A slow start cost the Fiji 7s as they were edged by Australia 26-19 in the fifth-place quarter-final at the Hamilton 7s this afternoon.

Australia ran in four tries to three as Fiji tried its best to keep up with the pace.

The half-time score was 12-7 as Australia’s Dietrich Roache and Nathan Lawson and Fiji’s Iowane Teba scored a try each.

Australia ran in two consecutive tries from the kick-off in the second spell while Fiji dotted the last two tries which were from Manueli Maisamoa and Jerry Matana.

Sliding towards the win

Superb work at the restart by Josh Turner, and Henry Hutchison applies the finishing touch#NZ7s | #HSBC7s | @Aussie7s pic.twitter.com/kuxXsYGsgY

— World Rugby 7s (@WorldRugby7s) January 22, 2023