Summary

  • FT: New Zealand 2-4 Fiji

  • New Zealand: Goals - Johnson

  • Fiji: Goals: - Koroisau, Milne

  • Fiji will face Australia next weekend

  • Tonga earlier defeated Lebanon 24-22

  1. "They think it's all over..."published at 09:30 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2017

    FT: New Zealand 2-4 Fiji

    Eloni Vunakece, Marcelo Montoya and captain Kevin NaiqamaImage source, AFP

    Fiji have dumped New Zealand out of the World Cup at the quarter final stage and booked themselves a reunion with Australia - their 2013 conquerors - in the semi-finals.

    Two penalties to one did it, Api Koroisau and Taane Milne slotting one apiece, with Shaun Johnson in reply from the tee.

    Australia lie in wait now. It will be a humdinger of a semi-final in Brisbane.

    What better way to sign off a 4-2 scoreline than to say, they think it's all over. It is now.

    See you tomorrow for England versus Papua New Guinea. Join us here on BBC Sport from 04:00 GMT.

  2. Quarter-final round-uppublished at 09:28 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2017

    FT: New Zealand 2-4 Fiji

    Right, here's where we stand.

    Australia 46-0 Samoa

    New Zealand 2-4 Fiji

    Australia v Fiji, semi-final in Brisbane on 24 November

    Tonga 24-22 Lebanon

    England v Papua New Guinea

    Tonga to play the winners of Eng-PNG in Auckland on 25 November

  3. Voices to match Fiji's footy skillpublished at 09:24 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2017

    FT: New Zealand 2-4 Fiji

    Some spellbinding sounds coming from the Fijian sheds, as their players join in collective song.

    Even self-confessed metalhead Ashton Sims is turning his hand to this soulful sound, and there is not a player in that squad who isn't belting out the song with vigour. Not just canny footy players eh?

    Beautiful stuff. Watch out for it on BBC Sport's Rugby League World Cup video shuffle - published on Monday.

  4. Magic Mickpublished at 09:20 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2017

    FT: New Zealand 2-4 Fiji

    Mick PotterImage source, Getty Images

    It's clear to see how much of an influence Mick Potter has been on this Fijian side. He always looks so cool, so calm and collected.

    His wealth of experience he has both in England and in his native Australia has given him plenty of vantage points and muscle memories.

    Though his players were quick to praise God in the aftermath of the victory, Potter's less spiritual guidance has also helped this island nation into the final four.

  5. "I'm very passionate about the jersey"published at 09:16 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2017

    FT: New Zealand 2-4 Fiji

    New Zealand coach David Kidwell: "Fiji played a simple game but the boys throughout the campaign, I could not be more proud of them, we did not get the results we wanted but they created the passion for their jersey.

    "It has definitely been the most enjoyable campaign I’ve been part of - but unfortunately did not get the result we wanted today.

    "We didn’t play smart – again, errors in the first tackle that put us under pressure.

    "Those young guys know what it means to represent the Kiwis, know what it takes, the standards that have been set.

    "I’m very passionate about this jersey, a lot of hard work has gone into creating this environment, I want to make sure it is seen and maintained to the standards these boys have shaped.

    "The things we make better? That is pretty easy for me, to play smart in pressure games. I’ve learnt that it is about good people.

    "We need to translate the commitment to smart performances – that is the most frustrating part."

  6. From despair to where?published at 09:14 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2017

    FT: New Zealand 2-4 Fiji

    New Zealand tumble out of the World Cup. Finalists in 2013, winners in 2008. Quarter final is their end point in 2017.

    What will the future hold for them and coach David Kidwell?

    Danny LeviImage source, Getty Images
    Danny LeviImage source, Getty Images
    Roger Tuivasa-SheckImage source, Getty Images
  7. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:13 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2017

    #bbcrl

    Alec Herron:#NZvFij, external The only other try-less game I've ever watched was @SalfordDevils, external limping past Harlequins 5-2 on a wet and cold night at The Willows in 2007.

  8. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:12 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2017

    #bbcrl

    Daniel Watson Hayes: I don’t like kicking a bloke whilst he’s down, but if Kidwell survives, @NZRL_Kiwis, external are content with being an abject failure on the international stage. The Kiwis have gone backwards at a rate of knots under Kidwell’s tenure as coach

    He's having a bit of a grilling in the post-match presser.

  9. England's 19 for PNGpublished at 09:11 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2017
    Breaking

    England v Papua New Guinea (Sunday, 05:00 GMT)

    Sam BurgessImage source, PA

    Sam Burgess has been included in England's preliminary 19-man squad for tomorrow, while Ryan Hall and Josh Hodgson return to the starting 13 from the France pool match.

    England: Widdop; McGillvary, Watkins, Bateman, Hall; Brown, Gale; Hill, Hodgson, Graham, S. Burgess, Whitehead, O'Loughlin

    Replacements: Walmsley, T. Burgess, Currie, Roby

    Reserve bench: Heighington, Williams

  10. This what joy looks like...published at 09:07 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2017

    FT: New Zealand 2-4 Fiji

    Wouldn't you love to be Fijian right now? Passion and pride in full effect.

    Marcelo MontoyaImage source, AFP
    Jarryd HayneImage source, Getty Images
    Marcelo Montoya and Jarryd HayneImage source, Getty Images
  11. Three down, one to gopublished at 09:06 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2017

    England v Papua New Guinea (Sunday, 05:00 GMT)

    Australia, Tonga and now Fiji all rest up to go again in the semi-finals, and can watch on tomorrow as England take on Papua New Guinea in Melbourne for that final spot.

    We'll have an absolute smorgasbord of content on BBC Sport, from live TV coverage on BBC Two and online, to radio commentary from 5 live and of course a dedicated live text service with pics, reaction and detail from the game.

    It kicks off sometime after 05:00 tomorrow morning (GMT), but we'll be up and running from 04:00 GMT.

  12. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 09:02 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2017

    #bbcrl

    Schalke USA: Wait, what?! New Zealand lost 2:4 to Fiji in the 2017 Rugby League World Cup Quarter-Finals?! I watched the match and I still don't understand it! Well, it is what it is.

  13. "We've got no one else to blame"published at 09:00 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2017

    FT: New Zealand 2-4 Fiji

    Simon ManneringImage source, Getty Images

    New Zealand back-rower Simon Mannering: "They wanted it more than us, they tackled harder and battled harder. That’s what makes it so disappointing.

    “We're all experienced players, we took poor options and took shortcuts, I don’t know how many times we turned over on tackle one.

    “I’m not taking anything away from them, they were a good side. But we we did it to ourselves we’ve got not one else to blame."

  14. "We slayed a giant tonight"published at 08:57 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2017

    FT: New Zealand 2-4 Fiji

    Jarryd HayneImage source, Getty Images

    Fiji half-back Jarryd Hayne: "We slayed a giant tonight, we laid the foundations in 2008 and we're seeing the fruits in 2017. You don’t see this very often but this win goes to our belief in God.

    [On playing Australia in the semi-finals] "We are in the business of playing giants, it is the biggest test next week, it is as simple as that. We have a big week ahead of us and will prepare well."

  15. Missed out on Tonga-Lebanon?published at 08:50 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2017

    FT: Tonga 24-22 Lebanon

    Tim Mannah and Tonga forward Siliva HaviliImage source, Getty Images

    If you're just waiting for the kettle to boil or your toast to pop, it's well worth recapping what has happened so far this morning.

    Tonga joined Australia in the semi-final draw... but only just, after a 46-point thriller with Lebanon earlier this morning.

    The Tongans looked in control midway through the first half but the Cedars, at only their second World Cup, showed real fight.

    Two points separated them in the end, why not get a flavour of the game by reading Paul Fletcher's report.

  16. "It's great for the game"published at 08:44 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2017

    FT: New Zealand 2-4 Fiji

    Adam BlairImage source, Getty Images

    New Zealand skipper Adam Blair: “It is do or die, both teams put it our there on the line, we played tough and you have to give credit to Fiji. They deserve everything they get.

    [On New Zealand's approach to the game] "I think it was to be us and play our way, they were tough, resilient and played for the 80 and so did our boys, but a couple of penalties changed the game.

    "It is great for the game, it's great to see Fiji and Tonga turn up and perform, when we come out here again we are going to turn up,we have some great young talent going through."

  17. "We started slow and it cost us"published at 08:39 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2017

    FT: New Zealand 2-4 Fiji

    Sean JohnsonImage source, Getty Images

    New Zealand half-back Shaun Johnson: "They were [better than us], I'm absolutely gutted, lost for words, I just want to apologise to everyone who has followed us.

    "Full respect to Fiji, they played well and we were poor, if you do that you're not going to win in a World Cup.

    "We just wanted to get back to our style of footy, we played dumb in that first-half and spent the whole half by our own goalline.

    "We got some go forward in the second half, but we started slow and it cost us."

  18. 'We can go all the way'published at 08:32 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2017

    FT: New Zealand 2-4 Fiji

    Fiji captain Kevin Naiqama: “I’m lost for words, I just have to thank God in this moment, we could not have done it without him, I’ll just keep proclaiming the name Jesus, I can take no credit for this.

    “It is undescribable, I’m so proud of these boys, I always kept believing. It is a dream come true. With God we are going all the way. We have the utmost confidence we can go all the way."

  19. Not a classicpublished at 08:31 Greenwich Mean Time 18 November 2017

    FT: New Zealand 2-4 Fiji

    It was a win for rugby league graft, a win for heart and a win for spirit.

    However, it wasn't a game for quality. Neither side scored a try, despite the array of strike talent on the edges.

    Fiji won't care a jot. They are bound for the semi-finals.