Australia vs. Fiji: Preview, Live Stream, TV Info for Rugby World Cup 2015 Game
Week 2 of the Rugby World Cup 2015 begins with a bang as Australia finally get their tournament underway against the considerable threat of Pool A dark horses Fiji on Wednesday.
Cardiff's Millennium Stadium plays host to the southern-hemisphere pair in what will be their 20th meeting, with Fiji having won just two of the previous 19 encounters and the most recent of those having taken place 61 years ago.
The Wallabies will hope to replicate the spirit their side captured during the 2011 Rugby World Cup pool stage, where they defeated Fiji in a 55-12 blowout, but Wednesday's matchup promises to be a far tighter affair.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
John McKee's men surrendered a 35-11 defeat to this year's hosts England in the tournament opener last Friday, but Australia coach Michael Cheika will know his impending opponents are a major threat.
As if it wasn't already, this fixture will be considered a must-win meeting for both sides looking to advance from the supposed Pool of Death, with full viewing information, team lineups and a preview discussed further ahead.
Date: Wednesday, September 23
Time: 4:45 p.m. BST/11:45 a.m. ET/(Thurs., Sept. 24)1:45 a.m. AEST/3:45 a.m. NZST
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Live Stream: ITV Player (UK), Universal Sports (US), Fox Sports (AUS), Sky Go (NZ), SuperSport (SA)
TV Info: ITV (UK), Fox Sports 2 (AUS), Sky Sport 1 (NZ), SuperSport 1 (SA)
Team Lineups
Australia: 15. Israel Folau, 14. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13. Tevita Kuridrani, 12. Matt Giteau, 11. Rob Horne, 10. Bernard Foley, 9. Will Genia, 8. David Pocock, 7. Michael Hooper, 6. Scott Fardy, 5. Rob Simmons, 4. Kane Douglas, 3. Sekope Kepu, 2. Stephen Moore (C), 1. Scott Sio
Fiji: 15. Metuisela Talebula, 14. Waisea Nayacalevu, 13. Vereniki Goneva, 12. Gabiriele Lovobalavu, 11. Nemani Nadolo, 10. Ben Volavola, 9. Nikola Matawalu, 8. Netani Talei, 7. Akapusi Qera (C), 6. Peceli Yato, 5. Leone Nakarawa, 4. Tevita Cavubati, 3. Manasa Saulo, 2. Tuapati Talemaitoga, 1. Campese Ma'af.
| September 5, 2015 | United States 10-47 Australia |
| August 15, 2015 | New Zealand 41-13 Australia |
| August 8, 2015 | Australia 27-19 New Zealand |
| July 25, 2015 | Argentina 9-34 Australia |
| July 18, 2015 | Australia 24-20 South Africa |
| September 18, 2015 | England 35-11 Fiji |
| September 6, 2015 | Canada 18-47 Fiji |
| August 3, 2015 | Fiji 39-29 Samoa |
| July 29, 2015 | Fiji 27-22 Japan |
| July 24, 2015 | Fiji 30-30 Samoa |
Key Players to Watch
David Pocock
Cheika has faced a dilemma in tactics ever since Brumbies marvel David Pocock returned to fitness and stomped his way back into the international mix, with Michael Hooper deemed un-droppable by some.
The Wallabies coach has shuffled his pack to include both flankers this week, with Pocock moving to No. 8 after Cheika confessed it's too hard to leave either player out, per the official Australian Rugby website:
"It’s pretty hard not to pick one of them. I’m not trying to claim there’s any brilliant rocket science behind it. You've just got two very good players and the way they've played throughout the Super Rugby season and in the international season either together or separately has forced the coach's hands.
"
Cheika is terrifically succinct in explaining the reasons for his selection; "two very good players" who just so happen to be gifted in similar ways, except the elder Pocock may be more ready to deal with a transition to the back of the pack.
However, as pointed out by Murray Kinsella of The42.ie, Fiji were a fiend at the breakdown against England, forcing 17 turnovers in total, which gives Australia's own breakdown heroes a run for their money:
Australia have had those extra few days to examine their upcoming opponents and as such may have a better grasp of what they must do to counter those attributes, with no small amount of help from Pocock.
As one of the surviving members of the 2011 Rugby World Cup squad, Pocock will be looked upon as a leader of the team, and his influence will be crucial in the possession stakes as the Wallabies hope to take hold.
| Australia Win | 1-25 |
| Draw | 33-1 |
| Fiji Win | 12-1 |
| First Tryscorer - Nemani Nadolo | 16-1 |
Ben Volavola
Ben Volavola's acclimation as Fiji's first-choice fly-half went through a difficult yet valuable test against England, where evidence of nerves were interlaced with spots of majestic playmaking throughout.
Unsuccessful though the No. 10 was on his World Cup debut as far as the scoreline goes, Volavola insists his side are capable of defeating Australia this week, per the Sydney Morning Herald's Chris Dutton:
"We understand Australia is a different beast … but we got together to watch Japan and that gave us hope and inspiration at the same time. This is a knockout tournament and what they showed us is that on your day, anything can happen.
[...]
We were disappointed after our loss to England but that's a good sign, we didn't take our chances. We just weren't patient enough and lucky for us that's an easy thing to change. It's just a mental thing and to focus on when we play the Wallabies.
"
The 24-year-old also has something of a personal crusade against the Wallabies, led by his coach of two years Cheika, who mentored him at the Waratahs prior to this year's move to Crusaders.
There, Volavola has been identified as a potential successor to the departed Dan Carter, and Rugby World's Charlie Morgan paid the fly-half a tremendous compliment, predicting he's up to that particular task:
One of the most impressive pieces of technical execution against England was Volavola's cross-field kick to Nemani Nadolo, gleefully gathered up by the rampaging winger to finish a try that showed no signs of fearing the grand stage.
On Wednesday, he'll have the benefit of familiarity against some Super Rugby faces, and it will be of major interest to see how much confidence the rising star has gained in the past week.
Prediction: Australia to win by 15
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
