Wales vs Fiji

Moving on from the disappointment of last weekend, here is the team to play Fiji



15. Liam Williams (Scarlets)
14. Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues)
13. Scott Williams (Scarlets)
12. Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro)
11. George North (Northampton Saints)
10. Rhys Priestland (Scarlets)
9. Mike Phillips (Racing Metro)
1. Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues, CAPT)
2. Scott Baldwin (Ospreys)
3. Samson Lee (Scarlets)
4. Bradley Davies (Wasps)
5. Luke Charteris (Racing Metro)
6. Dan Lydiate (Unattached)
7. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys)
8. Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: Emyr Phillips (Scarlets), Nicky Smith (Ospreys), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), James King (Ospreys), Rhodri Williams (Scarlets), James Hook (Gloucester), Cory Allen (Cardiff Blues).

Main talking points? Looks like James, Warburton, Biggar, Webb are being rested. Jonathan Davies clearly not fit enough yet.

How much game time has Charteris had this season?

Good to see Tipuric getting some game time, as with Scott Williams who has been immense this year.

I'd have liked Lee, Faletau and North replaced by Jarvis, Baker and Amos. All 3 of those are guaranteed starters against New Zealand and South Africa.

chris_501 wrote:I'd have liked Lee, Faletau and North replaced by Jarvis, Baker and Amos. All 3 of those are guaranteed starters against New Zealand and South Africa.

Faletau had a quiet game on Saturday and North did not see much Ball, so I am not too concerned about them playing against Fiji, but Lee is only a youngster and put in a huge shift against Oz, so I would have liked to see him have a rest and Jarvis given a run out.

My thinking is that Amos and Baker have had strong starts to the season so it would be good to see how they got on.

That pack still looks too strong for the Fijians.

If Wales get less than 60 I'll be disappointed in my crystal ball.

Glad to see Gatland say that Biggar could have played at a push - means he should be fit to face NZ & SA

Pretty happy with that. Great to see Scott Williams returning to fitness, he has been in great form.

I was just watching a scrum five that I had missed from the Sunday before the AIs started. Sean Holley, a man I consider to be a complete prat in general, actually had a decent point regarding selection for the teams and the attitude of the coaching and team management for this season and that is that selecting a definitive team is not as imperative as building a squad.

Adam Jones and Gethin haven't had a great start to the season, Lee has and he is being rewarded, Adams omission give huge encouragement to Adam to prove himself the best in the world again, Lee gets a huge opportunity to prove himself.

I think Holley said it was "dangling Carrots" infront of the squad to get personal results.

Three games to o. Lots to work on from the last game, lots to improve nothing is set in stone and the coaches insist this year is all about the RWC.

http://www.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/story/247331.html

Only problem with that side (really) is no recognized place kicker...

Think Liam Williams can take a pen or two...

As long as its from a close range, a relatively easy angle and no one puts Priestland off I'm sure he can kick a few goals.

Might be a kiss of death here, but imo Rhys' kicking has improved this season. He is still not in the same league as Biggar or 1/2p but he is not as bad as he was. Also he has seemed to be able to separate his goal kicking performance from the rest of his performance, and when he misses a kick, it doesn't weigh him down as much as it used to.

Quite like the look of the squad but a few points

Take it JD and Baker are injured, very surprised if Baker has just not been included

Looks like Lee, Lydiate, Roberts, North, Cuthbert and Li Williams are set to play in all 4 games.

Also as has been asked whose kicking, Priestland I guess, what with him being such a confidence player I hope he gets a few over early to settle his nerves.

No Warburton?

Is he injured? or is he being rested?

Being on a central contract he is only allowed to play a certain number of games


... He's being rested and as such given Gats chance to try options, ie. Dan and Tips...

Have their bean many changes this week? Not counting injured players i mean.

Warburton rested AWJ on the bench is Gatland taking FIJI for granted?

Seriously can any team afford to take any other team for granted these days?

maj,

Don't think he's taken them for granted as the players replaced have been replaced by established International and I guess it's the old problem of when do you blood/try new players/combinations, AIs 6 Nations etc etc

majesticimperialman wrote:Have their bean many changes this week? Not counting injured players i mean.

Warburton rested AWJ on the bench is Gatland taking FIJI for granted?

Seriously can any team afford to take any other team for granted these days?

It's hardly a weak team that has been selected,

Tipuric has been pushing Warburton for ages,

Phillips and Preistland were our starts not too long ago,

Gethin Jenkins is as good, if not better than James

AWJ is replaced by guys with close to 50 caps,

Hibbard is the only real step down with Owens out.

majesticimperialman wrote:No Warburton?

Is he injured? or is he being rested?

Or playing for da Bloos against the Terks on Friday in the Luton Van trophy?

[quote="wales606"]

majesticimperialman wrote:Have their bean many changes this week? Not counting injured players i mean.

Warburton rested AWJ on the bench is Gatland taking FIJI for granted?

Seriously can any team afford to take any other team for granted these days?

It's hardly a weak team that has been selected,

Tipuric has been pushing Warburton for ages,

Phillips and Preistland were our starts not too long ago,

Gethin Jenkins is as good, if not better than James - Debatable these days

AWJ is replaced by guys with close to 50 caps,

Hibbard is the only real step down with Owens out - Thought scrum went better with Baldwin on

Gatland campaigning to have 70 minute games instead of 80 . Wonder how many games against Australia we would have won then . Im not a big fan of priestland since the world cup but im not sweating him playing against fiji ,no offence .

Bakers omission is the one big surprise to me especially as nothing has come out to say he injured.

I've seen it written Baker was injured for last week, so he obviously isn't fit.

Pretty handy team. I think (despite what Madge thinks), we have afforded Fiji a huge amount of respect there. Personally, I would've started Amos, as playing him with that experience in the backline is better than the side he was in for his first cap. Seems a bit of a waste calling him up and then not releasing him back to Dragons (last week anyway).

jimmyinthewell68 wrote:Gatland campaigning to have 70 minute games instead of 80 . Wonder how many games against Australia we would have won then .   Im not a big fan of priestland since the world cup but im not sweating him playing against fiji ,no  offence .  

Wouldn't we have lost to Australia almost as often as we have now, as it seems to be we think we have hit the winning blow around the 70-75 min mark, only to screw up right after.

FIJI TEAM TO FACE WALES
Metuisela Talebula, Waisea Nayacalevu, Vereniki Goneva, Nemani Nadolo, Asaeli Tikoirotuma; Joshua Matavesi, Nikola Matawalu; Campese Ma'afu, Sunia Koto, Manasa Saulo, Leone Nakarawa, Api Ratuniyarawa, Dominiko Waqaniburotu, Masi Matadigo, Akapusi Qera (capt).

Replacements: Tuapati Talemaitoga, Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Isei Colati, Tevita Cavubati, Malakai Ravulo, Henry Seniloli, Jonetani Ralulu, Timoci Nagusa.

I forgot some of the class players they have, bit more worried now

Bit less worried with Matavesi at ten, to be honest.

Less worried with Matavesi at 10, but kind scared by Niko at 9.

Let's hope that Lomu-esque winger they have doesn't see much ball...

Do you mean Nadolo, Saint? If so, he looks to be lining up at 12 based on that teamsheet, is the stadium built to cope when him and Roberts run at each other?!

He's the Crusaders winger, I'm not so sure what his name is. You'd assume so, the stadium once handled a Roberts-Banahan collision!

They have a lot of talented runners in the back line, wonder if they've sorted their set pieces out yet?

Wales just need to not hand them the ball and use their advantage in the set piece.

Fiji side to play Wales: Metuisela Talebula, Waisea Nayacalevu, Vereniki Goneva, Nemani Nadolo, Asaeli Tikoirotuma; Joshua Matavesi, Nikola Matawalu; Campese Ma'afu, Sunia Koto, Manasa Saulo, Leone Nakarawa, Api Ratuniyarawa, Dominiko Waqaniburotu, Masi Matadigo, Akapusi Qera (capt).

Replacements: Tuapati Talemaitoga, Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Isei Colati, Tevita Cavubati, Malakai Ravulo, Henry Seniloli, Jonetani Ralulu, Timoci Nagusa.

That's not a bad team at all...! Some big lads in there...

Nadolo is bigger than any of the welsh backs

Steady nerves priest i dont want hool on. Lots in the press today how gats says they were concerned how lateral hook was and they need him to attack the line and be a lot more squarer. Weird ( page 70 daily mail ) does it mean front up instead of running away down an alley and being turned over? I thinl i would have liked him to have quietly gone, now he has a chance to remind us why they are still not satisfied with hom aftet sooooooo many chances

Hook hasn't played badly for Gloucester this year, he didn't play badly for USAP either...

Priestland similarly isn't having a bad season.

That said the only welsh fly halves having a genuinely good season so far are Patchell and Biggar and both are injured.

I think this would have been a good time to get Owen Williams involved. He has ousted Burns from the ten shirt at the Tigers and is probably more deserving of inclusion than Hookie...!

Owen Williams was pretty good end of last season and has been beginning of this. I think it's only been injuries at 12that have had him there instead of 10. Also, after a few years with the Tigers he could well come back (probably not have got as much rugby at the regions). Hooks probably gone for good now even if he could do a job in a pinch.

Much better idea making a few changes, rather than loads, for this game. Give the fringe guys a chance with a largely settled team.

I agree HT

It is a fantastic opportunity for any young aspiring player to be first choice in one of the worlds most famous clubs.

Hopefully if tigers shake their unfortunate injury issues then he will have a quality team around him that he can really progress as a player.

Fiji should be improved from the previous game. That's probably their first choice fly-half and centres, none of whom played last week, so they might present a more coherent attacking threat. But I think their performance against France had too many flaws to be corrected in 7 days, so I call Wales by 20 or so.

Fiji in 12 months with some quality preparation time could be a very different proposition. Man-for-man not many sides can compare to them, especially from 11-15, but 4-8 are strong too, and if Matawalu and Matavesi could make it work in the half-backs then Fiji may become a huge threat - capable of beating England, Wales or Australia, even...

maestegmafia wrote:Fiji side to play Wales: Metuisela Talebula, Waisea Nayacalevu, Vereniki Goneva, Nemani Nadolo, Asaeli Tikoirotuma; Joshua Matavesi, Nikola Matawalu; Campese Ma'afu, Sunia Koto, Manasa Saulo, Leone Nakarawa, Api Ratuniyarawa, Dominiko Waqaniburotu, Masi Matadigo, Akapusi Qera (capt).

Replacements: Tuapati Talemaitoga, Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Isei Colati, Tevita Cavubati, Malakai Ravulo, Henry Seniloli, Jonetani Ralulu, Timoci Nagusa.

Just noticed the team is up. It's actually very strong.

All three of my lads (Glasgow Warriors players) are there - names highlighted in bold.

Surely, surely by now we don't have to tell you to look out for this man?:

Wow! Some incredible play there, but Niko would never get a game with Gatland's Wales because he often runs "laterally" and risks getting isolated.

In terms of the club origins of rest of the starting XV, just to give you an idea of the likely quality:

Metuisela Talebula (Bordeaux-Begles)
Waisea Nayacalevu (Stade Francais)
Vereniki Goneva (Leicester Tigers)
Nemani Nadolo (Canterbury Crusaders)
Asaeli Tikoirotuma (previously Waikato Chiefs, now Harlequins)
Joshua Matavesi (Ospreys)
Nikola Matawalu (Glasgow Warriors)

Campese Ma'afu (Nottingham)
Sunia Koto (Narbonne)
Manasa Saulo (Bucharest)
Leone Nakarawa (Glasgow Warriors)
Api Ratuniyarawa (Fiji Warriors)
Dominiko Waqaniburotu (Brive)
Masi Matadigo (Racing Metro)
Akapusi Qera (Montpellier)

No mugs.

I think you're right this is a serious team with some serious talent.

Matawalu is a great scrum half. I hate it when he plays the ospreys he can score from anywhere.

It's not very often that Warren Gatland's men enter the field of play and have to look up to their opponents, but that's what will be facing some of the Welsh players on Saturday.

Wales' elite rugby players do a remarkable amount of work in the gym and are in peak physical condition because of it, but there are few sides in the world, if any, who can match the sheer physical presence of the Fijians.

The most fearsome of them all, Nemani Nadolo, will line up in the centre against Wales' own powerhouse Jamie Roberts in what is set to be one of the most brutal battles seen on a rugby field.

Standing 6ft 5in tall and weighing nearly 20 stone, Nadolo is a rugby sensation, but he is only one of a number of rugby juggernauts on show.


Here, we take a look at how the players measure up as the Millennium Stadium is transformed into a land of giants this Saturday...

Pictures: How the players on show compare

Full Back: Liam Williams v Metuisela Talebula

The Scarlets full back falls short in the weight category here but what he lacks in bulk he makes up for in heart.

Talebula is beginning to settle in on the international scene having played 11 times for Fiji. He plays his club rugby for Bordeaux and has bagged 23 tries in 45 appearances.

Wing: Alex Cuthbert v Waisea Nayacalevu

The Welshman is the bigger of the two, but only marginally. Cuthbert will be looking to add to his autumn tally after picking up a try against Australia.

Nayacalevu, a remarkably strong runner, plays his rugby for Stade Francais and has scored eight tries in 20 appearances for the Paris outfit.

Outside centre: Scott Williams v Vereniki Goneva

The Scarlets captain is arguably the in-form centre in Wales but missed the Australia game through injury. He'll be hoping to cement a starting spot against the All Blacks by producing another top display.

Goneva and Williams faced off recently when Leicester Tigers travelled to Llanelli in the Rugby Champions Cup at the end of October. The Fijian was pretty quiet on that occasion, but given the opportunity he can blow the game wide open.

Inside Centre: Jamie Roberts v Nemani Nadolo

Batten down the hatches when these two collide, they'll be feeling the tremors in Bangor.

Roberts has showed some form recently and looked back to his best against Australia, enjoying a fair bit of gainline success.

But if the Racing Metro man is planning on charging down Nadolo's channel, he might want to reconsider. Incredibly, the Fijian outweighs him by over two stone.


Wing: George North v Asaeli Tikoirotuma

The Saints finisher finds himself back on the wing this week thanks to the fitness of Scott Williams and, needless to say, he'll be more comfortable out there.

He's up against Tikoirotuma who enjoyed Super Rugby success with the Chiefs before moving to Harlequins at the beginning of the season.

Fly-Half: Rhys Priestland v Josh Matavesi

It's a big game for the Scarlets pivot this weekend as he goes out to silence the doubters and the boo boys. Some nice touches and easy kicks early on wouldn't go a miss and on his day, nobody brings players into the game more effectively.

A familiar face with followers of Welsh rugby, Ospreys centre Matavesi finds himself at fly-half against Wales. Before his arrival in Swansea I'd dismissed him as nothing more than a battering ram, but he has shown some nice touches and certainly has the distribution skills for fly-half.

Scrum-half: Mike Phillips v Niko Matawalu

The Racing Metro scrum-half has a point to prove if he wants to start against the All Blacks. Gatland's original plan was to keeping Rhys Webb at nine but injuries have presented Phillips with a golden opportunity to stake his claim for the jersey.

As Cardiff Blues fans will remember, Matawalu is a real live-wire. He came off the bench for Glasgow at the BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park and turned the game in favour of the Scottish outfit with a second-half brace.

Loose-head prop: Gethin Jenkins v Campese Ma'afu

The Welshman has been handed the captaincy and will feel he has a point to prove after being left on the bench against Australia.

After a brief spell with the Cardiff Blues, Ma'afu, who is a touch smaller than Jenkins, has been plying his trade for Nottingham.

Hooker: Scott Baldwin v Sunia Koto

The Ospreys hooker is in line to make his first ever start for Wales after picking up his second cap against Australia last week.

Despite being almost half a foot shorter, Koto is the heavier of the two and currently plays for Narbonne in the second tier of French domestic rugby.


Tight-head prop: Samson Lee v Manasa Saulo

The Scarlets prop put in a fine performance against Australia and helped earn a penalty try that gave Wales the lead midway through the second half.

Saulo has a fascinating story. Not so long ago he was working in a sugar cane plant in Fiji and he now plays for Timisoara in Bucharest.

Second row: Bradley Davies v Leone Nakarawa

The Wasps second row came off the bench against Australia and showed some good touches. He'll be looking to make an impression and set his stall out in a bid to grab a starting spot against the All Blacks.

Nakarawa has played 22 times for the national side and almost missed out on the chance to play at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. On that occasion New Zealand had to relax their ban on allowing Fijian military personnel entering the country.

Second row: Luke Charteris v Apisalome Ratuniyarawa

Charteris towers over most of his opponents and the same applies here, but it's easy to forget he weighs in at over 20 stone, and has five stone on his Fijian counterpart.

The Fijian lock has 14 caps for his country and will be charged with disrupting the Welsh lineout on Saturday.


Blindside flanker: Dan Lydiate v Dominiko Waqaniburotu

The former Racing Metro flanker is desperately looking for game time after having barely played during his spell in France.

Waqaniburotu has 16 caps for his country and is currently playing for Brive in France after spending a season in New Zealand with Waikato.

Openside flanker: Justin Tipuric v Sakiusa Matadigo

The Ospreys flanker gets a rare start in a Welsh jersey given that captain Sam Warburton has been rested. When he came on against Australia he showed some good touches in what little time he had and an open game would suit him well.

The 32-year-old Fijian flanker is bigger than his Welsh opponent but gives away a yard or two of pace to Tipuric.

No.8: Taulupe Faletau v Akapusi Qera

Taulupe Faletau gets another run at the back of the scrum. Dan Baker's regional form would have given Warren Gatland something to think about, but the Osprey suffered a neck injury prior to the beginning of the autumn series.

After spending five years at Gloucester, Qera moved to France and now represents Montpellier. He has 39 caps for his country and is an intelligent operator, which makes for a fascinating encounter at No.8.

Nadolo is more than just a big bloke. He's big, rapid, can step, and scores tries at almost 1 a game in both Super XV and internationals. He's also handy from the kicking tee. Although the Crusaders play him on the wing he's certainly got the skills for 12, and it's apparently his preferred position.

Last week Fiji's defence out wide was poor, a lot of missed tackles by the wingers. Admittedly two different wingers this week. Of course it's tempting to play tight and narrow against Fiji, but I think Wales should try to get it into the hands of North and Cuthbert who will run riot if the one-on-one tackling is weak. Fight fire with fire, I suppose I'm saying!

maestegmafia wrote:Second row: Luke Charteris v Apisalome Ratuniyarawa

Charteris towers over most of his opponents and the same applies here, but it's easy to forget he weighs in at over 20 stone, and has five stone on his Fijian counterpart.

Apisalome Ratuniyarawa is only 14/15 stone? I thought Charteris was only about 19 stone and the WRU have him at 19 st 9

14/15 Stone surely thats wrong for a modern day 2nd rower isnt it.  If its not then lets hope we really target their scrum as he will suffer there surely.

I also don't think that preview gave enough credit to Nakarawa.

Big Naka is absolutely pivotal for Glasgow and is one of he best athletes I've ever seen. At least once in this game you will see him in  heavy traffic, holding the ball in one hand above his head like an orange, looking for the offload.

The feller is a freak. In a good way.

bedfordwelsh wrote:14/15 Stone surely thats wrong for a modern day 2nd rower isnt it.  If its not then lets hope we really target their scrum as he will suffer there surely.

It's only fair that there is one player on the Fijian team that isn't bigger than his welsh counterpart.

A nice article about the Fijian coach the new methods and the difficulties of putting a team together.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/nov/13/fiji-wales-rugby-world-cup