It really is the Group of Death
Aside from Ireland’s attempts to top Pool D and avoid a quarter-final against New Zealand, the highlight of the early stages of the World Cup will undoubtedly be the scrap for qualification from Pool A.
Hosts England were drawn with Australia and Wales, with at least one of the top six sides in the world destined for an early exit, but Wallaby legend George Smith reckons anyone overlooking Fiji will be in for a rude awakening when the tournament begins on September 18th.
Indeed, the opening match sees England take on the Pacific Islanders, who memorably knocked out Wales en route to the 2007 quarter-finals, and Smith reckons Fiji can repeat the trick and join Australia in the quarter-finals.
“It’s going to be extremely competitive in, as they say, the pool of death. The English and Welsh, from what I’m led to believe, have been training extremely well while Australia have won the Rugby Championship,” Smith, who won 111 caps for the Wallabies, told WalesOnline.
“But I think Fiji are going to go through with Australia. I played against a number of their players in the French Top 14 last season while I was with Lyon and they are very good.”
Fiji are coming into the competition in fine form, having beaten Samoa in the final of the Pacific Nations Cup, and Smith is backing them to once again raise their game when it counts.
“Apart from in 2011, Fiji seem to perform well in World Cup tournaments. They put the Welsh out in 2007 and nearly beat the eventual champions South Africa in the quarter-finals,” he said. “Anybody who underestimates Fiji will be in trouble.”
