IT may have been cold and wet but Australia and Fiji served up a World Cup treat to warm the packed crowd at Langtree Park.
The Kangaroos eased to a 34-2 victory, but for 20 minutes the Bati threw everything at them.
Fiji began the first half well peppering the Aussie line and eventually grabbing the lead through a Alipate Noilea penalty.
But once the Aussies got a foothold in the match through Josh Papalii, on his debut, they never looked back.
Further tries from Darius Boyd, Michael Jennings, Josh Morris, Daly Cherry-Evans and Luke Lewis underlined their dominance.
Fiji kept at it though and Civoniceva almost grabbed a consolation at the end – but it was wiped off by the video referee much to the dismay of the 14,137 crowd.
Australia:
Tries: Papalii, Boyd, Jennings, J Morris, Cherry-Evans, Lewis
Goals: Thurston 5
Fiji:
Goals: Noile
Teams:
Australia:
Inglis; Hayne, J. Morris, Jennings, Boyd; Thurston, Cherry-Evans; Scott, Smith, Tamou, Lewis, Papalii, Myles.
Subs: Cordner, Farah, Fifita, Gallen.
Fiji:
K. Naiqama; Koroibete, Waqa, D. Millard, Uate; Noilea, Groom, A; Sims, Storer, Civoniceva, T. Sims, Bukuya, K. Sims.
Subs: Koroisau, Vunakece, Evans, Roqica.
