Wales coach Warren Gatland warned his side to be prepared for a tough World Cup opening game against a Fiji squad boasting players featuring in French Top 14 teams as well as the Super Rugby competition in Australia and New Zealand.
The clash at the Matmut Atlantique in Bordeaux rounds off the second full day of aciton in the opening weekend of the 2023 rugby union World Cup.
The seven week extravaganza was launched on Friday night with hosts France beating New Zealand 27-13 at the Stade de France.
On Saturday, Ireland, the world's top ranked team, battered Romania 82-8 in Bordeaux before a 14-man England side banished their recent incompetence to crush Argentina 27-10 at the Stade Vélodrome where the tournament encountered its first misstep with thousands of England supporters unable to access their seats due to ticket scanning problems which organisers said were being investigated.
"The Fijians are probably a lot more structured now as a team than they were in the past,” said Gatland.
“They are a good side, they have a lot of players coming out of Super Rugby and playing in France, so it’s an exciting challenge for us."
Australia overwhelmed Georgia 35-15 at the Stade de France in the first game in Group C on Saturday afternoon.
Statement
Wales will be looking to make a similar statement of intent against a squad buoyant after beating England at Twickenham during one of the preparation games for the World Cup.
"In the past their set-piece hasn’t been the best," said Gatland. "But they have definitely worked hard on that. They were maybe a bit more flamboyant in the past, not so much now, but that makes them a more dangerous side.”
Fiji have risen to seventh in the world rankings - three places ahead of Wales and Simon Raiwalui's men will be seeking the nation's second win against France in 14 matches.
That sole victory came in the 2007 World Cup when Fiji reached the last eight.
Change
“We’ve got strength and depth — that’s something we haven’t traditionally had,” boasted Raiwalui.
“We’re a different Fijian team,” he added. “We’ve worked on certain areas that have traditionally been a weakness for us so it’s going to be a good challenge in those areas.”
Since taking over in February as head coach following the departure of Vern Cotter, Fiji's former high performance manager has urged the players in the squad to embrace the instinctive style.
“One of my catchphrases is: ‘Play like a Fijian’. So traditionally that’s the offloading, the quick touch, the one touch, aggressive ball carriers, the contact, our set-piece. So that’s what I’ve really pushed play like a Fijian.”
Authenticity
Or go down on your own terms. Usually thwarted by underfunding, a lack of squad depth and top-level competitive matches, or a tournament schedule that rarely helps tier two nations, Fiji's 2023 vintage appears primed to subvert the traditional powers in Group C.
Some analysts have suggested the Fijians are slightly ahead of the Welsh. But Raiwalui gave the idea was given short shrift.
“When could we ever be called favorites when we’re considered a developing country versus a developed country?"
Victory for Fiji would provide the first shock of the tournament though wags might point to England's win on Saturday night against Argentina.
“We’re confident with our preparation, with our group," added Raiwalui. "We never go in thinking we’re favorites to win. We’re humble.”
