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Australia survive scare against Fiji to book place in World Cup semi-finals

Australia 36-22 Fiji: The Kangaroos are into the last four, while New Zealand bounced back from an opening defeat by thrashing the Cook Islands

Australia overcame a strong Fijian performance
Australia overcame a strong Fijian performance (Getty)

Tom Trbojevic scored a hat-trick as Australia came from behind to beat Fiji 36-22 and make it two wins from two in Pool A of the Rugby League World Cup.

Although Kotoni Staggs’ try gave Australia an early lead, Fiji hit back through Semi Valemei and then Taane Milne to go 10-6 up, and then led 16-12 early in the second half after Valemei scored a second in response to Sam Walker’s try.

But Trbojevic’s first of the night brought Australia level and, after Walker’s penalty, he quickly scored two more for a 30-16 edge

Valemei completed his own hat-trick in the 70th minute to offer Fiji hope but Jacob Preston had the final word four minutes from time.

Earlier, Jamayne Isaako scored a hat-trick as New Zealand ran in 14 tries in a crushing 82-16 win over the Cook Islands.

Ronaldo Mulitalo, Tanner Stowers-Smith and Casey McLean had two tries each, while Scott Sorensen, Keano Kini, Kodi Nikorima, Te Maire Martin and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad also scored.

New Zealand got their campaign back on track
New Zealand got their campaign back on track (Getty)

Isaako added to his impressive scoring tally by converting 13 of the 14 tries.

Esom Ioka scored all three of Cook Islands’ tries, with his third giving them a short-lived 16-12 lead after Valentine Holmes converted in the 20th minute, but Isaako soon put New Zealand back on top as they recorded their first Pool A victory.

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