CARDIFF // Wales found the combination of a short turnaround, some intriguing decisions from referee John Lacey and a spirited Fiji side too much in their search for a bonus point on Thursday night.
First-half tries by man-of-the-match Gareth Davies and hooker Scott Baldwin, in addition to flawless kicking once again from Dan Biggar, set Wales up for a 17-6 lead at the break.
Wales’ scrum, however, struggled markedly against the Fiji eight all night and the home side gave away needless penalties that allowed the visitors a continuous lifeline.
Even without their two best players in Nemani Nadolo, who was suspended due to a dangerous tackle against Australia, and scrum-half Nikola Matawalu due to a lower back injury, all 15 of Fiji’s starting line-up seemed to be able to offload the ball at will.
Leone Nakarawa and Tevita Cavubati proved a constant menace with their rampaging runs, and when Wales finally threw enough numbers at the two locks they simply slipped the ball to support runners. Centre Asaeli Tikoirotuma and Timoci Nagusa were significant threats out wide, also.
After Fiji centre Vereniki Goneva finished off a sublime move that started in his own side’s 22 to touch down in the 49th minute the Pacific islanders went on to win the half 7-6. Had inspirational fly-half Ben Volavola had not missed two penalties his team may well eventually have pulled off the unthinkable but Wales hung on to win 23-13.
Warren Gatland’s side were visited by boxer Joe Calzaghe in midweek for a pep talk but, having delivered a sucker punch to bitter rivals England with victory at Twickenham on Saturday, their failure to score four tries – and thus pick up an added bonus point – has let Stuart Lancaster’s team back up off the ropes.
Wales top the pool with 13 points, but if England beat Australia at Twickenham tomorrow and then secure the bonus point against Uruguay a week later the hosts will proceed as winners on 15 points.
That would leave Wales in a dogfight for second place against Australia on October 10 at Twickenham, an eventuality Gatland hardly relishes.
“If we are being entirely selfish about this Australia can do us a big favour by winning as we then go through to the quarter-finals,” the coach said.
“It is a bit hard for a Kiwi to get up and cheer for Aussies though.
“You can potentially miss out on the quarter-finals by losing just one of your pool matches, that is how hard this pool is.”
Wales have suffered the worst injury list out of any of the 20 teams in the tournament and with just a four-day turnaround following their last-gasp 28-25 victory over England there were some tired legs in the second half.
Fiji captain Akapusi Qera revealed afterwards he noticed Wales drop off visibly after the break. His opposite number agreed.
“I thought that was one of the toughest Test matches I have played in,” Sam Warburton, the Wales captain, said.
“In the first half I was worried that I would be pulled off as I was running around so slowly.
“This week was a completely different feel and I feel sorry for some of the lower tier nations.”
By playing England at Twickenham and Wales and Australia here in Cardiff, Fiji have had to play the world’s second, third and sixth-ranked side inside 13 days with only Uruguay left next week.
You have to feel for all of those Fijians back home who wanted to watch the three matches. They had to get up in the early hours to witness their team slump to their sixth successive World Cup defeat. With match tickets outside the ground selling for over £200 (Dh 1,111) and a match programme priced at £10, the small travelling band of Fiji supporters must wonder whether it was all worth it.
“It is very frustrating to be at this point with no points on the table,” coach John McKee said. “We had high expectations and a talented group of players. We worked really hard but to play England, Australia and Wales in 13 days is very tough for any team.
“It is credit to the team how we have stood up to those teams and been competitive.”
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