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WAL vs FIJ

International Men's Rugby

Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Wales

vs

Fiji

19
FT
24
Action
Lineups
All
Facts Only
All
Full-Time: 19 - 24
The task gets no easier for Wales after this, with a fired up Wallabies side heading to Cardiff next weekend before the Springboks finish up their Autumn Nations Series in the Welsh capital in two weeks' time. Fiji take on Spain next weekend in Valladolid before heading back north to Dublin to take on Ireland in their final match for 2024.
There were times when Fiji was a bit static with ball in hand, keeping it very lateral and even losing ground thanks to some messy passes and big hits from Wales, but they were able to get themselves onto the front foot and into the right areas of the pitch from deep within their own half thanks to their offloading game and some great stepping, which was the real difference here.
Aside from some discipline issues, Wales cost themselves plenty of opportunities with poor handling. Even right down on the 5 they struggled at times to keep it clean, with the match well summed up by the last knock from the home side right in front of the sticks with the clock in the red and the game on the line. Another clear try-scoring opportunity went abegging thanks to a forward pass, with Wales instead gifting the ball back to Fiji.
Both sides struggled with their discipline today. The first half saw three cards handed out, one of those upgraded to a red, and a penalty try. There was a second penalty try that would have added a fourth card to that tally, but fortunately for Wales an obstruction was spotted in the setting of the rolling maul that rendered the collapse moot. There were plenty of penalties all over the park, giving both sides opportunities to get into the right areas of the pitch with ball in hand, but Fiji definitely made better use of those.
Fiji were lethal with ball in hand as usual. They are a tough team to beat when they get onto the front foot with ball in hand, with some great passing and cheeky offloading keeping the ball alive and opening up space out wide to run into. And once they have an inch of space they are gone like the wind with that incredible speed they boast!
Fiji have won their first ever match against Wales in Cardiff! And yet another defeat to add to Wales' dismal tally in 2024, equaling their worst ever run of 10 test losses in a row. This has been a win a long time coming for the Flying Fijians who came heartbreakingly close last year in the World Cup to securing victory over Wales, but today, despite a couple of discipline issues, Fiji have made history with this result.
80+1'
Clock is in the red here! Fiji spread it out to the right wing where they dart up the touchline and out of the 22 before booting it into the stands for the final whistle!
80'
Costelow with a great kick to set the lineout up halfway up the 22. Beard brings the ball down into the maul, and it's slow going initially... They get the second shove on, and then they break away off the base to barge up into contact. Elias spills it forward in the midfield though! Advantage called for Fiji, who want to keep playing!
79'
Maul formed by Wales off the lineout, and they drive it up to the 22 line before thumping it downfield. Kawaralevu gathers and dodges the defence on his way up to the 10. Popped back for the kick ahead from Wainiqolo. Wales back up the left wing up to halfway where they run into contact. Shift infield for Assiratti who is stopped short on his run. Out to the right wing where a high tackle on Thomas brings the penalty.