Australia reaction (captain Porecki, head coach Jones, Kerevi, Slipper, Arnold)

Australia reaction (captain Porecki, head coach Jones, Kerevi, Slipper, Arnold)

MIXED ZONE REACTION

Samu Kerevi, centre
 
On their discipline and breakdown being major issues for the Wallabies: 
 
"Fiji definitely outplayed us. They came with a great game but we had discipline issues that we need to sort out. 
 
"Our discipline wasn't good enough, you can't give a great kicker a lot of points. Same with Wales, they've got Dan Biggar that kicks really well. So our discipline and definitely our breakdown (has to improve).  
 
"We've made it a bit harder for ourselves but there's a lot of belief in the team and Eddie (Jones, head coach) speaking to us. We want to look at that game and get our learnings from it and move on quickly." 
 
On the defeat not being down to young fly-half Carter Gordon: 
 
"He got subbed pretty early but you've got to back Eddie's feeling there. 
 
"Everyone is hurting, not just Carter. I let him down on the outside there so got to pick up my learnings too to help him." 

James Slipper, prop

On what went wrong against Fiji:

Off the top of my head, I'd say the breakdown and our discipline around that area. The Fijians were really strong over the ball and got a lot of pay for it, so we're going to have to look at that. It's a disappointing night."

On the atmosphere in the changing room afterwards:

"We're all calm and measured in the changing room. We know what's coming is another big game against Wales. So you can kick stones for half an hour or so but now it's about getting better."

Richie Arnold, second row

On the loss to Fiji and the next game against Wales:


"It makes it easy for us next week - must win. It's as simple as that."

MEDIA CONFERENCE

Eddie Jones, head coach


On what went wrong: 

"Obviously disappointed, we started the game very uncharacteristically. We've been really sharp at the start of games and played with a fair bit of pace and precision and today we were sloppy.

"The great thing about the World Cup is it's not the end of the road. We've got Wales next week so we need to kick some stones tonight, work out where we can improve quickly and then get on with the game against Wales." 

On the positives he does take out of the performance: 

"I've got no doubt we will get a response. I was really pleased with the character our young team showed. When Fiji are on the front foot in a fairly hostile environment it would have been easy for our team to go away and they didn't.

"If we were able to get our maul going that could have changed the game but we couldn't get that going. We didn't get any ascendancy in the scrum and we were beaten at the breakdown."

On taking full responsibility for the loss: 

"Get ready for Wales. I don't cater for the fans. I appreciate all their support, we are doing our absolute best and I apologise it's my fault. I take full responsibility for it." 

On the penalty count against Australia: 

"We can't blame the loss on Skelton (captain Will Skelton) not being there. We've got to be good enough to cope with that. 

"The penalties? When you are not on the front foot it's quite easy to give away penalties. So I am not worried about our discipline, I am worried about not getting on the front foot."

On not having any regrets about picking a young squad: 

"When you are a television commentator, you are always right. Maybe I need to become a television commentator then I'll be right all the time. Look, we've gone with a young team, I've got no regrets at all. We are building a team for the future and we are going to go through some pain. 

"I made the decision to go for a younger team and if that's the wrong decision then I will be held accountable for that. But I think Australian rugby needs to move on to a younger team. I am prepared to go through some pain to leave Australia with a team capable of doing really well in a World Cup. 

"That's not to say we can't do it, we've had a bit of a setback today but that's all part of being in a World Cup. I do remember South Africa lost a game and won a World Cup, so funny things have happened."

On the importance of getting a losing bonus point in what is a very tight group: 

"It could be massively important. As disappointing as our performance was today, to get a point out of that is a bit of a bonus and that's probably why they call it bonus points."

On 'deserving' more jeers from the crowd who were right behind Fiji: 

"After that I probably deserved more, mate. They should be throwing baguettes, croissants at me. I deserve whatever I get." 

David Porecki, captain

On his message for the team: 

"Just get ready for Wales. Every game is do or die in my eyes. We didn't get it right tonight and we will next week."

ON-FIELD REACTION

David Porecki, captain

On the game:

"First of all, credit to Fiji, class from them. Mate, it was as expected. They've got world-class players in the backline and they took advantage in and around the breakdown - credit to them. We've got a pretty tight turnaround Wales now, we've got to lick our wounds and get ourselves up for that game, which is easy because it's a World Cup game."

On what Fiji brought:

"Every time we put some pressure on, we conceded a penalty which gave them an escape, so we've got a pretty clear work-on for next week."

Eddie Jones, head coach

On what happened:

"Thoroughly deserved victory for Fiji, they outplayed us, particularly around the ruck. They executed three times more turnovers than us, and in a close game like that, that's the difference."

On errors and penalties conceded:

"For some reason we were just off today. If you look at the stats, we dominated. We scored two tries to one, but we were a poor version of ourselves today, so there's a bit of soul-searching to do, but it makes the Wales game pretty important."

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