Fiji are treating Australia as a Cup final. The Wallabies must do the same

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The Fiji-Wales game last weekend was the pick of the round, and a real warning shot to the Wallabies even before they lost Tate McDermott (concussion) and Taniela Tupou (hamstring) to injury.

What stood out was how good Wales were. Yes, Fiji were unlucky at times with the officiating (more on that and why it’s bad for the Wallabies later) but the Welsh were tough and impressively clinical.

They didn’t have many opportunities, but they were excellent at taking them, exploiting the Fijian midfield defence where Semi Radradra looked disconnected from his captain Waisea Nayacalevu at times.

Wales were impressive. They have plenty of experience and they have a good goalkicker in Dan Biggar. The Wallabies do not want to face them next weekend needing a win to get out of their pool.

For that reason, they need to treat the game against Fiji in Saint-Etienne as a final. Fiji have explicitly described it thus, and will bring a level of desperation that reflects that.

The Wallabies have to match it. This is an enormous test of every decision Australian rugby has made in the past year – there is simply no hiding from that.

Suliasi Vunivalu is one of seven players with Fijian heritage in the Wallabies’ World Cup squad.Credit: Getty

Eddie Jones is experienced enough to know the Wallabies won’t receive the leniency from referee Andrew Brace that Wales received from Matthew Carley last weekend.

The controversy from that game stemmed from a period midway through the second half, when Wales were leading 25-14 but under huge pressure.

They conceded four penalties in succession in their own territory, three of them inside the 22m line, before receiving even a warning.

That’s one too many penalties, especially as Biggar’s offence under his own sticks looked cynical. Fijian supporters were up in arms about that passage of play, and the public scrutiny that followed means that the Wallabies are going to have to be clean around the ruck and the offside line when they are defending.

Fraser McReight could be the most important player to don the Wallaby gold against Fiji.Credit: Getty

And, it’s likely to happen again because of the way Fiji coach Simon Raiwalui has them playing. All the way through their pre-World Cup fixtures, Fiji were happy to hammer away through multiple phases inside the opposition 22m.

They clearly believe they have the size and capacity to hurt teams with the pick and drive and hard carries close to the line. Defeat against Wales won’t change that mindset, especially as they actually got over the line twice but knocked on in the process.

The Wallabies will have to show some real steel here. Despite their backline stars, Fiji don’t throw the ball wide until it’s really on inside the 22m. Fraser McReight might be the most important player wearing Wallaby gold this weekend.

But Fiji do have some issues. As mentioned above, their midfield defence was poor last weekend. They have used a number of combinations there this year, and a smart player like Wales’ George North took advantage of it.

They also looked a bit vulnerable on the edge. Left winger Vinaya Habosi made a hash of a crossfield kick to allow Louis Rees-Zammit to score, while Wales’ other winger Josh Adams also picked up a five-pointer when the Welsh exploited a numerical advantage on Fiji’s right edge with a bit too much ease. There will be chances for Mark Nawaqanitawase and Marika Koroibete.

As for Ben Donaldson’s selection at fullback, it probably took Jones about two seconds to make. It was a non-dilemma after Donaldson’s goalkicking display last week, especially as Fiji No.10 Teti Tela left five out on the field against Wales with two misses: Caleb Muntz’s injury really hurt Fiji last week.

If the Wallabies win this game, then it’s time to start getting excited about where they could go at this tournament. It would show a capacity to get back to earth after the excitement of the win against Georgia, and the ability to overcome some obstacles and the loss of key personnel along the way. For a young group, it would show an accelerated rate of development and maturity.

However, a defeat would bring an enormous amount of pressure, with canny Wales coach Warren Gatland lying in wait. This is a knife-edge game: this is what Rugby World Cups are made of.

Watch all the action from Rugby World Cup 2023 on the Home of Rugby, Stan Sport. Every match streaming ad-free, live and in 4K UHD with replays, mini matches and highlights available on demand.

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