Preview: Wales vs Fiji

After suffering defeat at the hands of the Wallabies last weekend, Wales will look to get back to winning ways when they take on Fiji this Saturday. Wales put it up to the Wallabies but in the end lost out thanks to the boot of Bernard Foley.As for Fiji they suffered a heavy defeat against France and will be looking for a strong performance from their players as they look to cause an upset at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

These sides have met three times in the last seven years With two games being played at the 2007 and 2011 World Cups. Few Fiji fans will forget the epic game in 2007 in France with the Fijians winning 38-34 knocking Wales out of the tournament at the Pool stages in what was one of the biggest upsets in Rugby World Cup history. The sides met again in the pool stages in 2011 in New Zealand,  where it was a much different game with Wales hammering Fiji 66-0 with the Welsh making it all to the way to the semi’s. The last time these sides met at the Millenium Stadium was in 2010 with the game finishing in a draw with Bai drawing the sides level with a last minute penalty.

In team news Wales make eight changes to their side who narrowly lost out to the Wallabies last weekend.  in the forwards their are 5 changes with Baldwin and Jenkins coming into the front row and are joined by Bradley Davies and Luke Charteris at second row with Tupiric coming into the side instead of captain Warburton who is rested. In the backs their is a new half back partnership with Phillips and Priestland started at 9 and 10. The 8th and final changes see’s Scott Williams start at 13 with North returning to his usual position on the left wing with Liam Williams Starting at full back.

As for Fiji they make four changes to their side with the changes all coming in the backline. Leicester Tigers man Goneva returns to the side and will play in the centre with Nadolo with the Crusaders playmaker only coming on as a sub against the French. The other two changes see Nayacalevu start on the wing instead of Votu while Matavesi starts. at out-half where he will line up against some of his club team mates with the Fijian playing his club Rugby for the Ospreys.

Wales will go into this game as firm favourites and should beat this Fijian side which like Australia they will also play each other again at the Rugby World Cup next year.  For Fiji they go into this game without anyone giving them a chance of winning and that could inspire them to shock the world again like they did in 2007.