The first Saturday of the 2019 Rugby World Cup could change, determine and chart the out­comes and the way forward in the global four-yearly showpiece.

Saturday September 21 is just the second match day but results of games that day could make or break the six rugby nations’ (Fiji-Australia, France-Argen­tina, New Zealand-South Africa), hope of progress­ing in the competition.

As for the Fiji Airways Flying Fijians, the wait has been long and a win is overdue.

This is an opportune time to overturn the heavy­weight as the last time we beat the Wallabies was 65 years ago.

We have played Australia 21 times, won 2, lost 18 and drew one.

This is one-sided and the equation must be altered to bring order, parity and fairness.

Fiji needs to win the first game to give themselves a chance for a quarterfinal berth. Other Pool D games are against Uruguay, Georgia and Wales.

We have a better chance now since we played Australia, Wales and Uruguay in pool play at the 2015RWC.

Coach John McKee and the majority of the players have been together for the past four years and they knew how to mix it with the big boys.

The bottom line is Fiji must come out first or second in Pool D which means we need to beat tier-one heavies Austral­ia or Wales or both.

Whatever the re­sult in that opening match, the next two matches on Saturday will be almost as cru­cial for Fiji Pool D’s quarter-finals cross over with Pool C, containing Argentina, France and England.

The winner of Fiji’s pool will face the runner-up of Pool C in their quarter and vice-versa.

Pool C is the one that has the most high-profile casu­alty, with one of those three big nations set to end their run at the pool stages.

It is the Pumas and France who go head-to-head and the loser will be up against it to make the knockout stages, with England still the hot favourites to take out that pool.

Then, arguably, the most anticipated match of the pool stages comes at the end of that Saturday when the All Blacks take on South Africa.

We could not have asked for a better start to the RWC taking on the Aussies front up.

It’s time for McKee and his men to prove their worth, make a mark and overturn the odds.

Osea Bola

Feedback: oseab@fijisun.com.fj