The Fijians are expected to give Australia a tough time in their World Cup group game. Source: Getty Images
WHEN the Fijians finished their final training session yesterday ahead of their clash against Australia at Langtree Park, they came together in a circle and sang as one.
All up there were about 30 men, most of them giants, standing in a huddle in the rain at St Helens as this wonderful sound echoed throughout the stadium.
And it gave a brief glimpse at the type of emotion Australia will be up against when they run out for their second clash at the World Cup early tomorrow morning Australian time.
The bookmakers might not give Fiji a chance but, importantly, the Fijian players do.
And this is what Tim Sheens was getting at when he explained why this was a danger game for Australia.
We have already seen a stack of upsets at this tournament in the opening week; Australia don't want to be the next to fall victim to complacency.
Asked if this was a danger game for the Kangaroos, Sheens said: "All of them are. You can't afford to let down your guard down and get beat".
"Realistically, from our point of view, we have just got to be aggressive. Come out aggressive, kick and chase and play what we know is our game.
"We'll get our opportunities near their line but we don't want to rush that opportunity either."
And Sheens knows the power and size of their opponents is going to make for a spectacular contest.
"There will be the odd tackle that rocks the stadium, I think," he smiled.
"But that is what this sort of football is about. It has been shown with Samoa and New Zealand, a couple of the games have really been high impact. Fiji-Ireland the other night, I think Brett White said to a couple of our guys he's never been so sore."
Sheens has made plenty of changes to the team that beat England first up and there will be plenty of interest to see how Greg Inglis goes at fullback and Daly Cherry-Evans at half-back.
It will be Cherry-Evans' first starting appearance in the number seven jumper for Australia, while Inglis has been shifted to "spark" him into the tournament, as Sheens put it during the week.
But asked if it would put any pressure on Billy Slater if Inglis was to come out and have a blinder,, Sheens was adamant: "That is not what we are looking at. We want him to have a starring role but I think you will find Billy Slater will be fullback next week".
Still, it would be good to see the game's most damaging runner back to his rampaging best, running the ball like there wasn't a man on the planet who could stop him.
And there will also plenty of anticipation to see how the rookies, Boyd Cordner and Josh Papalii, handle their debuts.
Cordner will come off the bench and, given his impact at the Roosters this year, it wouldn't be at all surprising if the youngster goes close to pushing his way into the top 17 by the end of the tournament, while the wrecking machine that is Papalii will be lining up opposite young North Queensland firebrand Tariq Sims.
Now won't that be a match-up worth getting up early to see?
02 Nov, 2013
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Source: http://www.news.com.au/sport/nrl/kangaroos-prepare-for-danger-game-against-fiji-at-rugby-league-world-cup/story-fndujljl-1226751714829?from=public_rss
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