A stellar two-try performance from David Pocock has powered a rusty Wallabies to a 28-13 win over Fiji in their World Cup opener.
WATCH: SBS Europe Correspondent Brett Mason speaks to former Wallabies Captain Mark Ella after the game
In a less-than-polished display, the three-try win fell short of delivering a valuable bonus point at Millennium Stadium Cardiff - leaving them third in the 'Pool of Death', behind England and Wales who both secured the four-try bonus point in their first-up wins.
Coach Michael Cheika insisted he wasn't concerned about failing to secure the bonus point.
"It's not Super Rugby - this is a World Cup," he said.
However, Cheika would've been thrilled to see the continued success of his strategy to start both of his brilliant openside flankers, with Pocock flourishing in his role as the team's No.8 to be crowned man of the match.
"It's a huge honour. You grow up as a kid watching the World Cup and to be here, I'm really proud to be a part of this Wallabies team," Pocock said.
The Brumbies star was a ball-hunting menace all game, and showed off his developing game in sealing a first-half double by twice finishing off powerful rolling mauls - scoring in the 27th and 31st minutes. The experiment of playing him alongside vice-captain Michael Hooper must also be considered a resounding success in just its second Test outing.
Between them, the pair made 38 tackles and forced three turnovers in the ruck.
Less convincing was Australia's work at the set piece - with both the scrum and lineout leaving plenty of room for improvement.
The Wallabies' scrum copped an early black eye after buckling in the face of its first test, with the Fijian pack earning a penalty after overpowering their more fancied rivals.
However, they recovered and never looked truly troubled after Pocock's two-try blitz - which were split by a yellow card to Fiji prop Campese Ma'afu leading into an 18-3 halftime lead.
Immediately after the break, monster prop Sekope Kepu stepped through some feeble defence to crash over next to the posts, with Bernard Foley's conversion pushing the score out to 25-3.
Fiji hit back through its pair of former Waratahs, with No.10 Ben Volavola scoring a super solo try, while winger Nemani Nadolo kicked a penalty and conversion to pull within 12.
The world's No.9-ranked team continued to push until the final whistle, while Australia held firm in defence but began to look like a side which hadn't played a match in six weeks.
"It was a really good workout for us. It was physical," Cheika said.
"I think you could see, at a certain stage there in the second half, that it was our first game in a while - guys were blowing a bit.
"But that's exactly what we needed."
There was concern for bench prop James Slipper, who was forced off with concussion following a heavy head clash just minutes after taking the field.
Cheika would've been heartened, however, by the sight of the Reds skipper walking off unaided - less so by a yellow card to centre Tevita Kuridrani.
Slipper has been pencilled in for the starting lineup against Uruguay in Birmingham on Sunday, with Cheika set to field an entirely new starting XV.
Cheika suggested Toby Smith would take Slipper's place at loosehead prop should he fail to recover in time.
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