Fiji and Wales will round off the opening weekend at the 2023 Rugby World Cup and if there is one thing the Flying Fijians will certainly do is put on a show. When they are at their best, they are effervescently dazzling – even if the results do not reflect that.
Wales has dominated the fixtures between the two sides, but Fiji can take some inspiration from a standout stat.
Their lone victory against Wales came during a crucial Rugby World Cup match in 2007. The two teams have locked horns in each of the last four Rugby World Cups, always in the pool stages. After their defeat in 2007, Wales haven’t lost. But history is there for rewriting.
Though Wales have historically had the upper hand, their recent form has been less than exemplary. Winning just two of their last 10 matches, the Welsh side has suffered 26 losses since the 2019 Rugby World Cup—their worst performance between tournaments to date. They’ve shown a particular vulnerability in set pieces, having the lowest scrum and lineout success rates among the Six Nations and Rugby Championship teams in 2023.
Contrastingly, Fiji are on a high. Fresh off an historic victory over England, they’ve clinched four wins in five matches this year, including a title at the Pacific Nations Cup. They’ll be keen to replicate this momentum when they face Wales, seizing the opportunity to shake up the narrative and add another high-profile win to their improving record.
In the world of rugby, past stats only tell half the story. Both Wales and Fiji have their own unique strengths and weaknesses, and with standout players on both sides, their next meeting promises to be an enthralling spectacle.
The teams have met 13 times before, with Wales dominating with 11 wins. One game resulted in a draw, with the bulk of those fixtures having been played in Wales.
On neutral ground, though, the results are more with two wins for Wales and one win for Fiji out of three games.
Fiji vs Wales: Head-to-head
| Games | Wales Wins | Draws | Fiji Wins | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall: | 13 | 11 | 1 | 1 |
| Wales at Home: | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Neutral Venue: | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Fiji at Home: | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Fiji vs Wales: Previous 10 meetings
| Year | Team | Score | Opposition | Venue | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Wales | 19-15 | Fiji | Cardiff | Wales |
| 2002 | Wales | 58-14 | Fiji | Principality Stadium | Wales |
| 2005 | Wales | 10-Nov | Fiji | Principality Stadium | Wales |
| 2007 | Fiji | 38-34 | Wales | Nantes | Fiji |
| 2010 | Wales | 16-16 | Fiji | Principality Stadium | Match drawn |
| 2011 | Fiji | 0-66 | Wales | Hamilton | Wales |
| 2014 | Wales | 17-13 | Fiji | Principality Stadium | Wales |
| 2015 | Wales | 23-13 | Fiji | Principality Stadium | Wales |
| 2019 | Fiji | 17-29 | Wales | Oita | Wales |
| 2021 | Wales | 38-23 | Fiji | Principality Stadium | Wales |
Fiji vs Wales: Last time out
| Wales | Stat | Fiji |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Tries | 2 |
| 4 | Conversions | 2 |
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 3 |
| 131 | Ball Carries | 96 |
| 7 | Offloads | 7 |
| 7 | Line Breaks | 6 |
| 41 | Defenders Beaten | 17 |
| 776 | Carry Metres | 596 |
| 132 | Total Tackles | 194 |
| 17 | Missed Tackle | 41 |
| 12.90% | % Missed Tackles | 21.10% |
| 5 | Turnovers Won | 7 |
| 8 | Turnovers Conceded | 10 |
| 14 | Lineouts Won | 10 |
| 1 | Lineouts Lost | 4 |
| 13 | Total Penalties Conceded | 13 |
| 23 | Kicks in Play | 25 |