Autumn Internationals Opponents Preview No. 1: FIJI
Men’s international rugby returns in November, with three test matches at the Principality Stadium awaiting Wales.
Having only won two non-test matches since the 2023 World Cup, earning the unwanted accolade of the Wooden Spoon at the Six Nations and suffering defeats to South Africa and Australia over the summer, Wales are in desperate need of a victory.
Standing in the way of that goal this month are Fiji, Australia, and South Africa, three teams that each pose different questions to Wales and Warren Gatland.
What will Wales have to overcome in order to register a first test win of 2024 against Fiji at the Principality Stadium on Sunday? Read on to find out!
Fiji
Fixture: Sunday 10th, 13:40
World Ranking: 9th (Wales are 11th)
Other Matches on Tour: Scotland, Spain, and Ireland.
Head Coach: Mike Byrne
Following the departure of Simon Raiwalui after the 2023 World Cup, former New Zealand skills coach Mike Byrne took over the role, having been head coach at the Fijian Drua team for the last three years.
As well as taking the main role with the Drua, Byrne has extensive experience with Scotland as a skills coach, Japan and native Australia as an assistant, and even Canada women’s sevens as an interim.
Recent Form:
Following a successful World Cup campaign, where Raiwalui’s side equalled their best performance – a quarter-final – Fiji have played seven matches in 2024, winning five.
A defeat to New Zealand and victory over Georgia over the summer was a solid start for Byrne, before the Pacific Nations Cup campaign.
Fiji bested Pacific Island rivals Samoa (42-16) and Tonga (19-50), with flanker Kitione Salawa Jr. scoring an eye-catching hattrick in the former match.
Having topped the three-team group, Fiji faced the USA in the semi-final, winning 22-3, with another loose forward – Elia Canakaivata starring with a brace.
An Eddie Jones-coached Japan faced them in the final but were no match for the Flying Fijians, losing 41-17.
Another hattrick, this time from Vuate Karawalevu, sealed the result, with Japan only adding gloss to the scoreboard with a 78th minute consolation try.
Fiji will therefore travel to Europe full of confidence and ready to impress a new coach. A dangerous combination.
Star Man: Caleb Muntz
The fly-half missed last year’s Rugby World Cup and his calming presence with ball in hand and on boot was conspicuous, especially in tight defeats to Wales, England, and Portugal.
Muntz was the second highest points scorer in the Pacific Nations Cup, only behind Japanese no.10 Lee Seung-sin and had an impressive kick success rate of 85%.
His ability to marshal a typically dangerous Fijian backline is excellent and his combination with scrumhalf Frank Lomani is a lethal one.
One To Watch: Elia Canakaivata
Sevens star Elia Canakaivata is a classic Fijian loose forward. Powerful in contact, with some lovely touches of finesse, his back-to-back braces against Tonga and USA have shown glimpses of his burgeoning ability in the XVs arena.
As a part of the Fijian sevens set-up, Canakaivata won the Rugby Sevens World Cup in 2022 and a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games in the same year, before switching to Super Rugby Pacific a year later.
Two good seasons with the Drua has earned him a call-up to the XVs squad, taking the new format by storm in the Pacific Nations Cup. Watch out for him running down the number 10 channel off set pieces!
Diolch yn fawr to S4C for sponsoring Sportin Wales’ Autumn International Series!
S4C is the Home of Welsh Sport and the only place to watch the Wales vs Fiji game live on free to air TV. S4C will be dropping a special programme with exclusive behind the scenes access following the WRU staff, welcoming the Fiji team on their journey to Wales – watch on their YouTube channel tomorrow.
And remember to tune in to the game this Sunday @1pm on S4C, S4C Clic & BBC iPlayer
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