Share

Rugby World Cup 2015: Dan Cole previews England v Fiji

“Somewhere along the line they’re going to knock over a big team and it could be England”. “It’s quite hard to get the calls over”.

Advertisement

Fiji has played at Twickenham only once in this century, in 2012, a 54-12 loss to England.

Sevens-specialists Fiji are positioned ninth in the global rankings and although they have been drawn in a daunting Pool A that also features Wales and Australia, they are capable of causing one of the tournament’s greatest upsets.

“We know that to be successful on Friday we will have to play for the full 80″. Should they proceed through the pool in this year’s tournament, you can’t help but feel those celebrations may extend a little longer than just one public holiday.

He performed that traditional Ka Mate haka with volunteers from Ngati Ranana London Maori Club as part of MasterCard’s Rugby World Cup 2015 campaign.

Play it safe with anytime tries but if you’re looking for more take Watson for the first try at 13/2 with Sky Bet (he’s scored first in two of his last three games) and May for a double (13/8).

The Wallabies scrum will be under plenty of pressure at the World Cup.

“They’ve got to send out a message against Fiji that they’re here and they’re going to be serious contenders because if they don’t deliver, the pressure can turn into a negative”.

And Robinson believes retaining possession will be the key to securing an English victory and settling any pre-World Cup jitters. “We tend to shout a lot during the lineout”.

Goneva, voted the 2013-14 players’ player of the year
following an outstanding season at Leicester, starts at outside centre, with former Gloucester flanker Akapusi Qera leading the team.

The managing director of England 2015, Stephen Brown, said it had been challenging logistically, but he thought they had managed to put together a memorable show to launch the tournament.

“Once my career is over I’ll look back on it to understand what it meant”.

New Zealand, as seems to be the case with every World Cup, have arrived as favourites to lift the trophy.

But I think the RFU had to include him to justify bringing him in.0 He certainly has the skillset to do well in union and it takes time to fully adjust. “Mentally, spiritually and physically we are strong”.

Advertisement

And the lesser nations could well be in for painful experiences if the All Blacks click into gear during their opening matches, with a repeat of Namibia’s 142-0 thrashing at the hands of Australia in 2003 not out of the question. “We want to be the best defensive team”. Fiji happen to be one of those sides taking 9th place in the rankings and do have players that can mix it with the best that World Rugby has to offer.

Tim Horan