Australia chomping at the bit to get World Cup rolling

Australia kick off their World Cup campaign against Fiji on Wednesday with coach Michael Cheika admitting there was "no comfortable feeling" in the pool of death.

Pool A also includes hosts England, who beat Fiji 35-11 in the tournament opener on Friday, and Wales, who laboured to an ultimately convincing 54-9 win over Uruguay on Sunday.

"The teams in our pool will be having a totally different lead in," said Cheika.

"There is no feeling comfortable in our group. Perhaps that's how it should be. It's the World Cup and it will be tough every game and we will have to earn everything we get."

Cheika named Toulon playmaker Matt Giteau at inside centre and, for only the second time, stand-out openside flankers Michael Hooper and David Pocock in the backrow.
The strong team Cheika named is an indication that the former No 8 is taking nothing for granted, especially after Japan's shock victory over South Africa.

"You've always got to have that readiness in rugby because it's a contact sport. It's a game where the humble usually succeed," Cheika said.

"In any one contest, you might go good in one scrum and then you might get pushed off in the next one.

"You've just got to be on all the time. I think that all the teams who are coming here now more often - from what I've seen over the progression of the tournament - are believing that they can win, as opposed to coming here just to participate."
The Wallabies won the Rugby Championship last season, Cheika saying: "We were able to get a bit of consistency. We'll look now to push that to another level."

Fiji coach John McKee made four changes to his "jitter-free" team.

All four changes come in the forwards with hooker Sunia Koto, lock Apisalome Ratuniyawara and No 8 Sakiusa Matadigo replaced by Tuapati Talemaitoga, Tevita Cavubati and Netani Talei respectively.

Blindside flanker Dominiko Waqaniburotu's place was taken by Clermont's Peceli Yato after the former was found guilty of a tip tackle against England and suspended for one week.

"We are pretty excited for the game on Wednesday and excited to try and step up from how we did against England," said Cavubati.
"Australia like to run the ball and we are expecting them to do that. We expect it to be a faster game than the England game, although if the ball comes our way I'm sure they will be trying to slow things down."

Fiji pushed England for long periods but paid the price for a series of missed kicks at goal.

"We felt really good in the game and we felt we were in control for some parts of the game," Cavubati said.

"However, the fact we didn't win it is down to us. We are to blame for that.

"But now it's important we pick up a win. We need to enjoy it as well, because that is when we express ourselves most. We don't want to go into our shells now. We also know that one upset will change the pool altogether."

Source: AFP