Image source, Getty Images

Australia kicked off Pool C yesterday with a comfortable 35-15 win over a Georgia side who, let's not forget (although Wales fans may be excused for wanting to), beat Wales in Cardiff last November for an historic victory.

The Wallabies subdued Georgia at Stade de France to get their World Cup campaign under way and claim the first win of coach Eddie Jones' second stint in the job.

The Wallabies had lost all five of their Tests since the former England coach returned in January, but found form when they needed it with Jordan Petaia, Mark Nawaqanitawase and Ben Donaldson crossing for tries.

Successfully negotiating their opener puts Australia in the early lead in a pool that as well as Wales and Fiji, also contains Portugal.

Read the full report.

Emyr Lewis
Former Wales flanker on BBC Radio Cymru

Just listening to the way Jac Morgan interacts with the press I think he's brilliant and there's a maturity to him.

Sam Warburton has said he'd go to war with Morgan so that's enough as a captain.

You don't have to say too much but it's so important the team listens and I'm sure the pack will listen to him tonight.

Image source, Getty Images

World Cup fever has struck Bordeaux and Wales' defining day has arrived.

The city has been dominated by red and green jerseys to mark the double-header at the Stade de Bordeaux on the opening weekend of the tournament.

Ireland's comfortable victory over Romania yesterday was the warm-up act to the main event of Wales and Fiji's Pool C showdown.

That will be the view of the thousands of Welsh fans who have travelled here, maybe more in hope than expectation following a troubled year for Welsh rugby.

Wales have waited for their moment to arrive but it is finally time for the burning questions to be answered in the Bordeaux heat.

Read more of Gareth Griffiths' pre-match thoughts from Bordeaux.

While Wales head coach Warren Gatland has admitted to having a few nerves, he might not be the only one.

Defence coach Mike Forshaw admits Wales will have to "take some bruises" when they face Fiji.

Wales coach Warren Gatland speaking to ITV:

It's the best Fijian team because the majority are playing in Super Rugby but there's also quality from France as well.

They're more structured and definitely the best side I've seen.

Rhys Patchell
Wales fly-half on BBC Radio 5 Live

This Fiji team has vastly improved from the team that Wales knocked out in the World Cup in 2019.

Fiji head coach Simon Raiwalui on S4C:

We've prepared well, we've had a really good 10 weeks for this game so really looking forward to it.

It's a big loss with Caleb Muntz out but we have every confidence that Teti Tela will run the show.

Nicky Robinson
Former Wales and Cardiff fly-half on BBC Radio Cymru

Defensively I think Nick Tompkins is more secure than Johnny Williams and played a bit more with George North.

It's crucial Wales try and stop Fiji from crossing the gain line but it's a hard task.

If Fiji get two or three phases on the front foot it's going to be difficult for North to make the right reads in defence and Fiji will be tough to stop.

Image source, BBC Sport

George North will become part of an exclusive club when he starts his fourth World Cup by running out against Fiji in a little while.

The 31-year-old will become the fifth Welshman to achieve the accolade after Gareth Thomas, Stephen Jones, Gethin Jenkins and Alun Wyn Jones.

"I hoped I'd get to one," said North. "To represent your country is huge and to play at a World Cup is wicked. I'm still competing and find myself at four."

North's role has evolved after he featured mostly at wing in his three previous global tournaments.

He has shifted to centre during the last four years and will make his 17th World Cup appearance tonight.

Read more on his incredible World Cup journey.

Wales fans have been keeping themselves entertained outside the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux before the game – with a little help from a brass band.

Famed 90s dance song ‘Freed From Desire’ by Gala was a popular tune in France during Euro 2016, popularised by Northern Ireland fans singing ‘Will Grigg’s on fire’ in tribute to their striker.

Now Welsh rugby fans have found another adaptation – ‘Zammit’s on fire’, in a nod to speedy winger Louis Rees-Zammit.

You may be following this game in the evening in Wales but it's Monday morning in Fiji right now, where they are 11 hours ahead.

Former Fiji wing Nemani Nadolo has got his alarm set for this one!

Anyone in work right now?

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales is a rugby-mad nation but Fiji is arguably even more so.

Rugby makes the Fijian nation stand still.

That is what will be happening when a country settles down to watch their rugby heroes face Wales on what will be Monday morning in the island nation.

Due to the time difference, Fiji's population of 900,000 on more than 100 inhabited islands will be getting up to watch the journey begin. In any way possible.

"It is a nation that will stand still, especially when it's a Rugby World Cup," said Fiji prop Mesake Doge.

"I would imagine in the villages they will be taking their television sets up onto the hills to get reception to watch the game."

The nation's productivity might be down even though employers are trying to persuade workers to attend their jobs with the lure of breakfast.

"Pretty much some people won't go to work and will just be watching the boys perform," said former Dragons forward Doge.

"For us as Fijians, rugby is such a big occasion. They say rugby can make the nation stand still, so people are looking forward to it."

You can read more here.

Ceri Coleman-Phillips
BBC Sport Wales at Stade de Bordeaux

A nice moment during the warm-up, Taine Basham shares a half-way line hug with former Dragons team-mate Mesake Doge.

There's a lot of love between these two nations, but come the first whistle...

Josh Navidi
Former Wales and British and Irish Lions back row on BBC Radio Wales

Gatland knows how to prepare a side, when I was playing under Gatland I knew every time I was going out on the pitch I was 100% prepared.

Gatland would get you ready for these big games in the World Cup, especially against teams like Fiji

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

He might be preparing for a fifth World Cup but Wales head coach Warren Gatland is still on edge before their opener against Fiji.

This will be his fourth global campaign with Wales alongside his stint as Ireland boss in 1999, but he is not immune to pre-tournament jitters.

"I still get nervous myself, I think nerves are always a positive," said Gatland.

"You feel helpless as a coach, that's the hardest thing, so there'll be some nerves before and probably during the game.

"When you're nervous about the game or what potentially might happen, it focuses the mind in terms of what's coming.

"There's nothing wrong with that. I see it as a positive in terms of the players being right on the edge in terms of their preparation just before the game."

Read more of Gatland's thoughts.

Emyr Lewis
Former Wales flanker on BBC Radio Cymru

There's a lot of nerves to this game, we know how good Fiji are.

They're strong, fit and fast and been together for three or four months so are a settled team capable of a shock result.

Wales will have to be watchful, especially in the kicking game, it has to be accurate and the chase has to be in a good defensive line to ensure Fiji don't cross the advantage line.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

We've already touched on the long World Cup history between Wales and Fiji, with the Dragons usually coming out on top.

But the notable exception is 2007 when Fiji dumped Wales out of the World Cup with a 38-34 win in Nantes that also booked a quarter-final against South Africa.

Wales' loss that day signalled the end of Gareth Jenkins' time as head coach, ushering in the arrival of Warren Gatland for his first stint in charge that would last 12 years and see Wales reach two World Cup semi-finals and one quarter-final.

Former Wales centre Tom Shanklin has admitted that Wales didn't take Fiji as seriously as they should have.

"We had Fiji up last which we weren't thinking massively about because it was Fiji. We'd played them plenty of times in the past and we underestimated them," he said.

"We didn't take it as seriously as we should have, so we have to shoulder a lot of the responsibility. It was a game we should have won but took too lightly."

You can read the full retrospective by our man in Bordeaux today Gareth Griffiths, by following the link here.

We also have our original report from that fateful day if you fancy a read, just to see how we did things in the old days.

It will not have escaped the geographically aware amongst you that 2007 was the last time France hosted a World Cup - will Bordeaux join Nantes as a place to give Welsh fans the shivers, or will Gatland's current crop ensure that history doesn't repeat itself in France this evening?

This will be the fifth time, yes fifth, that Wales and Fiji have been drawn in the same pool at a World Cup. With some quick maths that's half of every tournament that's been played.

Pool C has a very familiar look to it from 2019 as Australia and Georgia are also in there, with Portugal replacing Uruguay as the only change from the pool in Japan four years ago.

This is very much not a case of familiarity breeding contempt though, as there will be a huge amount of respect between the sets of players.

James Hook
Former Wales fly-half on BBC Radio Wales

We are all aware of the threats Fiji can pose, there is a certain amount of expectation on them now as well, something they probably never had going in to a World Cup, it will be interesting to see how they cope with that.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Fiji's run-up to the World Cup has been hugely impressive.

An unbeaten Pacific Nations Cup campaign, scoring more than 30 points in every game, along with an impressive showing in defeat against France paved the way to a first victory over England at Twickenham.

Not only did that inflict England's first defeat to a non-tier one nation but it also catapulted Fiji up the world rankings, with the Islanders now seventh and therefore the top-ranked team in Pool C.

Australia are ranked ninth, Wales 10th, Georgia 11th and Portugal 16th.

Fiji arrive in France with their customary flair and strong off-loading game but with the majority of the team playing for the Fijian Drua in Super Rugby there is more continuity than ever before - and they are coached by former Newport man Simon Raiwalui.