Wales 29-17 Fiji: Josh Adams runs in three tries as Welsh book quarter-final spot

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Will Macpherson9 October 2019

Wales secured their qualification for the quarter-finals of the World Cup with a 29-17 bonus-point win over Fiji. But that does not tell half the story.

There were four yellow cards, four tries and four more tries disallowed because the ball went forward or a foot slipped into touch – and that was just in a breathless first half.

The wonderful rugby continued after the break, with more cards, tries and surging running action. The lead changed hands four times.

This is the last we shall see of Fiji at this tournament, and they have registered just a single win, over Georgia.

But there is truly never a dull moment, and their wondrous running – led by Semi Radradra – gave Wales’ vaunted defence nightmares. There was to be no repeat of that famous 2007 win.

No player encapsulated the chaos like Wales wing Josh Adams. He was trampled over for both of Fiji’s early tries, and then finished two of his own in the left corner to give Wales the lead after 30 minutes.

In the second half his wonderful one-handed finish in the corner following Jonathan Davies’ break and offload wrestled the lead back Wales’ way. Adams had a hat-trick – and a rollercoaster night.

Fiji wasted no time showing off their wonderful running and offloading game, and Josua Tuisova produced a super finish – seeing off Adams in the process – to score in the right corner after three minutes.

Wales thought they had hit back through Josh Navidi, but George North knocked on in the tackle.

Fiji’s Frank Lomani crossed only for a forward pass to be spotted in the build-up – but the replay also revealed that Ken Owens had tip-tackled Viliame Mata.

He was lucky to only be yellow carded, because Mata landed on his back. Fiji went right, and this time it was Kini Murimurivalu beating Adams to score.

But Adams responded in style, getting up higher than Ben Volavola off Dan Biggar’s cross-kick, then finishing after prolonged pressure. On both occasions, Fiji had a man in the sin bin, first Tevita Cavubati for dangerous play at the ruck, then Semi Kunatani for persistent offside. Wales took a 14-10 lead into the break.

In the second half, Fiji showed they could do pragmatism as well as panache. After a period of prolonged pressure in which the sensational Radradra almost scored in the corner, another Welsh penalty saw James Davies sin-binned for not rolling away.

Volavola sent the penalty to the corner, and the rolling maul resulted in a penalty try that gave Fiji the lead.

Shortly after, there were worrying scenes for Wales as Biggar wore Liam Williams’ shoulder to his head taking a high ball, with the fly-half receiving a second blow as the full-back landed on the floor.

Biggar went off the field in Wales’ last game against Australia with concussion. This time, it had looked like he would have to leave the field on a medical cart, but jogged off when replaced by Rhys Patchell.

As against Australia, Patchell was straight into the action, nudging over the first penalty attempt of the match, from 45 metres, to level the score after 57 minutes.

Three minutes later, Patchell missed the conversion after Adams’ fine third score. Jonathan Davies contribution to that try saw his night end through injury.

Fiji kept coming at Wales, but they score the final try of a memorable, frenzied night, with Gareth Davies setting up Liam Williams to score under the posts.

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