Fiji beats Ireland to reach rugby World Cup semifinals in Australia

GOLD COAST, Australia — Akuila Uate scored two tries to lead Fiji to a 30-14 win over Ireland on Monday and into the rugby league World Cup semifinal against defending champion Australia.
After a late first-half try by Ireland skipper Scott Grix cut the Fiji lead to 12-10, the Fijians dominated possession and field position after the break. Fiji turned pressure into points when lock Jason Bakuya scored in the 55th minute and Jarryd Hayne, who played for Australia last year, added another in the 66th.
Winger Uate scored his second in the 76th minute to put the result beyond doubt before Ireland winger Damien Blanch got a consolation try - his second four-pointer of the night and fifth of the tournament.
Fiji coach Joe Dakuitoga said the win could help rugby league challenge rugby union for popularity in his country.
Fiji has been strong in international rugby union, particularly in the condensed sevens version, but never been competitive in international rugby league.
"This game was more important to us to win than Ireland. This is a big achievement for Fiji rugby league - all of Fiji is watching us," Dakuitoga said. "I think after this World Cup that league will be the No. 1 game in Fiji."
Fiji has lost convincingly to powerhouse Australia in their last two World Cup encounters, going down 66-8 in 2000 and 66-0 in 1995.
"We are not going into the game with the mindset of losing, we would be stupid if we did," Fiji captain Wes Naiqama said. "We know what Australia has to offer but we will go in confident."
Fiji had a setback just hours before the playoff against Ireland at the Gold Coast, with prop Iowane Divavesi suspended for two matches for tripping a Scottish player in last week's loss to Scotland at Gosford.
His World Cup judiciary panel hearing was held via videolink on Monday.
In other tournament news, England coach Tony Smith has appealed tor rugby league World Cup organizers to appoint "anyone but" an Australian referee for Saturday's semifinal match against New Zealand.
The English have played under Australian referees in all three group matches - including a narrow 32-22 win over Papua New Guinea and losses to Australia and New Zealand.
Smith's lineup was baffled by rulings that allowed three tries to New Zealand and the awarding of a contentious penalty that allowed the Kiwis to hit the lead in Newcastle on the weekend.
After struggling against the New Guineans, the English were pounded 52-4 by Australia and then conceded five unanswered tries against the New Zealanders, who rallied to win 36-24 in a match controlled by senior NRL referee Tony Archer.
"We've had three Australian referees in this competition so far and I think we've probably struggled in each of them," the Australian-born Smith said Monday.
The English players complained of being impeded by decoy runners in attacking movements leading up to some New Zealand tries.
Among the seven referees at the World Cup, three are Australian, two are from England and one each from New Zealand and France.
"I would like a northern hemisphere referee, we haven't had one yet," Smith said. "The Australians have had an Australian referee, I don't see why we can't have a referee from the northern hemisphere."