Fiji will look to make it three wins from three when they close out their final pool match of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup against Italy in Canberra this Friday.
Less than five days after their emphatic win over Wales in Townsville, Mick Potter’s side will head to the nation’s capital well clear on top in Pool D and all but confirmed in the quarterfinals of the competition. Nearly 100 points clear of Italy on for-and-against, Fiji would need to lose Friday’s game by 45 points or more to not make the quarterfinals — an unlikely feat given the remarkably strong start made to the tournament by Fiji so far.
Top scorers in the competition, Fiji are playing a free-flowing attacking style that, perhaps most scarily, hasn’t even truly tapped in to some of the superstar talents within their squad. Jarryd Hayne has been strong without doing too much, while Akuila Uate and Marcelo Montoya have been overshadowed on the left edge by the Bati’s right wing.
With plenty more weapons still to fire, Fiji look determined to make the most of their strong start to the tournament and will be keen to continue their good form against an Italian side that has struggled to find their best footy with several personnel changes.
The inclusion of Terry Campese in the halves is a boost for Cameron Ciraldo’s men after losing young playmaker Jack Johns early in the tournament, but it may be too little too late; Fiji look in a different class and will be strong favourites to win again this weekend.
Pool D: Fiji vs. Italy
MATCH DETAILS
Date — Friday, November 10, 2017
Time — 7:40pm AEDT
Venue — GIO Stadium, Canberra
LIVE STREAM AND TV INFORMATION
Live Stream — Channel 7’s https://7live.com.au/ (Australia only)
TV — Click here for a full country-by-country list of TV broadcasts.
TEAM NEWS
Fiji |
|
Italy |
Kevin Naiqama (c) |
1 |
James Tedesco |
Suliasi Vunivalu |
2 |
Mason Cerruto |
Taane Milne |
3 |
Justin Castellaro |
Akuila Uate |
4 |
Nathan Milone |
Marcelo Montoya |
5 |
Josh Mantellato |
Jarryd Hayne |
6 |
Terry Campese |
Henry Raiwalui |
7 |
Ryan Ghietti |
Ashton Sims |
8 |
Paul Vaughan |
Apisai Koroisau |
9 |
Joseph Tramontana |
Eloni Vunakece |
10 |
Daniel Alvaro |
Viliame Kikau |
11 |
Jayden Walker |
Brayden Wiliame |
12 |
Mark Minichiello (c) |
Tui Kamikamica |
13 |
Nathan Brown |
Joe Lovodua |
14 |
Brendan Santi |
Jacob Saifiti |
15 |
Shannon Wakeman |
Junior Roqica |
16 |
Joel Riethmuller |
Benjamin Nakubuwai |
17 |
Christophe Calegari |
Reserves (FIJ) — James Storer, Salesi Faingaa, Sitiveni Moceidreke, Pio Sokobalavu
Reserves (ITA) — Gavin Hiscox, Richard Lepori, Colin Wilkie, Mirco Bergamasco
RLWC STANDINGS — POOL D
|
Played |
Won |
Lost |
F/A |
Points |
Fiji |
2 |
2 |
0 |
+112 |
4 |
Italy |
2 |
1 |
1 |
+22 |
2 |
USA |
2 |
0 |
2 |
-92 |
0 |
HISTORY
Both nations head into this clash looking for a win, having never played the opposing side before, with Italy and Fiji yet to square off in the representative arena.
PLAYER TO FOLLOW — Apisai Koroisau, Fiji
Coming off his best NRL season to date for the Manly Sea Eagles, Koroisau has become a gun in the middle of the field, finishing the 2017 NRL season with 952 tackles, the fourth-highest in the competition. Look for the talented young hooker to control the middle of the field and build on his 21 tackles from last week, with Italy likely to demand more ball possession than Wales did. Electric out of dummy half, Koroisau could provide the extra spark required for Fiji in what should be their toughest World Cup game so far.
PREDICTION
Italy will have some much-needed confidence in their squad after a shut-out win over the United States, but there doesn’t look to be many teams that can stand in the way of this Fiji outfit right now. With so many weapons across the back-line, as long as Fiji’s pack handles the likes of Nathan Brown and Paul Vaughan, this one should be a fairly straightforward victory for the Pacific powerhouse. Fiji by 34.
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