I think too much is being made of missing out on the bonus point.
If we win all four games it doesn't come into play.
The only way it becomes any sort of issue is if Wales beats England this weekend then we're in a three horse race if we lose to England. The likelihood of that isn't particularly high.
Fiji were undoubtedly much better in the second half and really took it to us. Had we not had those lineout wobbles I'm sure we would have kicked for the corner.
In all likelihood the bonus point won't come into play except in a couple of scenarios
The first is most unlikely but not impossible if we win all our matches without picking up any bonus points we finish with 16 points. If England pick up 3 bonus point wins, and a 2 point loss to Australia then they would finish with 17 points and top the pool. Correct?
The second scenario is more likely in that we draw with England after collecting BP wins over Wales and Uruguay but not Fiji.....England top the pool.
Stranger things have happened in passed WC's and I must admit that I was surprised by Cheika's admission that he wasn't aware that BP's were are part of the tournament until very recently. As much as love the man's general approach to winning I did find this a little unsettling. I would like to think that someone in the coaching box has an intimate handle on how the competition is decided in tight situations. The famous semi-final match between AUS & SA in the 99 RWC went into extra time, enter Larkham's famous droppie from 45m out......but had that period of extra time ended with both teams still drawn then the team that went on to the final was to be decided by a red-card count back. SA had one red card in a pool match and AUS one player cited and suspended but not red carded during a match. AUS would have gone through to the final, but without the red card then the winner would have been decided by a coin toss. Sounds absurd but I believe that was the situation back then. All that said, someone better understand all the finer points as we are playing for keeps this time.