Wales have been placed on alert to anticipate “lightning bolts” of their Rugby World Cup opener in opposition to Fiji on Sunday.
It is the fifth-successive match for Wales and Fiji to fulfill, with Warren Gatland’s workforce on a run of three-consecutive wins.
Fiji, although, dumped Wales out of the 2007 World Cup following an exciting conflict in Nantes, whereas 4 years in the past they led by 10 factors earlier than Wales recovered to prevail 29-17.
Fiji have improved their set-piece play significantly beneath head coach Simon Raiwalui, a stunning operating and off-loading recreation stays central to their outlook.
They are at present above Wales on this planet rankings and contemporary from beating England at Twickenham, with gamers like Semi Radradra, captain Waisea Nayacalevu and quantity eight Viliame Mata posing main threats.
“I think we have got to expect lightning bolts from this team – line-breaks, off-loads, how they pick through the breakdown,” Wales assistant coach and defence specialist Mike Forshaw stated.
“We have got to be really alert and alive around our defence in every area.
“We are expecting that kind of arm-wrestle. We have just got to stay in the game physically and mentally.
“We are going to take lightning bolts at some point, but it is about really focusing on ourselves.
“We’ve got to be physical, we’ve got to take some bruises tomorrow and hopefully dish them out if we can.
“Everyone is talking about this Fiji team and rightly so because I was at Twickenham a couple of weeks ago and they were mightily impressive.
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“I think tomorrow we have got to see the best of us against this team, I really believe that.
“Physicality is an easy word to say, but we have got to lead with our actions tomorrow, as I am sure Fiji will.”
We’ve ready effectively, notably the previous couple of weeks. We are in a great place for the problem, bodily and mentally
Warren Gatland
Gatland has arrived at a fourth World Cup and his file of two fourth-placed finishes and a quarter-final exit in 2015 is spectacular.
And victory on Sunday would give Wales a flying begin when it comes to their quest to succeed in the knockout part from a bunch that additionally options Australia, Georgia and Portugal.
“I think from a coaching perspective, the ultimate pinnacle is the World Cup ,” Gatland stated.
“It’s the one time in international windows that you get full preparation. It feels like you are working with a club side in having a pre-season.
“We’ve been able to work on a lot of things in the last few months in terms of the detail and putting together a strategy, but also making sure we have not done just the hard work but worked hard on other aspects of the game.
“For us, we’ve spoken about discipline and keeping them (Fiji) out of our 22. They tend to come alive in opposition 22s.
“We’ve prepared well, particularly the last few weeks. We are in a good place for the challenge, physically and mentally.”
