Wales ready to pop Fiji balloon
WALES are out to stop a Fijian fiesta today — playing the role of party poopers in order to seal their knockout spot. Having lost to Pacific Island teams more than any other traditional superpower at World Cups— Samoa in 1991 and 1999 and Fiji in 2007 — the Welsh are warier than most. So, rather than plotting for England or France in the quarter-finals back here next week, their eyes are on Fiji. ‘It’s their last game and I’m sure they want to finish on a high,’ said Wales boss Warren Gatland. ‘We don’t want them to spoil the party for us. ‘We have to make it uncomfortable for Fiji. That’s the focus for us — having a balance between putting their forwards in certain positions, making them work hard and taking their legs away from them, and then also recognising the ability we have when we need to play. ‘We need to try to take that excitement away from them. That’s why the start is important for us. We’ve started exceptionally well in the first couple of games. ‘Fiji look like a team who are really excited for that first 20 minutes. The more they feel like they’re getting something out of the game, the more dangerous they are.’ It has been Wales who have started quickly in both of their World Cup matches so far. Against Georgia they were 20-0 up after 19 minutes, and won 43-14, and versus Australia 10-0 up after 13 minutes before winning 29-25. Gareth Davies, the scrum-half, has been firing up his side with quick tempo, and making risky interception gambles. Davies thinks the key to his stellar World Cup form has been a summer of keeping cards close to his chest. ‘I had a quiet summer — didn’t do what I normally do,’ he said. ‘No trips to Vegas or anything like that! I knew the camps we had lined up in Switzerland and Turkey were going to be tough. I just kept my head down.’ Fiji have a shot to nothing this morning — making it a slippery prospect for Wales inside the Oita Bank Dome. It’s hot and humid under the roof with 40,000 inside and the ball sweaty. In the two matches played here so far — New Zealand v Canada and Australia v Uruguay — there have been 47 handling errors, including 18 by the All Blacks. But Wales seem fit, fired-up and ready to pop Fiji’s balloon. TV: LIVE on ITV, 10.45am kick-off. WALES: L Williams, North, Jo Davies, Parkes, Adams, Biggar, G Davies, W Jones; Owens, Francis, Ball, AW Jones (c), Navidi, Moriarty, Ja Davies SCOTLAND V RUSSIA: LIVE on ITV, 8.15am kick-off.