Wales coach Warren Gatland warned his side to be prepared for a tough World Cup opening game against a Fiji squad boasting players featuring in French Top 14 teams as well as the Super Rugby competition in Australia and New Zealand.
The clash at the Matmut Atlantique in Bordeaux rounds off the second full day of aciton in the opening weekend of the 2023 rugby union World Cup.
The seven week extravaganza was launched on Friday night with hosts France beating New Zealand 27-13 at the Stade de France.
On Saturday, Ireland, the world’s top ranked team, battered Romania 82-8 in Bordeaux before a 14-man England side banished their recent incompetence to crush Argentina 27-10 at the Stade Vélodrome where the tournament encountered its first misstep with thousands of England supporters unable to access their seats due to ticket scanning problems which organisers said were being investigated.
“The Fijians are probably a lot more structured now as a team than they were in the past,” said Gatland.
“They are a good side, they have a lot of players coming out of Super Rugby and playing in France, so it’s an exciting challenge for us.”
Australia overwhelmed Georgia 35-15 at the Stade de France in the first game in Group C on Saturday afternoon.
Statement
That sole victory came in the 2007 World Cup when Fiji reached the last eight.
Change
Read more on RFI English
Read also:
France tightens Rugby World Cup security to avoid repeat of stadium chaos
Greenpeace slams TotalEnergies’ sponsorship of Rugby World Cup in France as ‘sports-washing’
France 2023 rugby World Cup chiefs apologise for ticket sales computer glitch
Article courtesy of
Source link
