Fiji set to rub salt in Australia wounds at Rugby World Cup

Care reflects on England’s Rugby World Cup win over Chile

Fiji have been fantastic at this Rugby World Cup and I’m certain they will confirm a deserved place in the quarterfinals today. A bonus-point win over Georgia would wrap up qualification with a game to spare for them and there is no doubt whatsoever they have the firepower to secure that.

If you were to build the perfect rugby player for a computer simulation complete with skill, speed and strength you would basically come up with a Fijian. Their priority though has always been sevens, the format in which they are the Olympic champions.

Their 15s side at this World Cup still has that sevens flair and X-factor but under Simon Raiwalui they have added a structure too that has made them a huge handful. If they go through to what would be their quarterfinal since 2007 at Australia’s expense – and they will – the Wallabies can have no complaints. Fiji are the superior side.

With the Fijian Drua playing Super Rugby their best players are getting regular exposure to top professional rugby players and this tournament can be a real launchpad for them as a 15s force. I really can see them as potential World Cup winners in the next couple of tournaments. Maybe not this one though.

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I couldn’t help thinking watching the Ireland vs South Africa match last weekend that I might be looking at a preview of the final. France might have something to say about that but the quality and intensity of that match was on another level than anything we have seen so far.

It’s great to see England and Wales through to the knockout stages already. This is their weekend off which I know is something which will take a bit of getting used to for supporters. For the players though it is a good thing.

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When I played for England, I was sceptical when fallow weeks were introduced into the Six Nations. I liked to keep playing so I didn’t lose any sharpness. But once I had experienced the benefits a week off brought in terms of allowing the body to clear little knocks and niggles I became a convert.

I know it interrupts the flow of a World Cup but it will benefit the teams ahead of their final group matches next weekend and what lies beyond.

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