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<\/p>\nLouis Rees-Zammit of Wales celebrates victory at the final whistle<\/p>\n
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Wales held their nerve in a frantic and pulsating Rugby World Cup clash to beat Fiji 32-26 and put themselves on course for the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n
Fiji were expected to provide ferocious opposition in Bordeaux, and they did not disappoint, but Wales ultimately claimed a fourth successive World Cup win against them in nerve-shredding fashion.<\/p>\n
It was tense throughout, especially when Fiji scored twice in the last seven minutes and Wales had to dig deep during a frenzied finale when Fiji centre Semi Radradra knocked on close to the line in the game\u2019s last play.<\/p>\n
Warren Gatland\u2019s team ultimately prevailed through tries from Josh Adams, George North, Louis Rees-Zammit and Elliot Dee, with fly-half Dan Biggar adding two penalties and three conversions in a bonus-point success watched by Welsh Rugby Union patron the Prince of Wales.<\/p>\n
Fiji claimed tries by captain Waisea Nayacalevu, flanker Lekima Tagitagivalu, plus replacements Josua Tuisova and Mesake Doge \u2013 Frank Lomani converted two and Teti Tela also added a conversion \u2013 yet Wales gained the victory they craved ahead of remaining Pool C appointments with Portugal, Australia and Georgia.<\/p>\n
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Gatland masterminded two semi-final appearances during his previous reign as Wales head coach, and his players produced easily their best performance this year.<\/p>\n
Biggar steered the ship impressively, while Wales\u2019 defence often came up trumps at key moments, even somehow withholding Fiji late on after they were matched blow for blow.<\/p>\n
Taulupe Faletau returned to Wales\u2019 starting line-up after a calf muscle injury that sidelined him for the entire tournament warm-up schedule.<\/p>\n
Fiji, meanwhile, showed one enforced change from the side that beat England at Twickenham last month with fly-half Tela replacing an injured Caleb Muntz.<\/p>\n
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Wales made an outstanding start, taking an 8-0 lead in as many minutes through a Biggar penalty and Adams try.<\/p>\n
Biggar, playing in his final World Cup before retiring from Test rugby, kicked a long-range penalty before Wales carved open the Fiji defence.<\/p>\n
North\u2019s powerful midfield surge was taken on by scrum-half Gareth Davies before possession quickly went wide and Adams \u2013 top try-scorer at the 2019 World Cup in Japan \u2013 finished in style.<\/p>\n
Fiji responded strongly, though, and Nayacalevu scored a 13th-minute try that Lomani converted.<\/p>\n
It was a breathless contest in stamina-sapping heat, and Wales fell behind just four minutes later after Radradra broke clear and his pass to Tagitagivalu gave him an easy run-in.<\/p>\n
Lomani\u2019s conversion took Fiji 14-8 ahead, ringing alarm bells for Wales, before Biggar cut the gap by landing a second penalty.<\/p>\n
And Wales regained the lead after relentless pressure reaped its reward as Nick Tompkins sent North over between the posts, with Biggar\u2019s conversion securing an 18-14 advantage midway through the second quarter.<\/p>\n
Fiji thought they had gone back in front just before the break, but Saracens prop Eroni Mawi was denied a try following a lengthy review of his dive for the line.<\/p>\n
Davies was then on the receiving end of a high tackle by Selestino Ravutaumada and departed for a head injury assessment to be replaced by Tomos Williams. Wing Ravutaumada conceded a penalty but escaped further punishment from referee Matthew Carley as Wales held a four-point interval advantage.<\/p>\n
Davies returned for the second period, and Biggar missed a 30-metre penalty chance before they conjured a third try in an unlikely fashion.<\/p>\n
Sharp work by Tompkins unlocked Fiji\u2019s defence, and skipper and flanker Jac Morgan provided the assist by kicking into space and Rees-Zammit finished off, with Biggar\u2019s conversion making it 25-14.<\/p>\n
Fiji camped deep inside Wales\u2019 22 entering the final quarter, and it took sustained last-ditch defending to keep them out.<\/p>\n
But the game looked to have drifted away from Fiji when Tagitagivalu was yellow-carded and Wales scored before he had barely left the pitch.<\/p>\n
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The forwards drove a short-range lineout, and Dee claimed a touchdown that Biggar converted.<\/p>\n
However, Wales then lost replacement prop Corey Domachowski to the sin-bin for a technical infringement and Fiji had the final say through tries from Tuisova and Doge, but Gatland\u2019s men held on.<\/p>\n