Wales v Fiji Prediction, Preview & Odds – Rugby World Cup

We have a Wales v Fiji prediction along with all the betting odds for you as we preview this opening round game of Pool C.

Wales v Fiji Match Info

When? 8.00 pm, Sunday, September 10^th

Where? Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux.

TV Channel? ITV 1/ Virgin Media One.

Wales v Fiji Preview

Wales’ Form

World Number 10 ranked Wales are making their tenth World Cup appearance this September. Their best finish came back in 1987 when they finished 3rd.

Ironically in 2019, they won their Pool D, which also included Australia, Fiji and Georgia, with Uruguay being the other side.

Wales won their Quarter-Final 20-19 against France in that 2019 World Cup before a narrow 16-19 defeat in the Semi-Final against eventual winners South Africa sent them to the third-place playoff. They would lose that game 40-17 to New Zealand.

Head Coach Warren Gatland is amidst his second spell in charge of the nation, the first being 2007-2019. Gatland returned to the role again in December 2022 after Wayne Pivac, who had replaced Gatland, was sacked by the Welsh Rugby Union after a poor run of results. Gatland has a contract until after the World Cup with the potential of another four years based on World Cup performance.

Wales had a poor 2023 Six Nations, winning one game against Italy and losing their other four. They started their World Cup warm-up campaign with a 20-9 victory against England but lost the return game 19-17 before being completely dismantled 16-52 against South Africa.

Our in-depth preview of Wales’ 2023 Rugby World Cup odds and chances can be found here.

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Fiji’s Form

World Number 7 ranked Fiji are making their ninth Rugby World Cup appearance this September. Their best-ever finish was a Quarter-Final appearance in 1987 and 2007.

Simon Raiwalui has been Fiji’s Head coach since replacing Vern Cotter who stepped down in January of this year. Raiwalui was previously Fiji’s high-performance director.

The Fijians are coming into this tournament in excellent form with four wins in their last five matches. They opened their 2023 campaign by winning the Pacific Nations Cup beating Tonga 36-20, Samoa 19-33 and Japan 12-35.

During Fiji’s Rugby World Cup warm-up fixtures, they lost 34-17 to France and caused quite the stir by beating England 22-30.

Wales v Fiji Starting Lineups

Wales Starting Lineup

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 𝐗𝐕 𝐂𝐘𝐌𝐑𝐔 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

👊 Your Welsh team to face Fiji

💪 Pleidiol Wyf i’m Gwlad!#WelshRugby | #ViveLeCymru

— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (@WelshRugbyUnion) September 7, 2023

Fiji Starting Lineup

Injured fly half Caleb Muntz is the only change to Fiji's starting XV that beat England, can they cause another upset without him?#rugby #WALvFIJ #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/7RubSkRifI

— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 8, 2023

Key Players To Watch

Liam Williams

He may be 32 years old now but Liam Williams is still a serious threat and following his 95 points from 85 caps he only needs one more try to become a Welsh centurion. Capable in attack and defence he will be a big player for Wales in this game and throughout the tournament.

Describe this try assist by Liam Williams in 1️⃣ word… GO! 👇#URC | @Scarlets_Rugby pic.twitter.com/CitrSfKMON

— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) April 19, 2022

Waisea Nayacalevu

The Toulon man is the country’s highest active try-scorer with fifteen tries. He currently has the seventh most tries for his nation with the most recent coming in his victory against England. Two tries in this competition and he would go to joint-fourth.

Waisea Nayacalevu would not be denied this time! 🔥#ENGvFIJ pic.twitter.com/xFYQlsHb6d

— Planet Rugby (@PlanetRugby) August 26, 2023

Wales v Fiji Head-To-Head Results

Wales and Fiji have faced off 13 times in test match rugby. Wales have won 11 of those encounters, Fiji have one victory (which came in the 2007 Rugby World Cup in France) while there has also been one draw.

This Fiji side will be high in confidence following their recent victory over England and knowing that they have already beaten Wales in a Rugby World Cup on French soil this century.

Here are the last five results between these two countries:

Wales 38-23 Fiji | November 14th, 2021 | Millennium Stadium, Wales

Wales 29-17 Fiji | October 9th, 2019 | Oita Stadium, Japan

Wales 23-13 Fiji | October 1st, 2015 | Millennium Stadium, Wales

Wales 17-13 Fiji | November 15th, 2014 | Millennium Stadium, Wales

Wales 66-0 Fiji | October 2nd, 2011 | Waikato Stadium, New Zealand

Wales v Fiji Betting Odds

Wales are currently priced as 1/2 favourites ahead of this game. Fiji are the underdogs at 13/8 while the draw is 28/1.

Handicap Betting

The match handicap is Wales -5 at 10/11. Fiji +5 can be backed at 10/11 also while the handicap draw (Wales to win by exactly 5 points) is 18/1.

Wales v Fiji Prediction & Best Bet

Prediction: Wales 15-24 Fiji

Fiji are in flying form while Wales have been subpar at best in recent times despite their victory over England this summer.

I think this will be a tight game and the Welsh experience could drive them over the line but I’m going to go with Fiji to pull off the upset here.

Best Bet: Winning Margin Fiji 1-12 points @ 5/2

If you enjoyed this post then you will probably also enjoy our South Africa v Scotland preview in the other big game this Sunday at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Click Below For All Our Wales v Fiji Odds

*Prices subject to fluctuation

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