The Wallabies are officially out of the 2023 Rugby World Cup despite Portugal’s stunning upset victory over Fiji in the final pool match of the tournament.
Fiji still qualified for a World Cup quarter-final with England and ensured the elimination of Australia, having needed only one point from the game to finish runner-up in Pool C behind Wales.
It’s the first time Australia have failed to progress after the pool stage of the tournament.
The Fijians got their bonus point after losing by fewer than seven points, with Portugal taking the lead late to win 24-23 in a thrilling conclusion to the pool matches.
It was Portugal’s first World Cup victory and Nicolas Martins, who was awarded man of the match, couldn’t hide his emotions.
‘Work a lot for that. I have no words to say, it is historic … I think it is the best moment of my life,’ Martins said.
Portugal’s Rodrigo Mata (centre) celebrates after scoring his side’s third try in the stunning victory over hot favourites Fiji
There were wild scenes as the underdogs pulled off the massive upset – and if they’d won by just a few points more, the Wallabies would still be alive in the tournament
Portugal captain Jose Lima was even brought to tears and said it meant everything to the fans and the players.
‘You can see our fans, our team, that victory means so much,’ Lima said.
‘Today we show the world we can compete at this level, and we can win games at this level as well.’
The Wallabies finished with two wins over Georgia and Portugal, and two lossses to Wales and Fiji to miss the World Cup finals for the first time.
But Rugby Australia officials have continued to back coach Eddie Jones, who has a five-year contract, despite his links to the Japan head coaching role.
Jones has maintained he is fully committed to the Wallabies despite reportedly doing a secret interview with Japanese rugby officials just days before the start of the World Cup.
The coach was reported reported to have dialed in from Paris for the interview on August 25, just two days before the Wallabies’ warm-up match with France that they lost 41-17.
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