young team.
"I'm proud with the players we put in, knowing that it would be tough, but we had chances late in the first half, but things didn't turn out for us," he said.
"I'm pleased with the way the younger players got through knowing that it is a tougher game for us against Wales next week."
Fiji have a make-or-break game with Wales in Nantes on Saturday to decide second place in their pool and a place in the last eight.
George Gregan, who led his country for the 59th time to equal the international Test captaincy record held by England's Will Carling, said credit was due to Fiji.
"We probably should pay some credit to Fiji, they came out very spirited and they are very proud nation, the Pacific island teams have shown that this week and that certainly what their game was today," Gregan said.
Fiji scrum-half Mosese Rauluni, who came on as a second-half replacement, said: "We knew it was going to be tough and it was. The boys did well for 60 minutes but then Australia ran away with the game.
"If you make mistakes against teams like Australia you'll get punished. Wales got it last week and we got it this week."
- AFP
