Wales v Fiji, Millennium Stadium, November 20
Wales out to bury Fiji ghosts
ESPNscrum Staff
November 17, 2010
Wales flanker Ryan Jones looks for support, Wales v South Africa, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Wales, November 13, 2010
Ryan Jones has called on Wales to bury their ghosts © Getty Images
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Ryan Jones has admitted that Wales need to bury the ghosts of their humiliating exit from the 2007 Rugby World Cup when Fiji visit the Millennium Stadium on Friday night.

A 38-34 loss to the Islanders in Nantes sent Wales crashing out at the Pool stages and cost then coach Gareth Jenkins his job, with the sides again set to meet at the sport's global gathering in 2011.

"They gave Welsh rugby a huge shock," Jones said. "They got a result they deserved that day, and the guys have now got an opportunity to go out on Friday and put that ghost to bed.

"It's about focusing on this game. It's not about the New Zealand game next week, or the Six Nations or the World Cup, it's the guys going out this week and doing their best."

Wales fell into the trap of attempting to beat Fiji at their own high-risk game the last time the teams met and Jones, who has regained the captaincy for Friday's fixture, is wary of falling for it again.

"You can't win international rugby games without a good balance," he said. "Our set-piece has been good this autumn, and the breakdown is getting better. We don't want to get involved in playing 15-a-side Sevens.

"We don't want to go out and try to beat Fiji at their own game, we want to go out and play the way we've developed and try to impose ourselves on the game for 80 minutes."

Wales boss Warren Gatland, who inspired a Six Nations Grand Slam months after the Nantes debacle, has named a much-changed side following last weekend's loss to South Africa and is anticipating the debut of another promising youngster following Scarlets wing George North's two-try bow against the Springboks.

Dragons No.8 Toby Faletau, born in Tonga, has been named on the bench just days after his 20th birthday.

"There is a great chance for some players to push a claim for next week's game against the All Blacks, and then in the back of everyone's minds, the Six Nations and World Cup claims," Gatland said.

"Toby is exciting. He's only a youngster, and it will be a great opportunity for him to hopefully come off the bench and have an impact. He's been impressive for the Dragons this year. He has a lot of learning and development to do, but he is very exciting.

"Fiji are a team that is in our pool for the World Cup, and we want to get out there and really give a good display and get a good result."

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