Australia ready for Fijian 'freaks'

Australia are sure not to under-estimate Fiji, their first Pool A opponents at the World Cup, according to assistant Wallaby coach Nathan Grey.

The Pacific Islanders firstly play hosts England in the tournament opener at Twickenham on Friday, before a sharp turn around to face Australia at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on Wednesday.

Grey, part of the Australian squad that won the 1999 World Cup, admitted it was an advantage to be able to watch Friday's match and gauge the level of Fiji, who flopped in the 2011 tournament after reaching the quarter-finals in 2007.

"We get to have a good look at them," the 35-time capped centre acknowledged.

"They've also had a couple of warm-up games as well with the Pacific Nations Cup, there's a lot of footage for us to have a look at and in terms of any surprises, we'll see what happens on Friday night, which will be a great opener for the tournament.

"It's a positive to watch them play before us."

Grey added that the Wallaby analysts would be busy after Friday's match.

"There's no doubt their game will be watched and cut up so we have the benefit of watching all that," he said.

But Grey warned that Fiji would be a handful for any side, adding that it made for a tough Pool A also including Wales and with only two teams automatically qualifying for the quarter-finals.

"Fiji's history at the World Cup speaks for itself," he said.

"They've obviously got a lot of skill across their whole side.

"Some guys who you think haven't got a lot of skill, when they do put on that white jersey they become freaks!

"And they've got a lot of experience in their team around guys playing in Europe, having that experience of Super Rugby-level at European rugby over here.

"They've got a real strength of experience in their team and then a few guys who can come in and light things up."

Grey said that not too much would be given away as regards gameplans, with most teams already playing set patterns available for all to see, and with most of their star players also being fielded.

"There's obviously going to be tweaks in terms of gameplans, but overall all sides in their preparation leading into this World Cup are going to have 90 percent of their game set in stone and then it'll just be a matter of tinkering here and there," he said.

"And I don't think we're going to be any different."

Toulon playmaker Matt Giteau, back in the Wallaby mix after Australian rugby chiefs relaxed eligibility rules on overseas-based players, said having Grey and fellow World Cup winner Stephen Larkham on board as assistants under head coach Michael Cheika was a real bonus.

"They add a lot and they know what it's like to win a World Cup," Giteau said.

"We are chasing that. The biggest thing for us is consistency. To be good at training and consistently playing well.

"To have those guys around with their knowledge and expertise, even the smallest details that they train and give us, adds a lot."
Source: AFP