Smith: Fiji to sink England and Wales
Pool A, which consists of Australia, England, Wales, Fiji and Uruguay has been labelled as the toughest draw for the 2015 edition of the global show piece.
Most people expect a three-way dog-fight between the big three (Australia, England and Wales) but Wallaby and world rugby great Smith believes Pool A will be a four-way shoot-out.
The 2001 World Rugby player of the year nominee predicted Fiji would make it through, as runners-up to newly-crowned Rugby Championship kings Australia.
"It’s going to be extremely competitive in, as they say, the pool of death," Smith told walesonline.
"The English and Welsh, from what I’m led to believe, have been training extremely well while Australia have won the Rugby Championship.
"But I think Fiji are going to go through with Australia.
"I played against a number of their players in the French Top 14 last season while I was with Lyon and they are very good," declared 111-times capped Smith.
Fiji were recently crowned the Pacific Nations Cup champions after they sunk Samoa in the final, who a few weeks earlier had given New Zealand a real test, and subsequently climbed to ninth place in the World Rugby rankings.
The lat time they met Wales, Warren Gatland's men scraped a 17-13 win in November 2014 but they did demolish the Fijians 66-0 at the last World Cup.
"Apart from in 2011, Fiji seem to perform well in World Cup tournaments. They put the Welsh out in 2007 and nearly beat the eventual champions South Africa in the quarterfinals," pointed out Smith.
"Anybody who underestimates Fiji will be in trouble. I have known their coach John McKee for a number of years and have been impressed in how he brings players together and manages them.
"With Fiji that is the key because when they are happy they perform. John is very good at that, as you can see from the results because they have performed well and improved in the last couple of years.
Smith also believes the Wallabies will top the pool and reach the final.
"I think they have prepared well and have got the players to do that. They play well as a team and it shows the respect the players have got for the coach Michael Cheika that they all want to play for him.
"He’s a person who is a good man-manager and tells the players straight. That’s what you like from a coach, some home truths rather than talk around a problem.
"Australia have a strong nucleus of players, different combinations at No.9 and No.10 while back-row forwards David Pocock and Michael Hooper can change the momentum of a match in the blink of an eye.
"The Wallaby line-out has always been competitive while the scrum performed well in the Rugby Championship, so it’s extremely encouraging for the World Cup.
"I hope us [Australia] winning both previous finals on British soil is an omen. Players will be aware of what’s happened in the past and take motivation from that.
"I believe Australia will win the World Cup but I hope they aren’t facing New Zealand in the final.
As for 2011 semifinalists Wales' hopes of making an impact on the tournament, Smith, who is on standby for the Wallabies, said: "Going on past performances, they will be a threat and be a competitive team in the pool.
"If they do manage to make it out of it, it will make them battle-hardened for the quarterfinals. You want to be part of a pool like this, to be able to test yourself against the best."
walesonline.com
