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Australian legend George Smith has sensationally tipped Fiji to deliver the opening shock of the World Cup by dumping Wales and England out of the tournament.

Hosts England, twice champions Australia, Wales, Fiji and minnows Uruguay go head-to-head in the so-called group of death, with only the top two finishers progressing to the knockout stage.

Most people expect a three-way dog-fight between the big three but Australian and world rugby great Smith believes Pool A will be a four-way shoot-out.

And he predicted Fiji would make it through, as runners-up to newly-crowned Rugby Championship kings Australia.

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“It’s going to be extremely competitive in, as they say, the pool of death. The English and Welsh, from what I’m led to believe, have been training extremely well while Australia have won the Rugby Championship.

“But I think Fiji are going to go through with Australia.

“I played against a number of their players in the French Top 14 last season while I was with Lyon and they are very good,” declared 111-times capped Smith.

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Fiji recently beat a Samoa team, that a few weeks earlier had given New Zealand a real Test, in the final of the Pacific Nations Cup.

The last time they met Wales, Warren Gatland's men scraped a 17-13 win in November 2014 but they did demolish the Fijians 66-0 at the last World Cup.

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Smith though, believes their World cup pedigree is good.

“Apart from in 2011, Fiji seem to perform well in World Cup tournaments. They put the Welsh out in 2007 and nearly beat the eventual champions South Africa in the quarter-finals,” pointed out Smith.

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“Anybody who underestimates Fiji will be in trouble. I have known their coach John McKee for a number of years and have been impressed in how he brings players together and manages them.

“With Fiji that is the key because when they are happy they perform. John is very good at that, as you can see from the results because they have performed well and improved in the last couple of years.

Smith, a World Cup ambassador for Land Rover, believes the Wallabies will top the pool and reach the final.

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“I think they have prepared well and have got the players to do that. They play well as a team and it shows the respect the players have got for the coach Michael Cheika that they all want to play for him.

“He’s a person who is a good man-manager and tells the players straight. That’s what you like from a coach, some home truths rather than talk around a problem.

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(Image: Getty Images)

“Australia have a strong nucleus of players, different combinations at No.9 and 10 while back-row forwards David Pocock and Michael Hooper can change the momentum of a match in the blink of an eye.

“The Wallaby lineout has always been competitive while the scrum performed well in the Rugby Championship, so it’s extremely encouraging for the World Cup.

“I hope us winning both previous finals on British soil is an omen. Players will be aware of what’s happened in the past and take motivation from that.

“I believe Australia will win the World Cup but I hope they aren’t facing New Zealand in the final.

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As for 2011 semi-finalists Wales’ hopes of making an impact on the tournament, Smith, who is on standby for the Wallabies, said: “Going on past performances, they will be a threat and be a competitive team in the pool.

“If they do manage to make it out of it, it will make them battle-hardened for the quarter-finals. You want to be part of a pool like this, to be able to test yourself against the best.”

* GEORGE SMITH is a Land Rover ambassador. Land Rover is a Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2015 and is recruiting all 96 official mascots for the Tournament as part of its ‘We Deal In Real’ campaign. Follow @LandRoverRugby #WeDealInReal