Rugby World Cup 2015: Pool A profile – free-spirited Fiji

The Pacific Islanders can dazzle, but they are unlucky to be in the 'group of death' with England, Wales and Australia

Fiji Rugby - Niki Goneva
(Image credit: Stu Forster/ Getty)

A rugby-mad nation, Fiji are loved by all for the sublime handling skills that characterise their game. While the Samoans are renowned for tackling like rhinos, Fijian play revolves around free-spirited attack. Be prepared to see a second-row forward streaking down the wing before throwing an implausible one-handed offload to a supporting player for a glorious try out of nothing.

In 2007, Fiji delivered one of the best performances in the history of the Rugby World Cup, defeating Wales 38-34. They built a lead, saw it vanish after a Welsh fightback, then kicked on again. Twenty years earlier, the squad only just made the inaugural World Cup after two political coups. Can they make the knockout stages again? It's highly unlikely given their Pool A opponents, but they should not be underestimated.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up