Fiji, Wallabies and Wales ready to scrap it out in unpredictable Pool C

BORDEAUX, France : Improved Fiji will be gunning for a rejuvenated Welsh side and dark horses Australia in an unpredictable Rugby World Cup Pool 'C', which may well stand for chaos at the tournament which kicks off in France on Friday.

Fresh from a maiden win over England last month at Twickenham, Fiji head into the World Cup as the highest ranked team in the section in seventh place ahead of England, Australia and Wales according to the official World Rugby rankings.

Bookmakers William Hill have Australia as 2-1 on favourites to win the pool ahead of Wales (5-2) and Fiji (6-1) and it would be an upset if the latter beat either given their opponents' track record at the tournament and traditional standing.

The flying Fijians, who have twice reached the quarter-finals in 1987 and 2007, always bring a squad packed with scintillating running and offloading ability but have struggled to translate that into consistent knockout round results.

The historic win against England saw Fiji outplay their hosts in the rain with some smart kicking and disciplined decision-making in a sign they may finally be ready to bring the grit as well as the glamour and progress further this time.

They were dealt a cruel blow however earlier this week with the loss of New Zealand-born flyhalf Caleb Muntz for the tournament due to a knee injury sustained in training, meaning a last-minute reshuffle will be needed.

The match against Wales on Sept. 10 could set the tone for the pool, invoking memories of the famous 2007 clash when Fiji dumped their more fancied opponents out of the tournament.

Returning coach Warren Gatland has signalled his intentions to refurbish the struggling Welsh team by naming 23-year-old Jac Morgan as co-captain, albeit the men in