Michael Aylwin’s report from Bordeaux is right here:
Key events
Well, that was eventful, and ultimately a huge victory for Wales. Had it not been for a Semi Radradra knock-on at the death, might it have been different?
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Dan Biggar has a chat with ITV and is asked about Liam Williams kicking the ball out on the full in the last minute: “He just said now, he looked up at the big screen, I put my hands on my head, in a towel, to try and hide my frustration.
“Look, we always seem to make it hard for ourselves, but what we make up for with effort and courage and determination is just huge for this team. The result is the only thing that matters.
“[The Adams tackle was] Huge. Huge moment for us. It means a lot. Huge moment. Everything about it. Technically brilliant. And it was a huge moment for us. There was lots of big moments for us but that was right up there.”
“I think the penalty try rule needs to be made clearer,” says James. “Three penalties inside 10 metres from the line and a penalty try should be awarded, with a player sent to the bin. Even if these infringements are five or 50 minutes apart. Too often do these periods of play result in teams hurling themselves offside, holding on to slow the ball down, ie committing professional fouls, which is not fair. Fiji were robbed.”
Michael Aylwin’s report from Bordeaux is right here:
There are some strong opinions on that refereeing and officiating display:
“Just need to stats on how many infringements Wales committed in their 22 and didn’t get a yellow. The referee was the difference today,” emails Ben.
“Handed on a platter to Wales by the referee, that. No balance, no logic, atrocious,” says Henry.
“How is it possible Wales failed to get a man binned for the repeated cynical penalties,” says Ed. “Also really losing faith in the game due to the inconsistencies in officiating.”
“Easy to say Wales were lucky with refereeing but in first half, three Fiji players dived off the ground in defence and no yellow card,” says Timothy. “Also a couple of dodgy penalties against Wales mid-game. Seems there is a bit of ‘we [England] lost to Fiji so Wales couldn’t have beaten them, could they?’ narrative here.”
I am sure it’s not only England fans that are complaining about that refereeing, in truth.
“Delighted with the win. I’m a bit frustrated about the last 15 minutess or so. We’ll have to have a thorough review into that. We just made some … I’ll use the word dumb decisions in terms of discipline and penalties when we were in control of the game.
“There will be a lot of learnings. The guys put a real shift in … you keep your discipline, you squeeze [when you’re in control] … that for me is the biggest disappointment.
“It’s massive [the result]. The time we’ve had as a squad has been invaluable.
“After half time we looks comfortable in territory and possession. They can punish you, but we’ve come through it.”
“What a wonderful advert for this World Cup,” emails Andrew Davies. “Massive positives for both teams. Gritty defence against some fairly hefty lads plus a rock-solid lineout for Wales.
“Fiji just kept coming again and again in spite of some adverse decisions/vissicitudes. Both teams came across as massively fit in spite of the heat. Yes, broken, fragmented but free-flowing rugby, the ideal game for the interested neutral I would think.
“In spite of the pundits’ predictions, I can’t see either team need fear any other members of this group on tonight’s form. Australia, be afraid. Be VERY afraid.”
“I thought it was a great game,” says the Wales captain Jac Morgan. “We dug in deep in that first half. Our discipline let us down at times … but full credit to Fiji, they put a lot of pressure on us with the ball in hand.
“We stuck together. Keep on coming, keep defending, work hard for each other. That’s what we did. We just had the mentality of never giving up, working hard for each other … we’ve been through a couple of hard training camps, and when the going got tough, the boys really stuck at it.”
The impartial ITV pundit panel of Jamie Roberts, Gareth Thomas and Sam Warburton are asked if Wales got lucky with the refereeing.
To his credit, Thomas admits that they certainly did.
Thoughts on that, Wales fans, Fiji fans?
Wales carried for 378 metres in attack, Fiji for 617. That shows how much commitment Fiji showed to running with the ball. But they brought plenty more than that.
Wales made 241 tackles. Fiji made 70: 32 missed for Wales, 23 for Fiji.
That puts Australia and Wales top of Pool C together on five points each. Fiji have two points, having won a try bonus and losing bonus point.
That was a special game of rugby. There will be some very sore bodies in the Wales camp tomorrow, but they gave as good as they got. Fiji were superb – and they arguably have some valid complaints about some of the treatment they got from the referee, Matthew Carley.
All the conditioning work that Gatland is famous for really paid off there. It was a gargantuan physical effort to keep Fiji at bay for much of that match. That is the level you need to be at to win these matches.
Full time! Wales 32-26 Fiji
Oh my word. Fiji put together 10-plus phases of wonderful attacking, wonderful continuity, skilful hands, powerful carries. They keep the ball moving deep into the Wales 22. Botia has the ball in space on the right, and support outside, but he chooses to keep it and is tackled five metres out.
Massive defensive effort by Wales. Fiji spin the ball back right to left, and Radradra is lurking in plenty of space on the wing … the inside centre tries to gather a bouncing pass, with the try-line beckoning, and he knocks it on! Rees-Zammit gleefully hacks the loose ball into touch, and that’s full time! Wales win! So, so dramatic.
80 min: Deep into the red! But Fiji have the ball in the Wales 22! This is huge!
79 min: Here come Fiji again …
Try! 78 min: Wales 32-26 Fiji (Doge)
Is there time? The conversion is missed by Tela, so it’s still a six-point game, but a converted try does it for Fiji if they can get down there.
78 min: Wales have the bonus point, and they lead by 11 points. So it’s looking good for Gatland’s men … but wait!
77 min: It’s no try! And it’s a penalty for a double movement! Ravai, the man who touched it down, looks unhappy with the decision. That looks a bit unfair on Fiji, doesn’t it? The TMO told the referee to stick with his decision – try – but Carley wanted another look. Anyway … Fiji can try again but they are running out of time.
76 min: Fiji are not lying down! They surge down the right with some sensational handling … it looks like it’s a try for … I’m not sure who. But anyway, on-field decision is try.
74 min: Tagitagivalu is back from the bin. Fiji miss touch with a potentially crucial kick aimed for the corner … but can they make the most of a brief one-man advantage?
Try! 72 min: Wales 32-21 Fiji (Tuisova)
The Racing 92 powerhouse runs an angled line with Wales under huge pressure, batters through a couple of bodies, and touches down. The extras are added by the fly-half Tela. Can Fiji force their way back? Wales are so slow to move up to halfway following the conversion, the referee stops the clock. Which is only fair.
70 min: Fiji win a penalty as they rumble a scrum forward deep into the Welsh 22. It must be said, Wales were fortunate not to have a man sent to the bin when Fiji were camped on their line, but then Tagitagivalu was yellow-carded instantly down at the other end. Harsh?
Yellow card for Wales! 68 min: Domachowski
He’s only just come on, but he’s too keen to compete in a ruck, and that’s 10 minutes in the bin for the replacement prop.
Try! 66 min: Wales 32-14 Fiji (Dee)
The field position Wales gained from Biggar’s brilliant 50:22 eventually allows Dee to shove over from a well-executed driving maul! Biggar converts. That’s a big, big swing in this match in the last five minutes.
Yellow card for Fiji! Tagitagivalu
Fiji down to 14. Tagitagivalu goes to the sin bin for dragging down a maul.
62 min: Reffell puts in a solid, solid hit on an onrushing Ravai. There is a Fiji knock on, and then a brilliant clearing kick by Biggar, a 50:22, puts Wales on the front foot! Rees-Zammit tries a quick lineout but the referee pulls him back.
Domachowski, Lewis, Dyer all on for Wales now.
61 min: North intercepts an attempted offload five metres out. The referee wants to speak to the Wales captain, Morgan. A yellow card for persistent infringements? No. It’s just a warning. Fiji crash into contact again after yet another penalty.
Botia tries to force his way over but he knocks the ball on in contact. The referee wants a TMO check, but Botia shakes his head, and tells the referee not to bother, because he knocked it on. Why don’t more players do that? Honesty is the best policy.
60 min: A try here for Fiji – they are still camped in the Wales 22 – and we have a thrilling final quarter ahead. Actually, we do anyway. Wales lead by 11.
59 min: Wales are under huge pressure. Fiji are massing bodies in their 22. Dee, who has come off the bench, is penalised for offside. Fiji tap and go. Wales keep them out … It’s a scrum now for Fiji five metres out. Liam Williams is pictured jumping on Radradra’s back?! Which is weird. Williams is smiling, Radradra … isn’t.
58 min: Williams, the replacement scrum-half, skews a box kick from behind a ruck. As a result, Wales are pinged for offside and Fiji can kick a penalty for the corner. Botia comes on for Fiji, Tommy Reffell on for Wales, as well as Dafydd Jenkins.
54 min: Changes for Fiji too. Tuisova comes on, Habosi off. Watch out for the massive figure of Tuisova … Ravi also on for Mawi, the prop.
53 min: Biggar hoists a big up-and-under deep into the Fiji 22. Droasese does incredibly well to claim it, then offloads to Ravutaumada who tries to kick ahead into space. Gareth Davies, who initially passed his HIA, has now gone off for Williams in a permanent switch.
49 min: Crunch! Ravutaumada is running at pace down the Fiji right. Adams, scorer of the first try, meets him head-on and batters the wing him back in the tackle, managing to half-pull his opponent’s shorts down in one smooth movement. What a hit. The Wales players, on the pitch and off, celebrate it wildly. There is a shot of Gatland on the TV, and I think he enjoyed that one too.
Try! 47 min: Wales 25-14 Fiji (Rees-Zammit)
This time he’s over! Wales break down the left with Tompkins, Williams and Adams all involved. Tompkins makes a fine break into the 22 … then Morgan, the captain and No 7, sees space on the opposite side of the pitch, and puts in a brilliant cross-kick! There is a hand on it from Habosi, but he can’t gather it, and Rees-Zammit snaffles the loose ball and dives over the line! That’s a cracking score, all round, and Wales are executing superbly well despite the pressure they are being put under by this physical Fiji outfit. Biggar adds the extras.
45 min: And there he is! Lovely, smooth lineout ball for Wales thanks to a fine throw to the back from Elias. It culminates in Liam Williams fizzing a pass out to Rees-Zammit, who has space on the right wing. He jinks inside and has a sniff of the line, but Habosi recovers in time to make a stunning covering tackle from behind the flying Welshman. And then Fiji turn it over. That was good stuff from Wales, though.
42 min: Tompkins is wrapped up by Nayacalevu in midfield and slammed into the Bordeaux turf. He looks a bit dazed. Which, to be honest, is entirely understandable.
It would be nice to see Rees-Zammit have a chance to run with the ball in hand, wouldn’t it?
41 min: Biggar starts the penalty kick outside the right-hand post. He’s trying to draw it back in, but it doesn’t come back enough, and that’s a very kickable three points missed. It remains 18-14 to Wales.
Second half kick-off!
Dan Biggar, who was ranting and raving as he walked off for half time, gets the second half under way. Fiji are penalised in the first phase of play of the second half. Biggar has a kick from just outside the 22.
Match reports from today:
Half time! Wales 18-14 Fiji
That first half had everything we’d hoped for, and more. The match is in the balance, and we’ve seen some fine stuff from both teams.
Here’s a touch of half-time reading courtesy of Nick Evans:
39 min: Fiji kick a penalty for the corner from halfway. Matavesi throws to the back, and Fiji roll a well-coordinated maul into the Welsh 22. Radradra smashes into contact again. Wales soak up the pressure. Radradra goes again and is stopped by Liam Williams. The physicality of these Fijian carries is crazy. But only to be expected …
37 min: The scrum-half Gareth Davies jogs off for an HIA after that high tackle. Tomos Williams comes on.
35 min: Mata gathers the ball after the restart, and sprints into a couple of Welsh defenders with utter commitment and no little power and pace. That’s a shuddering impact.
It gives Fiji a bit of go-forward, and Tuisue juggles the ball and tries to offload … Gareth Davies nabs the ball from Tuisue, and he is grabbed from behind, and high, by Nayacalevu. The TMO has a look and it’s a penalty to Wales.
34 min: On replay, Tagi is shown to have lost the ball forward. No try. However, the TMO is having a look at a potential no-arms tackle by Elias. They decide it’s all OK, and it’s a goal-line dropout for Wales. A let-off for Gatland’s men.
