At the Twickenham Stoop Fiji secured themselves a confidence boosting and comfortable win in their final Rugby World Cup Warm up Fixture against Canada. It was yet another demonstration of the threat that the Pacific Islanders pose to all of Pool A and highlighted to England Rugby exactly what they will be facing on the opening night of the tournament.
When Fiji announced their squad the potential was evident for all to see as it is jam packed with names that light up the Aviva Premiership, Pro 12 and Top 14. Historically Fiji have always delivered physically but have often spoiled their own work with wanton abandon and a lack of cohesion, however with two months of solid training the question lingered as to how good they could really be?
Fast forward to twelve days before the Rugby World Cup and answer is clear; Fiji are a genuine threat and every side in Pool A will need to take them very seriously. The team that pushed aside Canada did so with a productive amount of structure, a solid set piece and brutal physical intensity. From Fly Half Ben Volavola pulled the strings with efficiency however it was Bath Rugby's new signing, Niko Matawalu, that will have given the watching Stuart Lancaster and Andy Farrell much more to consider. Matawalu scored two tries of his own and was instrumental in setting up a third during the opening half. However his downfall was over exuberant swan dive that resulted in something tweaking and he left the field. It didn’t look serious, certainly not akin to the injuries of Leigh Halfpenny and Rhys Webb, and I expect him to start at Twickenham Stadium and give Ben Youngs and England a huge amount to think about.
The trademark Fijian physicality is something that England must work out how to handle. The majority of elite rugby teams have their enforcers, the big men that do the damage however watching Fiji at The Stoop they appear to have fifteen of them. As you will see when the teams run out in 12 days time there is little discernible difference in size between their 10, 11 and 12 than their 6, 7 and 8 and all collide with their opponents with seismic force. On home soil there is no question that England will feel the full might of this Pacific Island and the thing that I hope for most, alongside a victory, is that England come out of the opener relatively unscathed from an injury perspective.
Fijian footie thrives off the counter attack, any loose kicking or careless handling will play right into their hands and with someone like the 20 stone attacking threat of Nemani Nadolo sloppy game management will be punished. England must expect quick lineout off every single one, no matter where it is on the pitch, and can never switch off for a moment. The scrummage will be a contest, it isn’t an area of historical Fijian expertise however against Canada it was respectable. To be truthfully honest the true extent of Fiji's scrummaging prowess will only be seen on game day against England, for Canada’s set piece isn’t world leading whereas I believe that England’s is.
The long and the short of 'Fiji Watch' is that England, and indeed every member of Pool A, have a rather large task on their hands. England really do have the toughest Pool in tournament history and their opening fixture against Fiji will be very far from a walk in the park.
