Jordan Petaia and Samu Kerevi after the full-time whistle in Lyon.Credit:Getty
If three sides were tied,it would go to for-and-against.
Fiji still have two games to play,against Georgia on Saturday (Sunday 1.45am AEST) and then against Portugal on October 8 (6am ADST,October 9).
In simple terms,Australia must finish above Fiji on points by the end of this week to have any chance of progressing to a quarter-final in Marseille.
Presuming Fiji don’t lose,Australia would need a bonus point victory (five points) over Portugal,and Fiji to record a regular win (four points) in their Georgia clash to have any chance of a miracle.
Australia beat Georgia by 20 points. Fiji beat Australia. The Wallabies now need the Georgians to do them a favour - you do the maths.Credit:AP
Even then,it is highly likely that Fiji will beat Portugal in the last Pool C match.
Australia’s World Cup dream could be officially over as early as Saturday (Sunday AEST) if Fiji score four tries en route to victory against Georgia.
The Wallabies could also progress if they win their last game and Fiji lose their final two – a highly unlikely outcome. The worst-case scenario is if they need Portugal to beat Fiji,in a fortnight’s time,to make the last eight.
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It leaves the Wallabies in the unwanted predicament of having to remain in France. It is more likely they could be back at home before some fans have even left Australia for their World Cup holiday.
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