Mike Forshaw urges Wales to be ‘aggressor’ against Fiji – Irvine Times

Wales have not won a competitive match since beating 2023 World Cup opponents Georgia almost 13 months ago.

Defeat by Fiji on November 10 – Wales won seven and drew in one of the previous meetings between the two sides in Cardiff – would equal their worst ever 10-Test loss in 2002 and 2003.

“There are no excuses and we have to start winning rugby games,” Wales defense coach Forshaw said.

“I am not the only one saying this as a coach, but the players are also adamant that it should be so. There is little pressure on us to win.

“I always say when you play at home, we have to be the aggressors. This is non-negotiable.”

When Wales and Fiji last met, they produced a World Cup classic which Warren Gatland’s side won 32-26 in Bordeaux.

Wales looked home and dry, but two late Fiji tries led to a dramatic finish, with center Semi Radradra transferring possession on the final play of the match when the tryline beckoned.

Forshaw added: “I was at Twickenham two weeks earlier when they (Fiji) blew England away. If ever they were on the crest of a wave, it was then.

“They are still the same threat and you cannot have a minute’s rest. You have to be on the lookout for how the Fijians play with their offloading game and athleticism.

“For a defensive coach, they are a huge threat because not only are some of their athletes good on the breakdown, but they have big men who handle the breakdown.

“So if you take your eyes off the ball, you’re going to struggle all afternoon.

“I think we know what’s coming. Stop it. And then it’s the unstructured part of what they wear.

“They get a dump, then they go into a dump frenzy. That’s when it gets difficult.”

Wales also face Australia and world champions South Africa in the autumn campaign and while Gatland’s squad contains 14 players with five caps or less, there is also considerable experience returning in Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams, Will Rowlands, Adam Beard and Jack Morgan.

“It seems like an age since the summer in Australia, but it was enjoyable to watch. I think the (Welsh) regions have improved,” Forshaw said.

“I’ve been watching an awful lot of rugby over the last few months and I’ve been in touch with the regional coaches.

“I think there’s a bit of a spring in the step of some of the players and it’s good to have some of the players back that we missed in the summer because they really add to the experience of the group.

“Gareth and Tomos have been playing in the Premiership now, which is a competition they’ve both enjoyed over the last month. Tomos in particular has been outstanding, so that’s great for us.

“Jack Morgan missed a lot of international rugby after bursting onto the scene. He is a quality player and Tommy Refel and Nicky Smith at Leicester in a team that is doing well.

“So we have to take confidence from that as a group with our regional and Premiership boys. I think it’s a good combination.”