A narrow loss for Flying Fijians in the RWC opener against Wales.

September 12, 2023

Flying Fijians were disallowed two tries in their Rugby World Cup opener against Wales, narrowly losing 32-26 in Bordeaux.

The national 15’s team mounted pressure on the Wales defense with time already crossing 80 minutes but a knock-on from Semi Radradra ended the fight.

Flying Fijians made a perfect start with skipper Waisea Nayacalevu setting the scene with their first try.

It was a breathless contest in stamina-sapping heat, and Wales fell behind just four minutes later after Radradra broke clear, and his pass to Lekima Tagitagivalu gave him an easy run-in.

Frank Lomani’s conversion took Fiji 14-8 ahead, ringing alarm bells for Wales, before Biggar cut the gap by landing a second penalty.

And Wales regained the lead after relentless pressure reaped its reward as Nick Tompkins sent North over between the posts, with Biggar’s conversion securing an 18-14 advantage midway through the second quarter.

Fiji thought they had gone back in front just before the break, but Saracens prop Eroni Mawi was denied a try following a lengthy review of his dive for the line.

Davies was then on the receiving end of a high tackle by Selesitino Ravutaumada and departed for a head injury assessment to be replaced by Tomos Williams. Davies returned for the second period, and Biggar missed a 30-metre penalty chance before they conjured a third try in an unlikely fashion.

Sharp work by Tompkins unlocked Fiji’s defence, and skipper and flanker Jac Morgan provided the assist by kicking into space, and Rees-Zammit finished off, with Biggar’s conversion making it 25-14.

Fiji camped deep inside Wales’ 22 entering the final quarter, and it took sustained last-ditch defending to keep them out.

But the game looked to have drifted away from Fiji when Tagitagivalu was yellow-carded, and Wales scored before he had barely left the pitch.

However, Wales then lost replacement prop Corey Domachowski to the sin-bin for a technical infringement, and Fiji had the final say through tries from Tuisova and Doge.