Wales v Fiji LIVE: Rugby World Cup result and reaction as Wales cling on for victory in Bordeaux
Wales 32-26 Fiji: Wales cling on as Fiji fall short of dramatic comeback in Bordeaux
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Your support makes all the difference.Wales put aside a disappointing year of results to hang on and edge Fiji 32-26 in a thriller on Sunday to give themselves every chance of advancing to the quarter-finals at the Rugby World Cup.
It might have only been their opening game in Pool C but the contest against the Fijians was seen as key to Wales’ hopes in the tournament in France offering them redemption after losing six of eight internationals in 2023, and breathing life into a beleaguered squad. Victory was almost stolen at the end by the Pacific islanders who were seeking to fight back from an 18-point deficit and could have completed an unlikely comeback but they knocked on with the tryline at their mercy.
Both teams scored four tries in a game full of line breaks, exciting running and bruising clashes that had the crowd on the edge of their seats, especially at the end as Fiji fought back from 32-14 down. Josh Adams, George North, Louis Rees-Zammit and Elliot Dee crossed over for Wales with Dan Biggar adding two penalties and three conversions while Waisea Nayacalevu, Lekima Tagitagivalu, Josua Tuisova and Mesake Doge were Fiji’s try scorers.
Relive all the action and the reaction from the Bordeaux below. Get all the Rugby World Cup odds and the latest tips and odds here:
TRY! Wales 25-14 Fiji, (Rees-Zammit, 48 mins)
Fiji can’t stop Rees-Zammit this time! Tompkins makes the burst through the middle of the park and Adams is fed the ball down the left. They can’t find a way over initially but it’s a cross-field kick from the unlikely boot of flanker Jac Morgan.
The Fijian defence can’t fully keep a hold of the kick, allowing the Welsh winger to steal the loose ball and burst over the line for the huge first score of this second half!
Biggar makes the conversion to give Wales a nice lead.
Wales 18-14 Fiji, 45 mins
A huge tackle from the retreating Fijian defence to deny Rees-Zammit as the winger looks to make a dart from the line. Fiji win the penalty and they can clear it up the pitch.
PENALTY MISSED! Wales 18-14 Fiji, 42 mins
But the chance goes begging! A rare miss from Wales’ fly-half as he pushes his effort right of the posts. The lead remains just four.
Wales 18-14 Fiji, 41 mins
Back under way and it’s the perfect start for Wales as they win an early penalty and have the chance to establish a seven-point lead.
HALF-TIME: Wales 18-14 Fiji
A late chance for Fiji as they opt for the corner with a penalty. Wales do enough to stall the momentum of the maul as Fiji look to run it through the hands.
The ball runs loose and Wales can gather. There’s a bit of confusion amongst the Welsh ranks who look to pass the ball out rather than simply clear but, in the end, the ball is dropped and the half-time whistle goes.
Dan Biggar is fuming at the rest of his backs for not simply clearing the ball but Wales survive and they lead at the break.
Wales 18-14 Fiji, 37 mins
There’s another job for TMO after Gareth Davies is caught with a high tackle by Ravutaumada. The scrum-half fell slightly into the tackle and that serves as a mitigating factor to help the Fijian winger.
Just the penalty as Davies heads off for a head injury assessment.
Wales 18-14 Fiji, 35 mins
No try! Fiji look to hit back straight away as they build phases in and around the Welsh line. Eroni Mawi thinks he’s gone over from close range but replays show that the prop lost control as he looked to touch the ball down and the try doesn’t stand after a TMO check.
TRY! Wales 18-14 Fiji, (North, 30 mins)
A real back-and-forth encounter but it’s Wales who are back ahead now as North goes over! The centre picks a superb line and bursts through the Fijian defence right in front of the posts.
They’ve been the better side since the drinks break and a sustained period of pressure is rewarded after they turn down the opportunity of three points but are rewarded with seven after Biggar converts a simple conversion.
PENALTY! Wales 11-14 Fiji, (Biggar 24 mins)
The perfect response after that drinks break for Wales, as a Fijian offside allows Biggar slots over the post for a much-needed three points to cut the deficit to just three.
A frantic start but Wales are still right in this contest.
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