Fijivillage
12 February, 2026, 4:08 pm
Central - 30°C Clouds
12 February, 2026, 4:08 pm Central - 30°C Clouds

D-Day For Fiji Bati

D-Day For Fiji Bati

By fijivillage.com
16/11/2008

It's D-Day for the Fiji Bati team as they face one of the most dauting tasks of taking on world champions Australia in the Rugby League World Cup semi final tonight.

Being the surprise package of the world cup after the Bati made it into the last four, they face $8 million worth of Australia's finest rugby league players which boasts arguably some of the best in the world of league.

Australia's clash with Fiji is viewed as one of the greatest mismatches in league history, with bookmakers offering odds of $34 for a minnow upset and giving the islanders a whooping 50.5 points start in line betting.

The Bati has never beaten Australia, losing their two previous World Cup clashes 66-0 and 66-8 in the 1995 and 2000 tournaments respectively.

However, Bati Coach Joe Rabele has warned the Kangaroo's ahead of the show-down saying his boys have nothing to lose and will come out all guns a-blazing.

Also man of the match in the last game against Ireland Aaron Groom says the sides goal tonight is to show Australia that they are capable of taking them on.

Price said the Australian have little knowledge of the Fijian players as most of them play in local leagues and not in the NRL competition.

But that won’t mean the Kangaroos will underestimate Fiji as the minnows have surprised everyone with their performance to reach the final four for the first time.

Fiji Bati will take on the Kangaroos at 9pm and the winner will take on New Zealand in the final. New Zealand last night defeated Great Britian 32 - 22.

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