Rugby World Cup: 5 things Wallabies must do to beat Fiji

The Wallabies will be aiming to get off to a quick start when they face Fiji in their World Cup opener. But there are five key areas they must get right.

Halfback Nic White’s darting runs will be important for the Wallabies. Picture: AFP

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DEFENCE

With Semi Radradra almost unstoppable when he gets into open space, the Wallabies can’t afford a repeat of the defensive lapses they made both against New Zealand in the second Bledisloe Cup clash and the final warm-up against Samoa. Australia have adopted a new defensive system where they move up slower but try to stay more connected, which they will need to do well against Fiji. The Pacific Islanders are the best offloaders in the game so the Wallabies will need to shut down the inside channel.

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Halfback Nic White’s darting runs will be important for the Wallabies. Picture: AFP

KICKING

The Wallabies probably won’t kick too much against Fiji because they just won’t want to give their back three a free invitation to counter-attack so when they do kick they have to kick smarter, especially whey go cross-field now they don’t have the luxury of Israel Folau’s aerial skills. And goalkicking, which has always played such a critical part in World Cups, needs to be spot on. Christian Lealiifano was off target in Auckland so needs to find his radar quickly ahead of the crunch game against Wales.

ATTACK

While Australia’s new look backline has shown real signs that it can be lethal when things click, it’s still very much a work in progress as the players start to finetune their combinations. Inside centre Samu Kerevi is the key because his bullocking crash runs lay the platform for the second phase attacks. Nic White’s sniping runs will be decisive when the Fijian forwards begin to tire in the second half but it’s the outside backs who need to make their mark on the game. Kurtley Beale has been hot and cold this year but when he plays well the rest of the team does while Marika Koroibete is looming as the X-Factor on the wing.

The Wallabies will be relying on a strong kicking game from Christian Lealiifano. Picture: Getty Images

LINEOUTS

This is the biggest unknown for the Wallabies. The lineout has improved out of sight this season but with the taller Lukhan Salakaia-Loto relegated to the bench to make way for breakdown king David Pocock, the Australians now have one less option. Better known for their attacking flair, Fiji have been working really hard since the last World Cup on improving their set pieces and it’s starting to pay off. And they have a player who could create as much havoc in the lineouts as Radradra does out with towering lock Leone Nakarawa, last season’s European Player of the Year, a real handful.

Fiji's Leone Nakarawa was last season’s European Player of the Year.

DISCIPLINE

The pressure of playing at the World Cup puts every player under extreme stress, especially when things don’t according to plan so everyone needs to keep their cool. No-one will be under the microscope more than the Australian hooker Tolu Latu, who has a long history of blowing a fuse when things get tight. But, he’s been on his best behaviour since getting a recall to the Test side and vowed to keep his fists to himself if teams try to bait him — and you can bank on it that they will.

Originally published as Rugby World Cup: 5 things Wallabies must do to beat Fiji