Match report: Wales 29 – 17 Fiji
Paul Reeswas at the Oita Stadium to see Wales prevail in a bruising encounter against Fiji. Here’s how he saw it …
Warren Gatland speaks:“It was tough, ”says the Welsh coach, in an interview with ITV. “From 10 – 0 down I would have taken a bonus point win. It was a tough game and they have some wonderful individual athletes who really tested us.
“I’m pleased with that performance and that result. Hopefully it will set us up nicely for going forward. At half-time I felt a few of their forwards were starting to feel the pace of the game and I told my boys to stay going at them. ”
Wales now look on course to face France in the quarter-final.
Wales 29 – 17 Fiji:Fiji’s interest in this year World Cup comes to an end, their bizarre defeat at the hands of Uruguay ultimately costing them a place in the quarter-finals. Wales still have to face Uruguay on Sunday and a win will ensure they go into the knockout stages as Pool winners.
Updated (at 7.) am EDT
Full-time: Wales – 17 Fiji
81 min:Wales scrum as the clock goes into the red. The ball’s booted into touch and Wales have won a fairly brutal contest. But at what cost? Two of their most important players, Dan Biggar and Jonathan Davies, took heavy knocks.
79 min:Fiji winger Semi Radradra is announced as man of the match. Having scored a hat-trick of tries, Josh Adams might have something to say about that, but I think it’s the correct decision. I certainly wouldn’t like to argue the toss with Semi over it. He’s a ferocious unit – strong as an ox, lightning fast and manages to get everywhere. It’s like there’s three or four of him on the pitch.
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76 min:Speaking of Wales injuries, the demeanor of Jonathan Davies on the bench appears to be that of a man who might be of a mind his World Cup is over. Here’s hoping that’s not the case, but the outside center would be a huge loss if that does happen to be the case.
74 min:Wales look to have got the better of Fiji, but their medical staff are going to be kept busy in the coming days. Fiji are nails-hard and I’ve lost count of the number of Welsh players who are either limping around the pitch or have been forced off with knocks. Fiji are going out of the World Cup, but can leave with their heads held high on the back of this performance.
(min:) ***************** (Liam Williams leaps to catch a high ball and is absolutely) clatteredby Semi Radradra upon landing. Radradra is excellent value for money and has been outstanding for Fiji today; Williams isn’t going to forget that tackle in a hurry.
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71 min:Wyn Jones, Tom Francis and Jake Ball make way for Wales substitutes Rhys Carre, Dillon Lewis and Aaron Shingler.
Try! Wales 29 – (Fiji) Updated
67 min:Elliot Dee comes off the bench to replace Wales hooker Ken Owens.
(min:Fiji have possession just outside the Wales) . Volavola kicks wide at an angle to the right and the ball bounces kindly for Leone Nakarawa, who gathers. A rogue pass from the second-row gifts possession back to Wales.
64 min:The visibly strugglingJosh Adams charges into wall of Fijian resistance with ball in hand, deep inside his own half.
63 min:Josh Adams seems to have done himself a mischief in scoring that try and is visibly hobbling. Ross Moriarty is also receiving medical attention. Jonathan Davies has gone off injured to be replaced by Owen Watkin.
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Try! Wales 22 – 17 Fiji
61 min:Working in just a few inches of spaces, Jonathan Davies offloads brilliantly to Josh Adams, whosomehowgets the ball down in the corner without going into the touch despite being tackled by two Fijians. That was outstanding from Davies, who galloped down the channel before somehow getting the ball to Adams for his hat-trick try. He got over despite Semi Radradra’s desperate covering tackle.
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60 min:“With all due respect, I’m not sure Monsieur Garces is the chief culprit, ”writes Richard, with a pedantry update. “The TMO is becoming totally overbearing.” That’s you told, New Zealand’s Ben Skreen!
Penalty! Wales 17 – 17 Fiji
58 min:Wales penalty. Rhys Patchell slots the ball between the posts from a long way out. It’s all square.
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56 min:Good news. Dan Biggar is back on his feet and able to jog off the field to rapturous applause from the capacity crowd for his head injury assessment. He’s replaced by Rhys Patchell.
55 min:A breakdown in communication results in Dan Biggar and Liam Williams colliding as they try to catch a dropping ball. Biggar takes an accidental hit to the head and appears to be out cold.
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Penalty try !!! Wales 14 – 17 Fiji
54 min:Fiji get seven points as their human wrecking ball, the outstanding Semi Radradra crashes through another couple of tackles and is stopped illegally as Wales bring down the rolling maul. Dan Biggar follows the ref back to the halfway line, protesting at the injustice of it all. Wales are behind.
Updated (at 7.) am EDT
Yellow card!
52 min:“You stopped the momentum!” Announces referee Jerome Garces as he brandishes a yellow card in the direction of James Davies, for a cynical tackle.
51 min:A break through the middle by Semi Radradra is stopped by James Davies, who grabs a handful of his shirt and holds on tight as the Fijians surged forward. Radrada’s pass is intercepted by Josh Navidi.
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49 min:Semi Radradra goes over for Fiji after another spellbinding move, but there’s a break for more “pedantry” from the match officials. They’re checking on a pass from Murimurivalu in the build-up, which they correctly adjudge to have been forward.
47 min:Wales turn the ball over inside their own 22, slightly to the left of their own posts. A wonderful tackle by Jake Ball put a stop to an intricate passing move from the Fiji backline and enabled Wales to win back possession.
45 min:Kini Murimurivalu kicks for touch and misses, but his side have advantage and get a penalty for a high tackle by Alun Wyn Jones. Ben Volavola kicks for touch deep in Wales territory. Fiji lineout about 10 yards from the Welsh line.
43 min:Wales scrum, just inside their own half. Jonathan Davies plays a grubber kick down the touchline for Josh Adams to chase, but Kini Murimurivalu mops up at the back. Fiji proceed to make 50 yards up the pitch after powerful running by Waisea Nayacalevu.
Second half: Wales 14 – 10 Fiji
Play resumes for the second half. Under pressure from Wales, Fiji’s Semi Kunatani does well to stop his opposite number James Davies as he marauds up the pitch. Lineout for Fiji halfway inside their own half.
An email:“Thoroughly enjoyable Barry? ”Writes Richard. “The refereeing is descending into pedantic farce.”
Well, that’s me told although I’d rather the ref be pedantic and correct than take alaissez faireapproach and get his decisions wrong. I can’t say I’ve noticed Monsieur Garces being overly fussy.
Half-time: Wales 14 – 10 Fiji
Well, that was fun.A hugely entertaining first half draws to a close with Wales coming from behind after a dreadful start to lead by just four points. It’s evenly poised, but Fiji are looking a little tired.
40 min:Fiji lineout deep inside their own half. They win a penalty and the gong goes for half-time. They decide to kick for touch so they can go in to the dressing-room for a well-earned breather.
(min:) From a scrum on the Wales five-meter line, Ross Moriarty takes the ball and gallops upfield to the Fiji 22. Wales lose possession through poor decision-making by Hadleigh Parkes, who picks the wrong pass.
(min: (Yet) anotherdisallowed try. Ben Volavola floats a pass out wide to full-back Murimurivalu, who charges over in the corner. His try is ruled out because the pass from his fly-half was quite obviously forward.
36 min :Fiji put Wales under pressure for the first time in a while and have the ball on their opponents’ 22. With Wales lined out across the pitch, committing few players to the breakdown, Fiji are finding it difficult to breach their defense. They keep plugging away.
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