Matty’s On the Five: Toso Viti toso! Fiji wraps up amazing weekend of sports

​The Flying Fijians restored hope for sporting fans across the Pacific, snapping a 69-year drought against the Wallabies. While the NZ Warriors are one win away from the big dance in the NRL.

1. Fiji fly away with a historic win against Australia

After a heartbreaking loss against Wales last week, the Flying Fijians showed their poise and determination to bounce back, winning 22 - 15 against the Wallabies on Monday morning (NZ time).

Simione Kuruvoli put the Fijians up in the first half slotting two confidently-taken penalties, before a 50-22 kick put the Wallabies in perfect field possession - leading to a try by one of their Fijian players Mark Nawaqanitawase.

Another penalty put the Fijians up 12 - 9 at the half and early in the second stanza, a perfect bounce from a box kick set up Josua Tuisova for a dazzling long range try, taking Fiji out to a 22-8 lead.

A try from Fiji-born Wallaby Suliasu Vunivalu closed the deficit to seven points. But Fiji bravely held out in the final ten minutes of the game, ensuring their first victory over Australia since 1954 - and sparking passionate celebrations from fans and players alike.

2. Up up the Wahs! The Warriors head to preliminary final

The energy of the home crowd powered the NZ Warriors to a 40-10 thrashing over the Newcastle Knights, ending the NSW-based club’s ten-game win streak.

The Warriors attack looked sharp from the first whistle, as their opening set allowed them to march down the field giving Charnze Nicoll-Klockstad an opportunity to score.

Two more tries followed, as Addin Fonua-Blake stormed through the Knights’ goal-line defence, before Marcelo Montoya exposed an overlap on the left edge scoring in the corner.

Newcastle looked to spoil the party with a try in the 25th minute, and another in the opening minutes of the second half. But the Warriors’ attacking flair proved too much for the Knights as they piled on points in the closing quarter of the match.

The Warriors now head to their first preliminary final since 2011, when they last beat the Melbourne Storm to head into their second-ever grand final.

3. All Blacks bounce back in emphatic fashion

The All Blacks piled on a 70-plus point massacre against Namibia, in their second pool match of the Rugby World Cup. The final score was 71 - 3.

The All Blacks held the majority of possession and territory in the game, and showed more attacking prowess against the Namibian line which was absent against France last week.

With ball in hand, the All Blacks attack showed their class, crossing over for six tries in the first half. Leicester Fanga’anuku and Anton Lienert-Brown scored two of those, with both cutting through the Namibian defense to score.

In the second half, Blues’ players Dalton Papali’i, Caleb Clarke and Rieko Ioane all came away with tries. As well as David Havili, who returned to the black jersey after some time away with injury.

The All Blacks will now prepare to face Italy in their next pool match.

​​Christian Leali'ifano takes the ball to the line against Chile. Photo/Manu Samoa

​4. Manu Samoa steamroll Chile in their opening match

Samoan supporters flew their flags with pride at Bordeaux Stadium as Manu Samoa steamrolled Chile in their first match of the World Cup.

They scored five tries and claimed two extra bonus points in the win, setting them in good position in a pool which also saw England overcome Japan over the weekend.

Duncan Paia'aua (41'), Jonathan Taumateine (42'), Fritz Lee (47') and Sama Malolo (52', 81') were the try-scorers for Manu.

Veteran fly-half Christian Lealiifano scored 16 points and had the chance to play alongside former All Black opponent Lima Sopoaga in Manu Samoa colours, with the two partnering in the second half to drive the Samoans home.

Samoa will face Argentina on Saturday in what will be a crucial game for them to secure a quarter-final spot.

5. The Rock returns to the squared circle

“It’s the people's show,” said Pat McCafee on the latest edition of Smackdown, before the Rock’s theme song blasted the arena in Denver, Colorado. The most electrifying man in sports entertainment had returned.

The Rock was there to confront Austin Theory, and proceeded to give him a verbal smackdown in front of the thousands in attendance before finishing him off with his signature move the People’s Elbow.

Fans have not seen the Rock in the WWE since 2019, and his return came as a surprise to many. The current storyline in the WWE is that the Bloodline is pitted against each other, and the Tribal Chief Roman Reigns has had his hold on the industry for the past few years, beating anyone in his way. 

The return poses the question that perhaps the Rock is finally coming to confront Roman Reigns, as they battle for the right to be called the Tribal Chief.