Australia 55 Fiji 12:Australia recovered from a sloppy start to thrash a below-strength Fiji 55-12 at Mosson Stadium in Montpellier yesterday and book their place in the World Cup quarter-finals against England or Tonga.
The Wallabies scored seven tries to seal a bonus point for the third match in a row and ensure they finish top of Pool B regardless of what happens in their final pool game, against Canada.
Fiji stay third but can make the quarter-finals if they win their last pool match, against Wales in Nantes on Saturday.
The Fijians fielded a second-string team against the Australians to save their best players for the sudden-death match with Wales.
Australian inside centre Matt Giteau celebrated his 50th Test appearance with two tries, four conversions and three penalties for a personal haul of 27 points.
Left wing Drew Mitchell completed a hat-trick of tries in the final play of the match while outside centre Adam Ashley-Cooper and replacement backrower Stephen Hoiles also notched five-pointers.
Wing Isoa Neivua and openside flanker Aca Ratuva scored tries for Fiji while the captain Seremaia Bai, who made a dash to a French hospital on the eve of the match to witness the birth of his third child, added a lone conversion.
The Wallabies dominated territory and possession but struggled to make their advantage count on the scoreboard because of poor handling and bad decision-making.
The Wallaby forwards, who were badly exposed in last week's win over Wales, performed better in the set-pieces but failed to impose themselves at the breakdown.
Neivua crashed through three defenders to score out wide on the stroke of half-time. Then replacement scrumhalf Mosese Rauluni ran straight through the Australian lineout before offloading to Ratuva to score untouched.
Australia did not open their account until the 16th minute, when Giteau finished off a break from right wing Lote Tuqiri, but piled on 17 points in 13 minutes. Mitchell scored off a grubber-kick from fullback Chris Latham and Giteau wriggled over for a 22-0 lead before Neivua scored for Fiji on half-time.
The Wallabies made a slow start to the second half, kicking a penalty and a drop goal before Ratuva's try stung them into action and they responded with 27 unanswered points to finish convincing winners.
Giteau put Ashley-Cooper through a hole for his try to secure the bonus point, allowing coach John Connolly to empty the bench. Hoiles scored after replacing the impressive Wycliff Palu, while Mitchell scored two of the last three tries.
AUSTRALIA: Latham; Mitchell, Ashley-Cooper, Giteau, Tuqiri; Barnes, Gregan; Dunning, Moore, Shepherdson; Chisholm, Vickerman; Elsom, Waugh, Palu. Replacements: Cordingley for Gregan, Holmes for Dunning, Freier for Moore, McMeniman for Elsom (all 58 mins), Staniforth for Barnes (63 mins), Huxley for Staniforth (67 mins), Hoiles for Palu (68 mins).
FIJI: Ligairi; Delasau, Kunavore, Bai, Neivua; Luveniyali, Daunivucu; Yalayalatabua, Sauturaga, Qiodravu; Domolailai, Rawaqa; Talei, Ratuva, Qovu. Replacements: Rabeni for Luveniyali, Rauluni for Daunivucu, Lewaravu for Domolailai (all 41 mins), Railomo for Yalayalatabua (59 mins), Koyamaibole for Talei (64), Lovobalavu for Kunavore (65)
Referee: N Owens (Wales).
