That’s a wrap
Thanks for tuning in for our live coverage of that sensational match in Bordeaux.
It’s heartbreak for Fiji as Wales hold on for a 32-26 win that puts them in a favourable position to progress through to a quarter-final.
We’ll be back for more blog action later in the tournament.
Check out our mastheads for all the latest news and analysis at the Rugby World Cup in France.
Cheers!
Prince Williams in the stands.Credit: Getty
Match report: Flying finish from Fiji but Wales hold on in thrilling clash
Wales struggled to hold off fast-finishing Fiji to win 32-26 in the latest instalment of their entertaining World Cup rivalry.
Loading
Fiji will now probably need to beat the Wallabies in their clash on Sunday (Monday AEST) to reach the quarter-finals, with Australia still top of Pool C after their victory over Georgia.
The pre-tournament hype around Fiji looked to be justified when Waisea Nayacalevu and Lekima Tagitagivalu scored classic Fijian tries from deep within four minutes to vault their team into a 14-8 lead by the 17th minute on Sunday (Monday AEST) in Bordeaux.
They didn’t score another point until the 73rd minute as the Welsh regrouped to deliver a mature and determined riposte, even claiming an attacking bonus point for going over for four tries. Josh Adams, the top try-scorer in the 2019 World Cup, got off the mark four years later with one of them.
AP
The Wallabies are leading their pool
Australia’s 35-15 win over Georgia in Paris still has them on top of Pool C after the opening weekend of matches.
Eddie Jones was pleased to see his side snare a bonus point, which will be a critical differentiator as the weeks go on in France.
Fiji, who trailed 32-14 with seven minutes remaining, looked like they wouldn’t come away from Bordeaux with a point but picked up two bonus points for finishing within seven points of Wales and another for scoring four or more tries.
Australia’s next match is against Fiji on Sunday (Monday 1.45am AEST) in Saint-Etienne, while Wales and Portugal face each other on Saturday (Sunday 1:45am AEST) in Nice.
Louis Rees-Zammit celebrates Wales’ victory.Credit: Getty
Full-time stats
FitzSimons: Fiji very unlucky not to beat Wales
Gatland: Wales made ‘dumb decisions’ in final minutes of match
Wales coach Warren Gatland has a smile on his face but he knows his men have snatched victory from the jaws of defeat there in a thrilling finish against Fiji.
“I’m delighted with the win but we made it a hell of a lot harder than we needed to and made some dumb decisions in the last 15 minutes,” Gatland said. “I’m a little bit angry about a few things but the positive is we won. We just lost a bit of composure there.”
Wales head coach Warren Gatland.Credit: Getty
Radradra knocks on with victory in sight as Wales hang on for 32-26 victory
With 10 seconds remaining in regular time, Fiji win their lineout 40 metres from Wales’ line.
Now it’s a case of trucking the ball up. This is so intense as the crowd roars in Bordeaux.
Semi Radradra gets Fiji in Wales’ 22-metre area and they look a chance of pulling off one of the great Rugby World Cup wins.
But after more than 10 phases, the ball is flung
…. to be continued
Read full article at the Original Source
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : Brisbane Times – https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/rugby-union/rugby-world-cup-live-wales-v-fiji-at-stade-de-bordeaux-20230910-p5e3kc.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed
