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:
Wales 8-14 Fiji, 20 mins
A drinks break arrives and it’s come at the perfect time for a shellshocked Welsh side who have to regroup and go again after that quickfire Fijian double.
TRY! Wales 8-14 Fiji (Tagitagivalu, 18 mins)
Twice in four minutes and the Fijians are ahead! It’s a free-flowing move that starts with Nayacalevu, the first try scorer.
Radradra receives the offload and bursts through the middle of the pitch. The inside centre draws in the defence before finding Tagitagivalu who surges over to fire Fiji into the lead.
TRY! Wales 8-7 Fiji (Nayacalevu, 14 mins)
What a response from Fiji! They’ve threatened plenty during this opening 14 minutes and hit back straight away as Nayacalevu picks up a loose bouncing ball before crashing through the heart of the Welsh defence.
PENALTY MISSED! Wales 8-0 Fiji, 11 mins
A chance for Fiji to hit back immediately, but Tela can’t convert from the tee. Wales maintain their eight-point lead.
TRY! Wales 8-0 Fiji (Adams, 8 mins)
What a start from Wales! Having survived that early scare from the Fiji maul, Wales have their first try of the game through Adams. North makes the break through the middle of the park and it’s clinically finished off by Adams when the ball finds him wide on the right!
Biggar can’t convert from out on the left but a great start nevertheless.
WALES 3-0 FIJI, 6 mins
A bright start after that penalty but Wales concede a penalty shortly after and it’s pinned into the corner. Fiji try to get the rolling maul going but it’s well defended by Wales as they eventually win a penalty and can clear.
PENALTY! WALES 3-0 FIJI, (Biggar, 3 mins)
The perfect start for Wales as Rowlands does well at the breakdown to win an early penalty. Dan Biggar steps up and makes no mistake, slotting over the posts to get Wales up and running with an early three points.
KICK-OFF: WALES 0-0 FIJI
National anthems sung, Fiji’s Cibi performed, and we are ready to go and underway in Bordeaux!
Rugby World Cup 2023: Wales vs Fiji
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