Summary

  • Scrum V Podcast - Monday, 4 September

  • Join the team for their Rugby World Cup preview

  • Have a question? Get in touch @BBCScrumV

  1. Goodnight and goodbyepublished at 20:31 British Summer Time 4 September 2023

    Scrum V World Cup preview

    That's a wrap.

    As I said at the start, join the Scrum V team the morning after each Wales game during the World Cup for all the reaction and analysis to the big match.

    We will also bring you live coverage on every game as Wales look to - in the words of Warren Gatland - "do something special" at the World Cup.

    Bon voyage and pob lwc Cymru!

    scrum v punditsImage source, BBC Sport
  2. 'Wales can surprise people' - Biggarpublished at 20:29 British Summer Time 4 September 2023

    Scrum V World Cup preview

    Dan BiggarImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

    Fly-half Dan Biggar hopes Wales can surprise people at his final World Cup before international retirement.

    Biggar, 33, has announced he will stop playing for Wales after the global tournament in France.

    "Hopefully we are on the right side of the draw and we can surprise a few people," said Biggar.

    "That's ultimately what it will be because nobody is expecting us to do well. We are happy to be under the radar."

    Biggar is preparing for a third World Cup after helping Warren Gatland's side reach the quarter-finals in 2015 and semi-finals four years later, with South Africa knocking Wales out of both tournaments.

    Read more: Retiring Dan Biggar hopes Wales 'surprise people' in France

  3. Postpublished at 20:28 British Summer Time 4 September 2023

    Scrum V World Cup preview

    Josh Navidi
    Former Wales and British and Irish Lions back row

    Watch out for Mason Grady, I know he didn't go well against South Africa but he's got bags and bags of talent.

    He's big and quick, he's like a Fijian!

  4. Willemse lead the Boks to triumphpublished at 20:26 British Summer Time 4 September 2023

    Scrum V World Cup preview

    Alex Cuthbert
    Wales and Ospreys winger

    I really like Damian Willemse if he plays at 15.

    From a Wales perspective, I think Jac Morgan will have a really big World Cup.

    I'm saying South Africa to win the World Cup.

  5. Players to watch out for?published at 20:25 British Summer Time 4 September 2023

    Scrum V World Cup preview

    OK, so final question... players to watch out for in France?

  6. All Blacks fourth titlepublished at 20:24 British Summer Time 4 September 2023

    Scrum V World Cup preview

    Nicky Robinson
    Former Wales and Cardiff fly-half

    I know people are tipping other countries, but I think New Zealand could end up lifting the trophy - again.

  7. Postpublished at 20:22 British Summer Time 4 September 2023

    Scrum V World Cup preview

    Josh Navidi
    Former Wales and British and Irish Lions back row

    I agree with Alex... I also think Scotland will get to the quarter finals.

    Since the last World Cup I've said France to win overall and I'm sticking with that.

    World CupImage source, Getty Images
  8. Samoa to KO Englandpublished at 20:21 British Summer Time 4 September 2023

    Scrum V World Cup preview

    Nicky Robinson
    Former Wales and Cardiff fly-half

    Argentina will finish top of their pool and Samoa will finish second - ahead of England.

    I think Wales will get out of the pool but lose to Argentina in the quarter-finals.

    I don't think England know what type of game they want to play at the moment, they are very lost and haven't had enough time to turn it around and now it is too late for them to change.

  9. More World Cup woe for Irelandpublished at 20:20 British Summer Time 4 September 2023

    Scrum V World Cup preview

    Alex Cuthbert
    Wales and Ospreys winger

    I think Scotland will get out of their group, I really like how they're playing at the moment and they'll beat Ireland.

    Ireland are well fancied but I don't think they will get out their group.

  10. Who will win the World Cup?published at 20:19 British Summer Time 4 September 2023

    Scrum V World Cup preview

    Ok come on then, who is it going to be?

    France, Ireland, New Zealand... Wales?

    Read all the stats on each team's chances from Opta.

    By the way, Wales apparently have a 50% chance of making it past the pool stage... and 0.6% chance of winning it.

    You never know!

    Next we'll ask the pundits.

    France captain Antoine Dupont, Ireland's Johnny Sexton, South Africa skipper Siya Kolisi and Sam Cane of New Zealand
  11. Wales for semi-finalspublished at 20:18 British Summer Time 4 September 2023

    Scrum V World Cup preview

    Josh Navidi
    Former Wales and British and Irish Lions back row

    I think the games fall in our favour in our group and then looking at the quarter finals we avoid France and Ireland.

    We can get to the quarters easy enough and push through to the semis.

  12. 'Fiji favourites'published at 20:17 British Summer Time 4 September 2023

    Scrum V World Cup preview

    Nicky Robinson
    Former Wales and Cardiff fly-half

    I think if we can win scrum penalties and disrupt their line out that will be huge and will frustrate Fiji, if we can put the ball in to their half on penalties that is where Wales can really thrive.

    We all hope they beat Fiji, it is such a hard call.

    If we look at world rankings, form ratings, players, Fiji will be favourites for this game.

    Fiji perform the CibiImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency
  13. Wales 'big game players'published at 20:15 British Summer Time 4 September 2023

    Scrum V World Cup preview

    Alex Cuthbert
    Wales and Ospreys winger

    You can't go into this game and think if we lose against Fiji we're out.

    I can't see Fiji consistently playing well throughout the group stages, Australia are beatable they've got an inexperienced 10.

    World Cups wise we do like being underdogs and we've proved over numerous tournaments what we can do.

    Dan Biggar is a big game player and I think we've got more of those players than Fiji.

    We've got the bigger bench and the better 23.

  14. 'Fiji did what we couldn't against 12 men'published at 20:14 British Summer Time 4 September 2023

    Scrum V World Cup preview

    Nicky Robinson
    Former Wales and Cardiff fly-half

    I'm not scared of losing to Fiji, what I really hope is that we put in a good performance.

    Fiji are number 7 in the world, they have some world class players 3 or 4 of them could get in to a World 15, we haven't got as many as them individually.

    They just beat England at Twickenham, we couldn't beat England with 12 men for a period.

  15. Postpublished at 20:13 British Summer Time 4 September 2023

    Scrum V World Cup preview

    Thanks Alex. Though surprised a winger seems to have the biggest opinion on the front-row!

    So can we beat Fiji?

  16. Dee at hookerpublished at 20:12 British Summer Time 4 September 2023

    Scrum V World Cup preview

    Alex Cuthbert
    Wales and Ospreys winger

    I think Ryan Elias will be fitter than Dewi Lake so I suspect he'll be on the bench.

    Elliot Dee will have to start.

    Elliot Dee carriesImage source, Huw Evans Picture Agency
  17. Gareth Thomas at looseheadpublished at 20:11 British Summer Time 4 September 2023

    Scrum V World Cup preview

    Alex Cuthbert
    Wales and Ospreys winger

    I think they'll go with Gareth Thomas, with Ospreys, Thomas starts quite a lot and Nicky Smith is really good off the bench.

    Both are really good scrummagers.

  18. Front-row optionspublished at 20:10 British Summer Time 4 September 2023

    Scrum V World Cup preview

    OK, so we've discussed the glitzy positions.

    What about those heavy boys who do all the hard work up front?

  19. Clocking up the milespublished at 20:09 British Summer Time 4 September 2023

    Scrum V World Cup preview

    Gareth Griffiths
    BBC Sport Wales in Versailles

    Wales' team base in Versailles is very useful for Paris but you soon realise how much travelling Warren Gatland's side will be doing as they travel to games in Bordeaux, Nice, Lyon and Nantes.

    Wales will be one of the most travelled sides in the tournament and will be hoping rumours of strikes affecting the trains and aeroplanes over the next month will not be realised.

  20. Nantes nightmare repeat?published at 20:08 British Summer Time 4 September 2023

    Scrum V World Cup preview

    Wales will be hoping not to repeat the scenes of Fiji's win in 2007.Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency
    Image caption,

    Fiji celebrate their victory in Nantes

    Sorry to bring it up but in case anyone had forgotten, Wales have history with first opponents Fiji in France.

    The Nantes nightmare of 2007 is ingrained in the World Cup history of Wales rugby.

    Wales' loss that day signalled the end of Gareth Jenkins' time as Wales coach, which in turn led to the arrival of Warren Gatland.

    The New Zealander's first 12-year stint in charge saw Wales reach two World Cup semi-finals and one quarter-final.

    Now we have come full circle, with Gatland preparing the Wales class of 2023 to face Fiji in the World Cup again.

    Read more: When Fiji inflicted a Nantes nightmare on Wales