Head-to-head

 Australia have an 18-2 win-loss record against Fiji in tests played since 1952, with one draw. Their last loss to Fiji came in June 1954.
 The two nations also played in the pool stages of Rugby World Cup 2015, with Australia winning 28-13. The Wallabies have won both of their Rugby World Cup matches to date, also winning 55-12 in the pool stages in 2007.
 Australia have only once lost their opening game at a Rugby World Cup, losing 27-18 to South Africa at Rugby World Cup 1995. Fiji have won their opening game on four occasions – in 1987, 1999, 2007 and 2011.
 Three Wallabies – Scott Sio, David Pocock and Michael Hooper – start on Saturday who were on the pitch at the beginning of the 2015 pool-phase fixture against Fiji.
 James Slipper and Matt Toomua were named as replacements for both matches. Kurtley Beale starts after being named as a replacement four years ago.
 Fiji also played Australia in the pool stage at the last World Cup in September 2015, and six of coach John
McKee’s starting XV also started that match in Cardiff. On that occasion, Australia won 28-13.

Australia
 Ranked sixth on World Rugby’s latest rankings.
 Australia have won three of their five matches in 2019, losing 36-0 to New Zealand and 35-17 to South Africa.
 In 2018, the Wallabies suffered a miserable season, winning four matches and losing nine, prompting a drastic
squad upheaval.
 Fourteen of Australia’s starters also started in the 47-26 Rugby Championship win over New Zealand on 10
August 2019
 Australia have progressed to the knockout stages at every Rugby World Cup and have reached at least the semifinals at four of the last five World Cups.
 The Wallabies have lost twice in pool-phase games at Rugby World Cups – to South Africa in 1995 and Ireland
in 2011.
 Australia have lost only to original members of the Five Nations or Rugby Championship at Rugby World
Cups.
 Wales and Ireland (twice) are the only teams to stop Australia scoring 20 points or more in a pool-phase match since South Africa in 1995. Only Ireland managed to win though, in 2011.
 David Pocock and Michael Hooper have been selected together in an Australian starting XV for the 25th time.
When they have started together they have won 11 and lost 13 but at the Rugby World Cup they have only been on the losing side together once, in the final of Rugby World Cup 2015.
 Adam Ashley-Cooper has been selected for his fourth Rugby World Cup, equalling George Gregan who was present from 1995 to 2007 inclusively. He has not been named in the 23 for the match against Fiji though.
 Only New Zealand (50, excluding Saturday’s match) have played more Rugby World Cup matches than Australia (48, excluding Saturday’s match).

Fiji
 Ranked ninth on World Rugby’s latest rankings.
 Fiji have won their last three matches, and have won four of their six matches in 2019, losing to Japan and New Zealand Maori.
 Since the last Rugby World Cup, Fiji have beaten three Tier 1 nations: France, Scotland and Italy.
 Fiji have progressed past the pool phase at three World Cups – 1987, 1999 and 2007.
 One of Fiji’s 10 World Cup victories has been against a team of Australia’s calibre – the 38-34 victory against Wales at RWC 2007.
 Fiji have won twice at the World Cup since beating Wales at RWC 2007. In 2011, Fiji beat Namibia and Uruguay in 2015.
 The Flying Fijians have been stopped in their tracks at the last two World Cups, scoring only 15 tries in their four matches, fewer than the 16 they managed at RWC 2007.
 Fiji’s squad includes four of their 2016 Olympic sevens gold medallists and three of them will play against Australia. Leone Nakarawa, Viliame Mata and Josua Tuisova have all been named in the starting XV against Australia. Semi Kunatani is one of the eight players who did not make Saturday’s 23.
 Aged 35 years and 167 days, Vereneki Goneva will be the oldest back to play for Fiji at a Rugby World Cup if he comes on from the bench.