Wales survive Fiji's double onslaught in World Cup opener
Wales withstood a spirited fightback from Fiji on Sunday night to edge a pulsating game in Group C at the World Cup in Bordeaux.
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"There were 65 minutes on the clock and we were comfortable," reflected Wales coach Warren Gatland just after the nail-biting finale at the Matmut Atlantique.
"We needed to control the game there but we gave away unnecessary penalties and lost a little bit of composure and allowed Fiji back. And with the team that they've got, they can hurt you."
And the Fijians nearly did.
They scored two tries in the last 10 minutes to cut Wales' lead from 32-14 to 32-26. A dropped pass at the end with the by-line beckoning could have taken the game down to a conversion to decide it.
But Semi Radradra's fumble spared the nerves for such a denouément.
"I thought we showed some great courage in certain aspects," added Gatland. "I'm delighted with the result."
His Fiji counterpart, Simon Raiwalui, spoke soberly about the inconsistencies of the officials preferring to put the defeat down to failure to exploit their opportunities.
"We weren't clinical enough to finish off some of our moves," he added.
"But we've got another job to do. We have to move on because we are playing Australia next week.So we have to recover for that game and prepare for it."
In that match at Saint-Etienne next Sunday, the Australians will know they are in for a battle royal if they follow the Welsh approach.
Gatland's men were on the scoreboard within two minutes. Albert Tuisue was sanctioned for holding on to the ball on the ground and Dan Biggar kicked the penalty for three points.
Josh Adams increased the lead with a try after eight minutes following slick interplay between Biggar and Liam Williams. Wales exuded composure in an encounter that Gatland had described as dangerous.
Seemingly settled, Fiji launched the first of their fightbacks with two tries in three minutes.
Waisea Nayacalevu scored their first witjh a break through the middle of the Welsh defence and he set up Lekima Tagitagivalu for the second which was celebrated raucously with the subsitutes behind the Wales goalline.
Halt
Biggar's converted penalty halted the Fijian flow and a George North try just before the pause turned the tie back towards the Welsh who went into the break leading 18-14.
Two more tries after the pause appeared to kill off the match. Gatland took off Biggar and Wales started to wilt without his cajoling, cussedness and calm.
Fiji responded with their second surge. Josua Tuisova muscled his way over in the 73rd minute and Mesake Doge nudged over as well. 32-26 to Wales.
The grandstand finish brought the 41,000 in the crowd to their feet. Radradra's blunder at the end spared Welsh blushes and robbed the tournament of a shock.
"We're obviously disappointed," added Raiwalui. "But we're playing against the best in the world.
"We played England at Twickenham before the World Cup and we've just played Wales. These are the games we need to be playing more often.
"The more often we get these games the better we get because we get consistency of matches.
"Fijians have shown we improve when we play the best. I am proud of my boys."
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