Henry Speight scored a double as the Wallabies kicked off 2017 with a comfortable 37-14 win over the Vodafone Flying Fijians in Melbourne.
It was a game that laid some solid foundations for the home side, with doubles for Israel Folau and Henry Speight, but was a platform on which mistakes were more easily forgiven than they will be come August.
Australia was leading 18-0 at halftime.
Fiji finally broke the deadlock with a try from winger Vereniki Goneva in the 63rd minute.
Goneva slipped through the Wallabies defence and evading a would-be tackler.
Fiji's second try was scored by Montpelier winger Timoci Nagusa.
The Wallabies other try was scored by Stephen Moore.
Fiji tighthead prop Peni Ravai and lock Leone Nakawara caused headaches for the Wallabies at times, epitomising the Islanders’ athleticism across the park, but those efforts weren’t enough to be rewarded with points.
The Flying Fijians will fly back to Fiji tomorrow as they prepare to face Italy at 2.30pm next Saturday at the ANZ Stadium.
RESULT: Australia 37 Tries: Folau 2, Speight 2, Moore Cons: Foley Pens: Foley 2 Fiji 14 Tries: Goneva, Nagusa Cons: Volavola 2
In other International test matches, Japan defeated Romania 33-21, Scotland beat Italy 34-13, South Africa beat France 37-14, England edged Argentina 38-34, Ireland also defeated USA 55-19, while Georgia outclassed Canada 13-0.
