KEY POINTS:
It was mission accomplished but securing a Marseille quarter-final berth couldn't hide shaking heads after the Wallabies' unpalatable win in Montpellier
While they laid on seven tries and sewed up top spot in pool B with one match still to play, Australia failed in their stated goal to improve with each match.
Too many loose passes, mis-communication, breakdown penalties and two conceded tries under the hot southern France sun combined for a below-par display at Stade de la Mosson.
Coach John Connolly could see the positives - headed by set-piece domination and a starring effort by Matt Giteau - but had wanted far better.
Shoddy execution was the main problem as the ball often moved wide instead of forward when the plans were to dominate the second-string Fiji team through the middle.
The two Fiji tries - one created by Brisbane product Mosese Rauluni's break through Australia's lineout - came from lapses that will haunt defence coach John Muggleton.
Connolly felt some players "mentally weren't there" for a game they were expected to win easily against the spirited but scrappy islanders.
"I guess we're happy with the result but not overly happy with the way we played," said Connolly.
"I thought we played some good rugby at times but we were very loose in other sections.
"It was good, good, bad; good, good, bad. You tend to do that sometimes. It was hot and uncomfortable and they thought they'd win."
After last weekend's impressive 32-20 win over Wales, the Wallabies spoke about building momentum and improving through the tournament but they failed to continue the roll.
"Overall as a team it was a bit disappointing but we got the bonus point so it was mission accomplished," said vice-captain Phil Waugh.
With a 27-point haul including two of the first three tries, Giteau was the star of the show for the Wallabies.
The second five-eighths, celebrating his 50th test, also set up the fourth - the match-sealer to Adam Ashley-Cooper - with a deft reflex pass in the 59th minute for a 38-12 lead.
Giteau's haul was behind only those of Mat Rogers (42) and Elton Flatley (30) in the 2003 tournament for the most points by an Australian in a World Cup match.
Matt Dunning, Dan Vickerman, Wycliff Palu and Chris Latham were all instrumental while Drew Mitchell crossed for a hat-trick to take his World Cup try tally to five.
A hungry Lote Tuqiri could only look on with envy from the other wing as he was denied four possible tries through refereeing decisions and teammates' poor options.
A price was paid for the victory with reserve back Scott Staniforth in doubt for the rest of the tournament with a right shoulder injury.
Staniforth was the victim of friendly fire with his first touch of the ball when hit by fellow centre Ashley-Cooper, who misread an insidepass. Rookie pivot Berrick Barnes (cork thigh) and reserve halfbackSam Cordingley (knee) finishedwith injuries but both are expectedto play Canada in their finalpool game in Bordeaux onSunday.
An October 7 Marseille quarter-final clash with 2003 World Cup final vanquisher England now looms so long as the struggling champions can negotiate an impressive Tonga in Paris on Saturday.
Halfback George Gregan, in his world record-equalling 59th test as captain, struggled with his service before being replaced midway through the second half.
AAP
