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 32-21 Fiji, 77 mins
No try! The Fiji players have their hands on their heads, the boos ring out from this partisan crowd but the try isn’t given.
A penalty for Fiji on the five-yard line instead. Can they regroup and find a score again to give themselves a chance at a late victory?
Wales 32-21 Fiji, 76 mins
Wales take their time with the restart as a chorus of boos ring out from the crowd in Bordeaux. When play does get back underway, it’s Fiji on the attack again.
And now they think they’ve got it over again! We head to TMO...
TRY! Wales 32-21 Fiji, (Tuisova, 73 mins)
The perfect response to that Welsh yellow card from Fiji as they dominate at the scrum. After a series of re-set scrums, they send it through the hands and it’s Tuisova who goes over to get a much-needed score.
The deficit back to 11 with seven minutes remaining.
YELLOW CARD! Wales 32-14 Fiji, (Domachowski, 68 mins)
Wales have the man advantage for a matter of moments as Domachowski departs for a ten-minute sin bin. Wales were still on a warning after their slew of infringements as Fiji attacked a few minutes earlier.
Domachowski’s offside is the last straw and punished with a yellow card. Sloppy from Wales and perhaps a small window of opportunity for Fiji.
TRY! Wales 32-14 Fiji, (Dee, 66 mins)
Right after the yellow card, Wales have another try. They go back to the rolling maul and this one comes off as Elliot Dee crashes over the line for a huge bonus-point try to put further daylight between them and Fiji.
Biggar converts to add the extra two. A massive few moments for Galtand’s side having survived that Fijian onslaught just moments ago.
YELLOW CARD! Wales 25-14 Fiji, (Tagitagivalu, 65 mins)
Now it’s Wales on the attack as Tagitagivalu goes into the sin bin for pulling down the maul on the Fijian try line.
Wales 25-14 Fiji, 62 mins
A final warning for the Welsh players as the penalty infringes continue to mount.
More dogged defence and, in the end, they are rewarded as Botia spills the ball over the tryline after a tackle from Rowlands as Fiji look for that elusive third try to get them back into the game.
Huge defence from Wales who maintain their 11-point lead with just under 20 minutes go.
Wales 25-14 Fiji, 60 mins
As expected, Fiji do hit back as they close in on the Welsh line. They think they’ve gone over before the ref drags it back for a penalty. It’s taken quickly as they continue to hammer away at the Welsh tryline.
Another penalty coming and the pressure continues...
Wales 25-14 Fiji, 55 mins
Some minor concern for the men in red now as Biggar hobbles around. The fly-half is able to continue for now though. You suspect he’ll need more than a little knock to drag him off this pitch tonight.
Wales 25-14 Fiji, 53 mins
The Welsh fans are in fine voice inside this stadium after that score. They recognise just how valuable that try was. The perfect platform but Fiji will not go quietly, that is for sure.
Those cheers get even louder moments later after a thumping tackle from Adams on Ravutaumada. The bench are off their feet to celebrate the tackle as well - that was some hit!
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