Wales set to put it all on the line against Fiji
Robin McBryde says Wales are recharged and ready to go as they target a place in the World Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday.
Ten days after Wales toppled Australia and took charge of Pool D, the Six Nations champions tackle Fiji in Oita.
Victory over a team they have beaten at the last two World Cup tournaments will secure a last-eight spot before their final group game against Uruguay next Sunday.
Wales have not topped their pool with a 100% record since the inaugural World Cup 32 years ago, but they are firmly on course to achieve that feat.
“We are in a good place,” assistant coach and forwards specialist McBryde said.
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“We’ve obviously had a 10-day break, and we’ve been able to get recharged.
“From a forwards point of view, we are probably in a better shape than we ever have been. All 18 players are fit, well and ready to go. We are ready for the final push with a big two games.
“We are in a healthy position up-front in order to withstand the two massive Tests ahead of us.
“And they will be big tests. We will have to be at our best and take it one day at a time. Get the Fiji game out of the way first, and then we can fully focus on Uruguay.”
The Wallabies have named a new captain in what is a close to full-strength side for their final pool clash against Georgia on Friday. #RWC2019 #AUSvGEOhttps://t.co/n7FTjXx4lJ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 8, 2019
Wales’s competition for places is underlined by their back-row riches.
Flanker James Davies and number eight Ross Moriarty are both handed first starts of the tournament, Josh Navidi switches to blindside, with Aaron Wainwright on the bench and Justin Tipuric not involved.
“It’s an exciting mix,” McBryde added. “It’s a very competitive part of the squad – they are keen to make the most of their opportunities.
And Moriarty said: “I’ve got the start on Wednesday, and I am really excited for it. I’ve been working hard in training, and it has been great competition in the back-row and we are all fit and firing.
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“We know it’s going to be tough. It won’t be easy, but we have been working hard in the last week and we’ve done our analysis.
“We will have to close Fiji down in defence, and in attack we want to get points on the board.
“We know they have some great individuals, but so do we, and we are just going to make sure we put everything out there and do the job.
“I was fortunate to play for Gloucester’s A team against Fiji A when I was 18, which was a bit of an eye-opener.
France's World Cup campaign is under threat following calls from a controversial rugby figure for players to revolt against the coaching staff after reports of Guilhem Guirado being dropped as captain. #RWC2019 #ENGvFRA https://t.co/1wOjbhMlkN
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“To be on this stage now makes it even bigger, and I am excited to get out on the pitch, get a start and show everyone what I can do.”
Wales have beaten Fiji nine times in 11 previous meetings, and it will be a major surprise if they do not maintain that record under a closed roof at the 40,000-capacity Oita Stadium.
“They are big men, and we are aware of that threat,” McBryde said. “We’ve got to make sure, collectively, we work well, get really tight and match them.
“We are really looking forward to the contest. Historically, we always get stronger the more time we spend with each other.”
– Press Association
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Big empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
34 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to comments