Rugby World Cup 2019: Another Wales-Fiji classic, Hastings' family connection and Russian disappointment

USA need to do a lot more if they wish to host the 2027 edition

Wales' centre Jonathan Davies (R) runs with the ball past Fiji's centre Jale Vatubua during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool D match between Wales and Fiji at the Oita Stadium in Oita. AFP

Wales' full back Liam Williams (L) runs past Fiji's flanker Dominiko Waqaniburotu during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool D match between Wales and Fiji at the Oita Stadium in Oita. AFP

A Fiji fan awaits the start of the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool D match between Wales and Fiji at the Oita Stadium in Oita. AFP

Wales' full back Liam Williams (C) is tackled by Fiji's scrum-half Frank Lomani (L) during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool D match between Wales and Fiji at the Oita Stadium in Oita. AFP

Fiji's hooker Samuel Matavesi (L) is tackled during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool D match between Wales and Fiji at the Oita Stadium in Oita. AFP

Wales' Josh Adams celebrates scoring his sides third try with his team mates during the 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool D match at Oita Stadium. PA Photo

Liam Williams of Wales scores his team's fourth try during the Rugby World Cup 2019 Group D game between Wales and Fiji at Oita Stadium, Japan. Getty Images

Fiji's wing Josua Tuisova (R) is tackled by Wales' full back Liam Williams during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool D match between Wales and Fiji at the Oita Stadium in Oita. AFP

Wales' flanker Josh Navidi (R) is tackled by Fiji's centre Jale Vatubua during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool D match between Wales and Fiji at the Oita Stadium in Oita. AFP

Wales' Gareth Davies looks to break the tackle of a Fijian defender during the Rugby World Cup Pool D game at Oita Stadium between Wales and Fiji in Oita, Japan. AP

Wales' wing Joshua Adams (R) scores a try past Fiji's scrum-half Frank Lomani (L) and Fiji's full back Kini Murimurivalu during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool D match between Wales and Fiji at the Oita Stadium in Oita. AFP

Wales' Josh Adams scores his sides third try during the 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool D match at Oita Stadium. PA Photo

Fiji's Ben Volavola in action with Wales' Jake Ball - Pool D - Wales v Fiji - Oita Stadium, Oita, Japan. REUTERS

Wales' Ross Moriarty during a lineout - Pool D - Wales v Fiji - Oita Stadium, Oita, Japan. REUTERS

Liam Williams of Wales scores his team's fourth try during the Rugby World Cup 2019 Group D game between Wales and Fiji at Oita Stadium in Oita, Japan. Getty Images

Wales' Tomos Williams kicks the ball during the Rugby World Cup Pool D game at Oita Stadium between Wales and Fiji in Oita, Japan. AP Photo

Wales' Liam Williams in action with Fiji's Semi Radradra - Pool D - Wales v Fiji - Oita Stadium, Oita, Japan. REUTERS/Peter Cziborra

Wales' wing George North (2nd R) is tackled during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool D match between Wales and Fiji at the Oita Stadium in Oita. AFP

Fiji's players huddle after losing the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool D match between Wales and Fiji at the Oita Stadium in Oita. AFP

Argentina's Joaquin Tuculet in action with Nate Brakeley of the U.S. Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, Kumagaya, Japan. REUTERS

Argentina's full back Joaquin Tuculet (L) is tackled by US centre Paul Lasike during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Argentina and the United States at the Kumagaya Rugby Stadium in Kumagaya. AFP

Tony Lamborn of the United States and Nicolas Sanchez of Argentina compete for the ball during the Rugby World Cup 2019 Group C game between Argentina and USA at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium in Kumagaya, Saitama, Japan. Getty Images

Felipe Ezcurra of Argentina (C) kicks during the Rugby World Cup match between Argentina and the USA at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium in Tokyo, Japan. EPA

Argentina's centre Juan Cruz Mallia (L) and US wing Marcel Brache fight for the ball during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Argentina and the United States at the Kumagaya Rugby Stadium in Kumagaya. AFP

US hooker Joseph Taufete'e (L) is tackled by Argentina's flanker Juan Manuel Leguizamon during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Argentina and the United States at the Kumagaya Rugby Stadium in Kumagaya. AFP

Argentina's scrum-half Felipe Ezcurra (L) looks to pass the ball during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Argentina and the United States at the Kumagaya Rugby Stadium in Kumagaya. AFP

Argentina's Jeronimo de La Fuente looks to pass the ball during the Rugby World Cup Pool C game at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium between Argentina and the United States in Kumagaya City, Japan. AP Photo

Argentina's centre Jeronimo de la Fuente (L) is tackled by US full back Mike Teo during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Argentina and the United States at the Kumagaya Rugby Stadium in Kumagaya. AFP

Ben Landry of the United States is tackled by Mayco Vivas and Agustin Creevy of Argentina during the Rugby World Cup 2019 Group C game between Argentina and USA at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium in Kumagaya, Saitama, Japan. Getty Images

Argentina's Santiago Carreras in action with Blaine Scully of the U.S. Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, Kumagaya, Japan. REUTERS

Argentina's scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou (C) runs to score a try during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Argentina and the United States at the Kumagaya Rugby Stadium in Kumagaya. AFP

Argentina's Juan Cruz Mallia scores their fifth try - Argentina v U.S. - Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, Kumagaya, Japan. REUTERS

Argentina's flanker Juan Manuel Leguizamon (top) gestures as he is carried by teammates after the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Argentina and the United States at the Kumagaya Rugby Stadium in Kumagaya. AFP

Juan Manuel Leguizamon of Argentina is lifted by his team mates as he played the final international game after the Rugby World Cup 2019 Group C game between Argentina and USA at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium in Kumagaya, Saitama, Japan. Getty Images

A US supporter waves the US flag before the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool C match between Argentina and the United States at the Kumagaya Rugby Stadium in Kumagaya. AFP

USA players are applauded by Argentina players after the Rugby World Cup 2019 Group C game between Argentina and USA at Kumagaya Rugby Stadium in Kumagaya, Saitama, Japan. Getty Images

Scotland's wing Darcy Graham (C) runs with the ball prior to a pass leading to a try during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between Scotland and Russia at the Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa in Shizuoka. AFP

Scotland fans await the start of the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between Scotland and Russia at the Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa in Shizuoka. AFP

Scotland's centre Peter Horne (C) fends off a tackle by Russia's fly-half Ramil Gaisin (R) during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between Scotland and Russia at the Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa in Shizuoka. AFP

Scotland's hooker Stuart McInally (up) scores a try during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between Scotland and Russia at the Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa in Shizuoka. AFP

epa07906900 George Horne of Scotland in action during the Rugby World Cup match between Scotland and Russia at the Shizuoka Stadium in Fukuroi, Japan. EPA

Russia's players react after losing the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between Scotland and Russia at the Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa in Shizuoka. AFP

Russia's flanker Tagir Gadzhiev reacts after losing during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between Scotland and Russia at the Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa in Shizuoka. AFP

Scotland's wing Darcy Graham (C) runs with the ball on his way to making a pass to Scotland's scrum-half George Horne for a try during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between Scotland and Russia at the Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa in Shizuoka. AFP

Britain's Ann, Princess Royal cheers during the match - Scotland v Russia - Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa, Shizuoka, Japan. REUTERS

Scotland's Ryan Wilson runs at the Russian defence during the Rugby World Cup Pool A game at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa between Scotland and Russia in Shizuoka, Japan. AP Photo

George Horne of Scotland scores his team's seventh try during the Rugby World Cup 2019 Group A game between Scotland and Russia at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa in Fukuroi, Shizuoka, Japan. Getty Images

George Turner of Scotland celebrates with teammates after scoring his team's fifth try during the Rugby World Cup 2019 Group A game between Scotland and Russia at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa in Fukuroi, Shizuoka, Japan. Getty Images

Scotland's fly-half Adam Hastings (C) is tackled by Russia's flanker Vitaly Zhivatov (2R) during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between Scotland and Russia at the Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa in Shizuoka. AFP

Players fight for the ball during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between Scotland and Russia at the Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa in Shizuoka. AFP

Scotland's fly-half Adam Hastings (C) is tackled by Russia's flanker Vitaly Zhivatov (L) during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between Scotland and Russia at the Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa in Shizuoka. AFP

Scotland's flanker Fraser Brown (L) looks to pass past Russia's full back Vasily Artemyev during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool A match between Scotland and Russia at the Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa in Shizuoka. AFP

George Turner of Scotland scores his team's fifth try during the Rugby World Cup 2019 Group A game between Scotland and Russia at Shizuoka Stadium Ecopa in Fukuroi, Shizuoka, Japan. Getty Images

Wales survived an onslaught from Fiji to guarantee they will top Pool D at the Rugby World Cup – and thus enter the side of the knockout draw that avoids New Zealand.

Scotland now face a must-win final group game against Japan to reach the quarterfinals themselves, after George Horne scored three tries as part of their nine-try thrashing of Russia.

Close call

Wales and Fiji can lay a fair claim to having played the greatest ever World Cup match, 12 years back in France.

Back then, the Wales coach Gareth Jenkins was sacked in the fallout to a defeat that cost them a place in the knockout stage.

Warren Gatland has been Wales coach ever since. And he managed to avoid defeat to Fiji this time around, too. Somehow.

This meeting in Oita did not quite hit the heights of Nantes in 2007, but it was not far behind, as Wales made it through to a 29-17 win following an extraordinary Fiji performance.

Gatland himself looked stunned by what he had seen, with Wales clawing their way back from an early two-try deficit thanks a hat-trick by winger Josh Adams.

“It was a tough, physical, great game of rugby,” said Gatland, who will end his 12-year spell in charge of Wales at the end of this World Cup.

“We just kept trying to play three phases,” Gatland said. “If we played three phases, we created opportunities."

Battles of Hastings

While passing through Dubai on the eve of the World Cup, former Scotland centre Scott Hastings said how chuffed he was to see his nephew Adam Hastings heading to Japan.

Scott played at three World Cups, brother Gavin at three as well, while this is Adam’s first.

“We are delighted that the Hastings name remains synonymous with Scottish sport,” Scott, who is in Japan as a commentator, said. “It is great he is there playing.”

Adam Hastings was all smiles against Russia. Getty

Young Adam had to wait his turn at this tournament. When his opportunity did arise he was clearly keen to make up for lost time.

He scored two tries within the first 20 minutes against Russia, to get Scotland’s pursuit of an all-important four-try bonus point off to a fast start.

By the end of the 61-0 win, he had 26 points, a shot at a starting place against Japan on Sunday, and an endorsement from coach Gregor Townsend.

“Adam Hastings brought real balance to his game, excellent kicking in the first half, and his running game was excellent,” Townsend said.

Lyn’s sanity

Russia exited the World Cup with their heaviest beating of the tournament, but it was the only time in any of their four pool matches they had felt like easy beats.

The nine-try thrashing was nothing like the account their had given of themselves previously in matches against Ireland, Samoa and Japan.

Before the tournament, Lyn Jones, their coach, had been fearful of what was ahead.

There was a huge gap to bridge for a side who only made it to the World Cup by default, when three other European teams were found to have fielded ineligible players in their qualifying campaigns.

“Pushing four years of work into 12 months comes with a lot of stress,” said Jones, the former director of rugby at British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.

“It is challenging. I just hope we can be respected for our performance.”

After their efforts in Japan, Jones can consider that mission accomplished.

The state of America

Accepted wisdom has it that the United States will need to be a competitive force on the field if they are to make good on any prospective bid to stage the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Can they be considered to be so already? With just one match left to play, which will decide last place against Tonga, they are at the foot of Pool C.

They have yet to earn a bonus point in the competition, and have a negative points difference of 92.

Against Argentina on Wednesday they were blown away by a side that was fielding a number of players who had not been considered for their big matches.

And yet the South American side were comprehensive 47-17 winners. The USA have much to do if they are to be like Japan in eight years’ time.