WAYNE Pivac will be hoping that Wales\u2019 experience against Australia and Fiji pays off after avoiding the \u2018Pool of Death\u2019 in yesterday\u2019s World Cup draw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This will be the third tournament in a row in which Wales face Australia and Fiji in the pool stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
History will be made with Wales v Australia set to become the most played fixture in World Cup history. The two teams have faced each other seven times previously, with the Wallabies taking five victories to Wales\u2019 two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“There is a lot of experience in terms of players who played against Australia and Fiji in 2019.<\/p>
\u201cThere is a lot of work to be done, but building depth is really important for us looking ahead to 2023 and hopefully we\u2019ll be playing our best rugby at that stage,\u201d<\/p>Wayne Pivac, Wales’ head coach<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
This will also be the fifth consecutive tournament in which Wales have faced Fiji in the pool stages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Wales have benefitted after seedings for the tournament were based on rankings from January this year, as several teams such as Japan have not played any matches due to the Coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a result, Wales were placed in the top four seeds for the tournament alongside South Africa, New Zealand and England despite dropping to ninth in the world rankings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was due their success in 2019 which saw them top the world rankings, achieve a Grand Slam in the Six Nations and reach the World Cup semi-final in Japan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Normally, ninth in the standings would have seen them face the \u2018Pool of Death\u2019 as they did in 2015 when they faced England and Australia, so Wales will be thankful that they have had a lucky escape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite avoiding facing some of rugby\u2019s highest seeded teams, Australia and Fiji will not be an easy challenge especially after Wales\u2019 recent poor run of form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pivac noted: \u201cI certainly have an affinity to Fiji having coached there in 2007. I\u2019m really excited. It does give us a real focal point now and with Dave Rennie at Australia it\u2019s going to be a big challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n