Wallabies vs Fiji: Rugby World Cup preview

The Wallabies square off against Fiji in their first game of the 2015 Rugby World Cup at 1:45am AEST on Thursday morning. Michael Cheika has selected what looks to be a full-strength team, so it should be a cracking game.

Fiji were impressive in their opening World Cup hitout against England, with their forwards and scrummaging performance being greatly improved. The Wallabies will be taking their pack seriously ahead of this contest, which will be held in Cardiff at the Millennium Stadium.

The teams
There is plenty to fear about the Fijians, who have named the following team to face Australia.

1. Campese Ma’afu
2. Tuapati Talemaitoga
3. Manasa Saulo
4. Tevita Cavubati
5. Leone Nakarawa
6. Peceli Yato
7. Akapusi Qera (captain)
8. Netani Talei
9. Nikola Matawalu
10. Ben Volavola
11. Nemani Nadolo
12. Gabiriele Lovobalavu
13. Vereniki Goneva
14. Waisea Nayacalevu
15. Metuisela Talebula

16. Viliame Veikoso
17. Peni Ravai
18. Isei Colati
19. Nemia Soqeta
20. Malakai Ravulo
21. Nemia Kenatale
22. Joshua Matavesi
23. Aseli Tikoirotuma

Australian fans will know plenty about playmaker Ben Volavola, who played for Southern Districs in Shute Shield and the Waratahs in Super Rugby.

He is a good game manager, and will no doubt bring plenty of structure to the Fijian backs.

Nemani Nadolo is also a name very familiar to fans of Super Rugby, with the Crusaders’ winger being one of the most damaging backs in the competition for the last few years.

From their last match, there is a change at hooker, with Tuapati Talemaitoga coming in to replace Sunia Koto, Peceli Yato replacing the suspended Dominiko Waqaniburotu, and Netani Talei into the team at number 8.

Coached by New Zealander John McKee, this Fiji team is well-drilled and powerful, and has been rewarded for good performance by a rank of ninth in the World Rugby standings.

McKee said the rotations in the forwards, forced and unforced, only highlighted his squad’s depth, and is expecting a forwards performance similar to the one they delivered against England.

They will need the depth in the forwards, with Australia naming a very similar pack to the one that proved successful against the All Blacks in Sydney earlier this year.

The Aussie scrum is much improved, and the combination of David Pocock and Michael Hooper at number 8/openside flanker proved a hit on the field and with the fans earlier this year.

The Australian team is as follows.

1. Scott Sio
2. Stephen Moore
3. Sekope Kepu
4. Kane Douglas
5. Rob Simmons
6. Scott Fardy
7. Michael Hooper
8. David Pocock
9. Will Genia
10. Bernard Foley
11. Rob Horne
12. Matt Giteau
13. Tevita Kuridrani
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper
15. Israel Folau

Replacements
16. Tatafu Polota-Nau
17. James Slipper
18. Greg Holmes
19. Will Skelton
20. Dean Mumm
21. Nick Phipps
22. Matt Toomua
23. Kurtley Beale

Scott Sio and Sekope Kepu have been given first bite at the apple by Michael Cheika, with Kepu’s powerful running game no doubt proving irresistible without the physical presence of Will Skelton (who will come from the bench) or a traditional running number 8.

The gameplan for the Wallabies against the All Blacks was one of finesse over power, and they will need to be clever with how they take the ball forward against a powerful Fijian team.

No doubt outsider centre Tevita Kuridrani will get plenty of work, and will need to get Australia over hte advantage line, as well Kepu and Kane Douglas.

Skipper Stephen Moore, too, will be relied upon to do plenty of heavy lifting in tight.

Defence should be the easier proposition for Australia, with both Pocock and Hooper very mobile but astonishingly hard-hitting without the ball in hand.

Bernard Foley has been given the first opportunity at flyhalf for Australia, and will want to put on a good show, with Quade Cooper likely to get an opportunity against Uruguay in the second match of their campaign.

What’s at stake?
Just as we saw after South Africa lost to Japan the public backlash can sometimes be the worst thing that a team can suffer if they lose to a team ranked well below them.

In the pool of death, that couldn’t be further from the truth. Any loss here is a nail in the coffin, and heaps pressure on teams if they want to make it to the quarter finals.

With England already beating Fiji, and Wales expected to beat them, the Wallabies will want to win here, and win well. The goal will be a better points differential than the 24-point win England managed.

The Aussies will know doubt have half an eye on England and Wales already, but will be focussed on winning here.

For Fiji, they will be looking to tighten up every aspect of their performance another notch. A win here and they throw themselves right into contention for a surprise appearance in the quarter finals.

Both England and Wales managed a bonus point in their first matches, so Australia and Fiji will look to throw the ball around, a point that has been flagged by both coaches before the match.

The history
Australia and Fiji have played 19 times in their history.

The Wallabies have won 16 of these encounters, with two wins to Fiji and a draw making up the other three results.

The last time they played was in 2010, and the Wallabies won 49-3. Replicate that, and the would jump ahead of England on the World Cup ladder, assuming they score four tries.

Prediction
It’s hard to go past Australia, but you do feel Fiji will be right up for this one, and could throw a spanner in the works for the first 60 minutes.

Australia, however, have demonstrated really strong finishing in their games so far in 2015, and will score a few points late.

Wallabies by 28.