Autumn Internationals: Wales v Fiji preview
Last Updated: 14/11/14 2:40pm
After last weekend's agonising defeat to Australia, Wales will be determined to bounce back with victory against Fiji in Cardiff on Saturday before hosting world champions New Zealand.
Wales have had mixed results in 2014. Before that 33-28 loss to the Wallabies they also lost back-to-back Tests to the Springboks in South Africa and finished third in the Six Nations with three victories and two losses.
Coach Warren Gatland has made eight changes to his starting line-up with veteran prop Gethin Jenkins taking over the captaincy from first-choice skipper and openside flanker Sam Warburton.
While they haven't beaten one of the southern hemisphere's powerhouses - New Zealand, South Africa and Australia since 2008 - Wales' last match against Fiji was a one-sided affair which they won 66-0 in Hamilton during the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.
But it hasn't always been plain sailing against the Pacific islanders. Jenkins is the only surviving member of Wales' run-on side from their embarrassing 38-34 loss to Fiji in the pool phase of the 2007 World Cup that saw them crash out of the global showpiece in France.
Hardened resolve
Fiji also held Wales to a 16-16 draw on their last visit to Cardiff in 2010 and Jenkins' memories of those encounters have only hardened his resolve ahead of Saturday's clash at the Millennium Stadium.
"I remember drawing with them a few years ago and I remember the 2007 game in France," said the 108-Test veteran.
"They are always going to bring an expansive game and try and take us on out wide. We know what to expect, but we have to concentrate on our game and keep doing the things we did well on Saturday (against Australia)."
With Tests against New Zealand and South Africa coming up after this clash, players like Jenkins, Mike Phillips and Rhys Priestland - who were all amongst the replacements against Australia - know impressive performances against Fiji could help in their bids to return to the starting side for the battles against the world's two leading teams.
Despite suffering a 40-15 defeat in their opening tour match against France, Fiji will be boosted by the return of Vereniki Goneva and Nemani Nadolo who will link up in midfield.
Fiji's Achilles heel has always been their tight five but coach John McKee has worked hard at improving the team's set-piece and last week, ahead of their clash with France, they held some joint training sessions with the Georgia team, who were based nearby. That work with the powerful Georgian forwards seem to impress as they caused France a few problems in the scrum.
A player who will be keen to impress is fly-half Josh Matavesi, who plays his club rugby at centre for the Ospreys. He is relishing the prospect of lining up against club colleagues Scott Baldwin and Justin Tipuric, who are in Wales' starting line-up, and Nicky Smith, Alun Wyn Jones and James King who are on the bench.
Matavesi said Fiji could only envy the amount of time the Welsh had together ahead of next year's World Cup in England.
"It's alright for the Welsh boys because they have the rest of the autumn and the Six Nations to prepare," he told the Western Mail.
"We just have November and June, so we have limited preparation. People don't understand how much of a struggle it is to get a side together.
"Wales don't get the visa issues or people coming in on a Wednesday before the Test."
Key battles
Rhys Priestland v Josh Matavesi
Priestland, who was booed by a small section of home supporters when he replaced an injured Dan Biggar against Australia, will wear Wales' number 10 shirt for the first time since March. He will line up opposite Cornwall-born Ospreys back Matavesi, who takes over from Jonetani Ralulu at fly-half. Like his opponent, Matavesi will be wanting to make the right impression before the teams face off again as pool stage rivals at the World Cup next year.
Jamie Roberts v Nemani Nadolo
Roberts will have to try to contend with Crusaders battering ram Nadolo in a heavyweight battle of two midfield giants. The Fiji centre, who weighs more than 19 stone, has scored 12 tries in 14 appearances for the Fijians and for the Crusaders has touched the ball down 59 times in 69 games. Roberts was outstanding last Saturday containing the Wallabies' attack, and his contest with Nadolo could be worth the Millennium Stadium entry fee alone.
Scott Williams v Vereniki Goneva
Williams returns to the Welsh starting line-up after recovering from hamstring problems, and he will be preparing for some big hits from Leicester's strong-running Goneva. The Scarlets man was part of the Wales side which crushed Fiji 66-0 at the 2011 World Cup, and he was Welsh rugby's form centre heading into the autumn Tests before injury struck. Expect big things from the Williams-Roberts midfield partnership.
Key Facts
* The countries have met nine times - Wales lead the series 7-1, with one draw.
* Wales' record win was a 66-0 success at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, while Fiji's solitary victory produced a 38-34 scoreline in the 2007 World Cup.
* Fiji held Wales to a 16-16 draw the last time they visited the Millennium Stadium four years ago.
Wales: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Scott Williams, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Mike Phillips. 1 Gethin Jenkins (c), 2 Scott Baldwin, 3 Samson Lee, 4 Bradley Davies, 5 Luke Charteris, 6 Dan Lydiate, 7 Justin Tipuric, 8 Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: 16 Emyr Phillips, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 Alun Wyn Jones, 20 James King, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 James Hook, 23 Cory Allen.
Fiji: 15 Metuisela Talebula, 14 Waisea Nayacalevu, 13 Vereniki Goneva, 12 Nemani Nadolo, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Josh Matavesi, 9 Nikola Matawalu. 1 Campese Ma'afu, 2 Sunia Koto, 3 Manasa Saulo, 4 Leone Nakarawa, 5 Api Ratuniyarawa, 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu, 7 Akapusi Qera (c), 8 Masi Matadigo.
Replacements: 16 Tuapati Talemaitoga, 17 Jerry Yanuyanutwa, 18 Isei Colati, 19 Tevita Cavubati, 20 Malakai Ravulo, 21 Henry Seniloli, 22 Jonetani Ralulu, 23 Timoci Nagusa.
Referee: Pascal Gauzere (Fra).