Rugby-Wales braced for another bruising
game against Fiji
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[September 30, 2015]
By Ed Osmond
CARDIFF, Sept 30 (Reuters) - Wales are
prepared for another huge physical confrontation when they meet Fiji in
their third Rugby World Cup Pool A match, forwards coach Robin McBryde
said on Wednesday.
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The Welsh are in buoyant mood following their 28-25 win over England
but know their depleted and battered team must front up again in
Cardiff on Thursday against a Fiji side with nothing to lose.
"They are a very physical team," McBryde told a news conference.
"They have big runners with gas and physicality.
"We know it's going to be a very physical battle and they won't hold
anything back against us. It's their last chance of getting a big
scalp."
Wales fought back to beat England by playing smart rugby in the
closing stages of the match.
"The most positive thing for me as a coach was our problem-solving
on the pitch," McBryde said.
"The replacements really did their job, brought a lot of accuracy.
We finished strongly and turned things round in the scrum."
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Preparations have been limited due to the turnaround and Wales coach
Warren Gatland hinted that players who did not show enough intensity
would be dropped for a game in which victory would put them within
touching distance of the last eight.
"There's a bit of a balance with regards to how much work we can do
between the games," McBryde said.
"But the intensity in training was there yesterday. Warren's words
gave the players all the motivation they needed and we have the
right mind-set."
The Welsh squad received a visit from former world boxing champion
Joe Calzaghe at their training base on Tuesday evening.
"It was good for the boys to talk to Joe," McBryde said.
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"He has stayed loyal to his roots. He thrived on being the underdog.
It was great to have a bit of respite from rugby and talk to one of
the greatest boxers in the world."
Fiji beat Wales at the 2007 World Cup, their only win over the Welsh
in 10 meetings, but McBryde said the mentality in the side now was
completely different.
"It is the resolve we have, the consistency in the squad and the
resilience that is in the team," he said.
"The players have been there before."
The diminutive Matthew Morgan will start at fullback against Fiji
following injuries to Leigh Halfpenny and Liam Williams and McBryde
expects him to excite the home fans.
"Matthew's strengths are evident for all to see," he said.
"He's like a Welsh player of old, swinging the hips and producing
that little bit of magic. I think the crowd will enjoy seeing that."
(Editing by Sudipto Ganguly)
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