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Rugby World Cup | Group Stage
Sep 23, 2015 at 4.45pm UK
 
Australia
28-13
Fiji
Pocock (27', 31'), Kepu (43')
FT
Volavola (60')

Michael Hooper: 'Fiji made life tough for Australia'

Australia's opening World Cup match against Fiji underlines "just how hard this competition is going to be to win", Michael Hooper tells Sports Mole.

Australia openside flanker Michael Hooper has claimed that missing out on a bonus point against Fiji shows "just how hard" winning this year's Rugby World Cup will be.

The Wallabies had to settle for four points from their opening fixture of the tournament after being held at bay for a large part of the second half.

Fiji grew stronger as the contest wore on and were good value for their only try, which came via Ben Volavola on the hour mark in Cardiff.

Hooper was quick to praise the Pacific Islanders after the match, but was also at pains to point out that it is simply a case of taking each game as it comes, rather than looking back at what could have been.

"It was a tough game," he told Sports Mole after the 28-13 win. "They took it to us at set pieces and threw the ball around a lot at the end which got us working hard.

"They were a quality team to play against first half. It shows just how hard this competition is going to be to win. It is purely game by game for us; taking the points as they come. We will now focus on Uruguay."

Australia are now unbeaten in 16 games against Fiji, although each of their last four wins had been by margins greater than 40 points.

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Sekope Kepu of Australia celebrates scoring his teams third try with team mates during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between Australia and Fiji at the Millennium Stadium on September 23, 2015
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