The Wallabies play their opening match of the Rugby World Cup against the flamboyant Fijians in Cardiff on September 23 (September 24 Australian time).
Ironically it is this very flamboyancy that will bring Fiji undone.
There is no doubt that if Fiji wins their fair share of possession they can threaten any side in the world, including the Wallabies.
From the moment they are born, Fijians have a rugby ball in their hands and as we all know, love to run the ball. As pure runners they can be the most exhilarating in the world to watch.
In 1980 when Queensland was considered by many to be the best provincial team in world rugby, we went on a tour of Fiji and played the Fijian national team in Suva.
It was a warm sunny Saturday afternoon, and people were hanging out of the trees to watch the game.
And did the Fijians put on a show. To say we lost is a bit like saying General Custer was narrowly defeated at the Battle of Big Horn.
Like Custer, we were massacred. The Fijians had the ball on a string and could do no wrong. I still have this lasting memory in my mind of Queensland and Wallaby prop Chris ‘Buddha’ Handy valiantly trying to run across field to tackle one of the members of a rampaging Fijian backline.
Needless to say he did not stand a chance.
While this can happen when Fijians are given some rope, their track record against the Wallabies is not that great.
The two teams have met 19 times, with Fiji only winning twice – in 1952 and 1954.
Fiji has always suffered from lack of population, and lack of resources.
However, another major issue is that they can only play one style of game and that is all out attack.
While this makes them lethal it also exposes their Achilles heel – which is lack of set piece skills and lack of ball security under pressure.
Australia can use this opening match to play a tighter style of game that, while unattractive, will help them refine those skills they will need when they come up against more traditional opponents in England and Wales.
The Fijians hate set-piece and driving mauls. This has not changed since we played them in the 80s, and no doubt long before that.
The key to defeating them is to sucking them into a tight game they do not want to play. The Wallabies should use field position, and disrupt the Fijians in the lineout. When in possession, the Wallaby forwards should drive upfield forcing the Fijians to combat driving mauls. This will disrupt their discipline and sap their energy reserves.
The Wallabies have a very good scrum and can use this to good effect by putting enormous pressure on the Fijian forward pack both in attack and defence.
In the loose, Michael Hooper and David Pocock need to be on the field to ensure the Wallabies have the majority of broken-play ball.
Defensively, the Wallabies need to be extremely aggressive and get up in the face of the Fijians and deny them time and space.
Fiji will have had the benefit of one Rugby World Cup match against England under their belt. It is unlikely that they will emerge victorious from that game so will have their backs to the wall when they play the Wallabies.
This can be good and bad for Fiji.
If the Wallabies give them no room, and deny them possession, discipline will be the issue for Fiji. Mistakes are made when teams are under pressure. Historically this has never been their strong point.
On the positive side, Fiji will have 15 of their 31-man squad with prior Rugby World Cup experience. Most of their players also have the benefit of playing rugby professionally in France, the UK and in Super Rugby.
Nonetheless, they will not have had sufficient time to forge the type of forward pack that is needed for Rugby World Cup success.
They have tremendous finishers in Verinki Goneva, Metuisela Talebula and Nemani Nadolo but need to win sufficient quality possession to unleash the freakish skills these players possess.
Fiji’s chances of success lie in their forward pack and it is this area they have historically failed to compete.
As magnificent as they are when they get the rub of the green, for sustained success in fifteens rugby, they need to be able to seriously compete in the set piece and traditional tight forward play.
mc
Guest
the game will be won and lost depending on whether Fiji can tackle and not lose ball in tackles. year in year out same problem...
RebelRanger
Guest
Funny how the luck of the draw never disadvantages the big teams. I understood the commercial reasoning behind big teams playing in the prime slots but letting a smaller nation play their 2 biggest pool games with 5 days between them is ridiculous. Especially as either Australia or England would be up in arms if they had the same draw
Silina Vunisea
Guest
I'm Fijian and can I just say that this article is absolutely SPOT ON! Fiji is the type of team that does not like set pieces, so for any team to win against us depends on whether or not they cam exploit this! But I disagree with the point being brought up in the comments section that the team Fiji is most likely to beat would be Australia - personally I believe that the team that we have the best chance against would be Wales because if for nothing else we have the belief that since we have beaten Wales before then we can do it again!!! Also, there IS a four day turn around between the game against England and the game against Australia but that is no excuse - every other team in the tournament also gets a four day turn around (excluding byes) Fiji are just unlucky that they are drawn in this pool so they face two teams that have a very high chance of winning the whole thing!
ScrumJunkie
Guest
I'm not worried about us having to play Uruguay with a short turnaround. Pretty sure even the well rested English will do that. Sucks for Figi though, it would be nice for them to get a fair shake. Even if that makes it tougher for the wallabies.
Vhavnal
Roar Rookie
Mainly cause australia and Fiji have similar playing style but Fiji BEATS Australia in the backs in respect to talent whereas Australia beats Fiji in the front rows... backrow, australia may have the edge but Fiji surely owns the second row... scumhalves, not sure who Australia's starting 9 is but are they any better in attack than Fiji's Nikola Matawalu? Lol if we combined Fiji-Aus to make ONE 15 man team, that team could thrash NZ ;)
clipper
Guest
The way it's fallen does indeed look unfair, but that's just the luck of the draw, it's just really unfortunate it's against two of the big sides, so will take more of a toll.
Birdy
Guest
Poor WBs. It's almost impossible for you to win the RWC now given that you have to give your 2nd XV a run-out against Uruguay. I think that means your starting team will only have about 10 days rest from the Fiji game before they have to play England. I'd boycott the tournament if I was you.
bennalong
Guest
I don't expect England to play a ball in hand game against Fiji, and Chris's suggested approach is likely to bear fruit for them Likewise Cheika likes holding on to the ball and if England paves the way I expect the Wallabies to follow suit for the first 50 mins I love the islander way of playing rugby, but I will be surprised if they progress to the semis. I'd be happy if the made it through though.
Squirrel
Roar Rookie
Fiji backs will destroy the gym junkies pom backs. It will be a complete flogging.
Gilbert
Guest
'IF' Fiji beat England in the first game it'll be hard stopping them with their confidence up.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Wallabies only get a true 4 day turnaround on playing uruguay. Plays one game wednesday next Sunday then only 6 days to playing its next game. Yes England have an armchair ride.
ScrumJunkie
Guest
They beat wales in wc 07. Wait a minute, that was only 8 years ago! Guess you're right...
ScrumJunkie
Guest
Yes interesting. Which game does England only get a five day turnaround for? Surely to be fair every team gets one short break? Or is only the Islanders?
mtiger
Roar Rookie
Why is Australia being picked on? Why not England? Let us not forget that Australia had a win on the Allblacks recently
Lindsay Amner
Roar Guru
Bummer I only got $13 from the TAB, might have to have some of that $36 too...
Rugger
Guest
What about our so-called identity against best runners of the ball?
D Socks
Roar Rookie
Are any of the top tier nations being asked to play 2 games of such magnitude within 5 days, perhaps not. Being asked to play the hosts in the opening game, followed by the Wallabies that close will take it's toll on Fiji. Yes they are best placed than any other world cup with good coaching, game plays and strategies and the implementation of what's being asked by players plying their trade in Europe as well as the Super XV ... Fiji should be great shape. But to play two of the bookies favourites within 5 days will mean an extremly tough week that will take some recovery before the other two games. I don't see them fairing well, the Wallabies and welsh will take advantage of a shortness of depth.
Joe
Roar Rookie
I'm hoping for a big upset in the WC opener. Fiji have one of the best teams they have ever assembled for a World Cup and a lot of these players play in the Northern Hemisphere club comps so they will feel right at home. Just hope the coaching gets them gelling because with the talent they have I believe they can make it out of the pool of death.
PeterK
Roar Guru
it is 7 days in a week, it is 7 days from friday to friday so 5 days from friday to wednesday
Jamieson Murphy
Roar Guru
This might have been true in the 80s, but Fiji's forward pack now has more spine and experience than ever, particularly with the number of Fijian forwards playing in Europe.