Get the appAustralia beat Fiji 36-22 at Lang Park in a close clash, with a late Jacob Preston try sealing the win. Samoa scored 50 unanswered second-half points to overwhelm Papua New Guinea. England beat France 82-0 in Perth, while Tonga beat Lebanon and held firm defensively. Crowds were strong across the tournament, including a sell-out of 26,800 in Christchurch. Australia have reached the semi-finals.
Former Australian opener David Warner has criticised poor crowds at South African Test matches, calling the situation pathetic. Posting on X, Warner questioned how Test cricket can be called the pinnacle of the game when few fans attend. According to Cricinfo statistics, fewer than 20,000 spectators watched the First Test in Durban across all five days. Images of empty seats also appeared during the Second Test in Gqeberha, where South Africa took control after a career-best 179 from captain Temba Bavuma.
Australian captain Pat Cummins has signalled that the batting line-up is unlikely to change for the Second Test against South Africa. Josh Inglis had been tipped as a possible batsman, but that now seems less likely. Cummins said Matthew Renshaw is expected to stay at number five. He also said the batting order could change between innings depending on conditions, and that all options remain open on the bowling attack. Asked about small crowds at the First Test in Durban, Cummins said he had enjoyed the calm atmosphere but hoped for bigger crowds this week.
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Get the appTransport for NSW expects more than 190,000 fans at four Sydney sporting events between Thursday 15 and Saturday 17 October. Integrated ticketing means event tickets include travel on all public transport for those weekend events. Extra light rail, trains and buses will run to Moore Park, Randwick and Sydney Olympic Park. Transport Coordinator General Howard Collins urged fans to plan ahead, arrive early and check their trips. Motorists are warned of heavy traffic and should allow extra travel time, and those driving to Olympic Park must have pre-booked parking.
The Noosa Twilight Markets launch drew large crowds to the Noosa Marina on Saturday. Retailers, restaurants, and food vendors reported strong trade, with the Marina Bar experiencing particularly high demand. The event, held from 4pm to 8pm, exceeded expectations and featured artisan stalls, local makers, street food, and live music. The Sunday morning market also attracted strong attendance and positive feedback from businesses. The Twilight Markets will return on the first Saturday of each month.
Thousands of patrons attended the Yours and Owls Festival in Wollongong, despite a thunderstorm on the first day. Organisers paused the event as attendees sought shelter in nearby venues. The festival's second day featured a new pub-crawl format, which proved popular with crowds navigating the city's central business district. Interstate visitors also attended the event, with one Brisbane resident calling it a bucket-list experience.