Oh Captain, My Captain: Wilson last-minute winner seals Wallabies win over Fiji

Sun, Jul 6, 2025, 5:29 AM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson
Harry Wilson scored the winner as the Wallabies came home late for the win. Photo: Getty Images

Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson has produced the heroics, coming up with a clutch try for a 21-18 win over Fiji in Newcastle.

Wilson scored with 110 seconds left on the clock, spinning his way over from close for the try.

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The hosts were in control until right before half-time, commanding a 14-0 lead before Fiji struck.

They put themselves in front with 25 minutes to go after 18 unanswered points from the visitors ignited the Fijians in the crowd.

But the Wallabies didn’t give up and fought their way inside the Fijian 22 to give themselves a chance.

Up stepped Wilson, finding a way to get the ball down to escape with the win.

The Wallabies were hungry for early points and nearly found their way through Harry Potter, who couldn’t collect the cross-field kick.

It reflected a first half dominated by the hosts but couldn’t capitalise on their opportunities, with several tries disallowed.

Dave Porecki got Australia on the board via the rolling maul after Langi Gleeson was held up.

Eight minutes later, Potter was denied again after the final pass from Tom Wright went forward.

The Wallabies were controlling territory but had another try disallowed for a not-straight throw.

The pressure was eventually capitalised on when slick hands from centres Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii created the space for Fraser McReight to dive over.

With the hosts cruising, an errant kick right at halftime gave Fiji a chance to counter as Salesi Rayasi went over to reduce the lead to 14-5 at the break.

The second half started as the first began with another Wallabies try denied - this time to Max Jorgensen after a forward pass from Wright to Harry Potter, who chips ahead for his fellow winger.

This provided the window for Fiji to hit back, starting with a Caleb Muntz penalty to reduce the margin to under a converted try.

This opened the door for winger Jiuta Wainiqolo to produce some magic to put the visitors in front.

The Toulon winger collected the ball inside his 22 and broke through multiple defenders before throwing a magic offload for Lekima Tagitagivalu to dive over in the corner.

With all the momentum, Fiji looked to have scored again through Sireli Maqala, however, the hosts were saved after Potter’s foot was in touch before the turnover.

It went from bad to worse for the hosts after a nasty whiplash incident left flyhalf Noah Lolesio knocked out in the build-up, eventually stretched off the field.

Another Fiji penalty extended the margin to four points as the hosts held tough in defence.

The Fijians threw everything they had trying to seal the win, but the Wallabies kept forcing turnovers.

It gave them a last chance to find a winner as several penalties put them on the five-metre line.

Up stepped the captain, spinning his way over the line and finding the chalk with 90 seconds to go for the winner.

Wallabies 21 (Porecki, McReight, Wilson tries; Lolesio 2, Donaldson cons) def Fiji 18 (Rayesi, Tagitagivalu tries; Muntz cons; Muntz 2 pens)

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