Wales v Fiji preview: Warren Gatland’s desperate troops to ‘finally’ break their 2024 ‘duck’ against a ‘brave’ Fijian effort
Wales fly-half Gareth Anscombe and Fiji counterpart Caleb Muntz.
Wales will be hoping to avoid a potential banana skin when they kick off their 2024 Autumn Nations series campaign against Fiji in Cardiff on Saturday.
The home side head into this fixture in a desperate mood as they are yet to be victorious at Test level this year.
Warren Gatland‘s troops are currently on a nine-match losing streak at international level after losing their quarter-final against Argentina at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, all five of their games in this year’s Six Nations, a clash against the Springboks at Twickenham in June as well as both matches in their two-Test series against the Wallabies in Australia in July.
They did manage to secure a victory on their tour to Australia but that was in a friendly against the Reds in Brisbane and they were made to work very hard for that win as a late Kieran Hardy try secured them a narrow 36-35 triumph.
A Wales national side hasn’t lost 10 successive Tests since 2003, when they set their worst-ever losing run of 11 losses in a row under the guidance of Steve Hansen.
Meanwhile, Fiji come into this weekend’s encounter after they were boosted by the arrival of several senior players who missed last week’s tour opener against Scotland because that encounter fell outside the end-of-year Test window.
Although Fiji were on the wrong side of a 57-17 result against the Scots at Murrayfield, their matchday squad for that Test consisted mostly second-choice players.
That situation has changed as they have been boosted by the arrival of 11 of their European-based players and head coach Mick Byrne and his troops will be determined to replicate the form they displayed during the Pacific Nations Cup which they won after clinching an impressive victory over Japan in the final last month.
Wales’ current winless run has impacted their position on World Rugby’s official rankings and they currently occupy 11th position, one spot below Fiji, who swapped places with ninth-placed Australia after the Pacific Islanders’ loss to Scotland last week.
Where the game will be won
Wales and Fiji possess various attacking threats who have the ability to wreak havoc with ball in hand but that can only happen if they play in the right part of the field. In order for that to happen both team’s tactical kicking games have to be of a very high standard. Going into this encounter, Wales have an edge in that department as they tend to kick more than the Pacific Islanders but the hosts will have to be accurate in that department as their opponents have the ability to launch counterattacks from anywhere on the field.
Another facet of play which will be crucial in the bigger scheme of things is the set-piece battle which has traditionally been one of Wales’ strengths while Fiji tend to underperform in that department. However, the hosts can ill afford to underestimate their opponents as Fiji have improved in their scrummaging and lineout work and if they can gain parity in the tight exchanges this weekend, they will boost their chances of securing victory.
Last time they met
What they said
Wales defence coach Mike Forshaw knows his team will be under pressure to end their losing streak and said the side knows the importance of doing just that against Fiji this weekend.
“That was something which Warren (Gatland) addressed the team with yesterday and some of the senior players talked about that,” he told the BBC.
“People saying that Wales had to take some pain with bringing in young players, well that’s over now.
“There’s no excuses and we have to start winning rugby matches.
“That’s not just me as a coach saying that, the players are adamant that’s got to be the case as well.
“There’s a bit of pressure on us to win and the players have got to feel that also.
“We are in the business of winning matches and we have to do that on a Sunday afternoon in Cardiff against Fiji.”
Meanwhile, Fiji head coach Mick Byrne highlighted the importance of having his European-based players back in his squad for this important Test.
“Obviously we want our Northern Hemisphere players,” he said.
“They are high-quality players playing tough rugby in France and England week in and week out. They bring a hard-nosed approach to Test rugby.”
Players to watch
Although Wales have struggled to win games this year there have been some success stories and one of those is exciting full-back Cameron Winnett. The 21-year-old made his Test debut in the Six Nations opener against Scotland and was ever-present in Wales’ starting XV throughout the Championship. He started seven of his country’s eight Tests in 2024 and caught the eye with several fine performances during that time. Highly rated, he was named Wales’ 2023/24 young player of the year by the Welsh Rugby Writers’ Association and will be keen to continue with his fine form.
Another backline player to keep an eye on is experienced scrum-half Tomos Williams who, like Winnett, has caught the eye with some excellent performances for his country despite their inability to be on the the winning side. The 29-year-old joined Gloucester at the start of this season and comes into the Autumn Nations Series after delivering several fine performances for the Kingsholm-based outfit. A brilliant playmaker, who has great vision and a keen eye for the gap, Williams should keep Fiji’s defenders on their toes especially if he finds good front foot ball from his forwards.
And although he is not in the run-on side, don’t be surprised if highly-rated back-rower Jac Morgan makes a big impact off the replacements bench in this match. The Ospreys star has had some injury issues in recent seasons but he has delivered some outstanding displays for his Welsh region and will be determined to hit the ground running when he makes an appearance against Fiji.
The Flying Fijians have been bolstered by the inclusion of several first-choice players and in Semi Radradra and Josua Tuisova they have two genuine superstars of the global game whose presence will significantly boost the Pacific Islanders’ chances of leaving the Principality Stadium as victors. The dynamic duo are amongst the best attacking players in the world with Tuisova’s explosive power with the ball in hand usually a handful for most defences. Meanwhile, Radradra relishes one-on-one situations with defenders and if he finds himself in space, he should wreak havoc.
Whether it's 15s or Sevens, Semi Radradra is always box-office gold! 🤩 🇫🇯 pic.twitter.com/dQbjgmk2dB
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) June 13, 2022
Another player who is crucial to the visitors’ cause is hooker and co-captain Tevita Ikanivere, who is one of the most improved players in the Pacific Islanders’ set-up. The Fijian Drua stalwart excels in the execution of his core duties, with his lineout throw-ins, scrummaging and defence of a high standard. He is also brilliant with ball in hand and showed his class against Scotland as he sold the defence an outrageous dummy before scoring a deserved try.
Main head-to-head
With this encounter set to be a tightly contested affair, goal-kicking will play a crucial role in the end result which means the two fly-halves will be important protagonists in this fixture and both Wales’ Gareth Anscombe and Fiji’s Caleb Muntz could be the match-winner if they have their kicking boots on.
The two New Zealand-born pivots are both exceptional off the kicking tee and will be expected to keep the scoreboard ticking if their respective teams want to be victorious. Both are also excellent playmakers but have been struggling with injuries in recent seasons. Anscombe has suffered knee and groin injuries which has kept him on the sidelines for large chunks of the past four seasons while a serious knee injury also ruled Muntz out of last year’s World Cup in France. However, both are back to full fitness and will be keen to make an impact in this clash.
Prediction
Just like the previous fixture between these sides, we expect this encounter to be a tightly contested battle which will go down to the wire. Although Fiji will put up a brave fight, the home side will finally be victorious, but only just as Wales break their 2024 duck with a win by three points.
Previous results
2023: Wales won 32-26 in Bordeaux
2021: Wales won 38-23 in Cardiff
2019: Wales won 29-17 in Oita
2015: Wales won 23-13 in Cardiff
2014: Wales won 17-13 in Cardiff
2011: Wales won 66-0 in Hamilton
2010: The sides drew 16-16 in Cardiff
2007: Fiji won 38-34 in Nantes
The teams
Wales: 15 Cameron Winnett, 14 Mason Grady, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Blair Murray, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Taine Plumtree, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Archie Griffin, 2 Dewi Lake (c), 1 Gareth Thomas
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Christ Tshiunza, 20 James Botham, 21 Jac Morgan, 22 Ellis Bevan, 23 Sam Costelow
Fiji: 15 Vuate Karawalevu, 14 Jiuta Wainiqolo, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu (cc), 12 Josua Tuisova, 11 Semi Radradra, 10 Caleb Muntz, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Ratu Meli Derenalagi, 5 Temo Mayanavanua, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Samuela Tawake, 2 Tevita Ikanivere (cc), 1 Eroni Mawi
Replacements: 16 Sam Matavesi, 17 Haereiti Hetet, 18 Jone Koroiduadua, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Albert Tuisue, 21 Simi Kuruvoli, 22 Isaiah Ravula, 23 Sireli Maqala
Date: Sunday, November 10
Venue: Principality Stadium
Kick-off: 13:40 GMT
Referee: Luc Ramos (FFR)
Assistant Referees: Pierre Brousset (FFR), Hollie Davidson (SRU)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)
