Match Previews
/ Geoffrey Riddle / 01 October 2011 / Leave a Comment
Adam Jones lines up in Wales formidable front row
"Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones will turn the screw up front, while Sam Warburton, Ryan Jones and Toby Faletau will slow ball down to limit the damage from Fiji's backs."
The Fijians have nothing to play for and the Welsh are finding form. So can the Dragon cover a handicap? Geoffrey Riddle provides the answer.
Wales v Fiji, Sunday 06:00 (ITV1)
Wales
Warren Gatland's men have been winners on the main match handicap in five of their last six matches.
Wales have scored only eight first-half tries in 2011. In contrast they have scored 19 tries in the second half.
Fiji
Fiji have nothing left to play for.
Tonga's defeat to Canada saw Fiji move up one place in the IRB world rankings from their lowest position ever. Fiji now sit in 16th spot in the world rankings. They were ranked tenth when they drew with Wales in Cardiff in November and ranked 11th when they knocked the Welsh out of the last tournament in the Stade La Beaujoire. The main handicap line that day was between 18 and 22 points in Fiji's favour.
Fiji spent 8.27mins in Samoa's 22 when the two sides met in Auckland yet only managed to score one try, in the 66th minute. Samu Domoni's men spent three of the last ten minutes of that encounter camped in Samoa's 22, and enjoyed 82 per cent of the territory but could not break the defensive line.
Tonga, Samoa, South Africa and New Zealand have all beaten Fiji by more than 16 points in 2011.
Fiji lost three scrums against Samoa.
Fiji have been handicap losers in all three of their matches in New Zealand.
Verenicki Goneva has scored four of Fiji's seven tries.
Half of the tries that Fiji have conceded during the tournament have been scored by forwards.
Match stats
Warren Gatland has named a powerful Welsh pack with Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones propping up Huw Bennett. It is a strong side, and will be lead by Sam Warburton. Former skipper Ryan Jones plays, while the backline will be marshalled by Rhys Priestland at fly-half.
Fiji look to have thrown in the towel. Coach Samu Domoni has made ten changes to the side that faced Samoa in the Pacific islands face off. Captain Deacon Manu is out, although Domoni has named 17 players in his 22 that play for foreign teams. Verenicki Goneva is on the bench.
Preview
Wales will have seen how both South Africa and Samoa disposed of Fiji and have named a team accordingly. Gethin Jenkins and Adam Jones will turn the screw up front, while Sam Warburton, Ryan Jones and Toby Faletau will slow ball down to limit the damage from Fiji's backs.
Samu Domoni fields a much-weakened team to that which failed to cope with the discipline of Samoa in Auckland and Wales could really run riot here.
Recommended Bet (1-5pt staking plan)
3pts Wales -15.5 on the match handicap
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