How they rated
LIAM WILLIAMS 8
Counter-attacked well and never got caught in possession. Typically solid under the high ball and linked nicely with the outside backs. Staked a claim to get the jersey against Australia. Deserved his try.
ALEX CUTHBERT 8
Fumbled a poor pass and got clattered early on but recovered to make good yards when he found himself in space. At times it felt like the Cuthbert of old and produced a world-class finish to score.
NICK TOMPKINS 7
Thrown in to start at very late notice after Josh Adams withdrew in the warm-up. Distributed nicely but just couldn’t cause Fiji consistent problems before producing a break in the final play to send Williams over.
JOHNNY WILLIAMS 6
Stayed in the physical contest well but lacked the finer touches required to pull the Fijian defence out of shape.
LOUIS REES-ZAMMIT 7
Struggled to get into the game for long periods but did well in the build-up to Cuthbert’s try and showed breathtaking speed to score a crucial try that took the game beyond Fiji.
DAN BIGGAR 5
Kicking out of hand was erratic, putting one out of the full that led to three Fijian points and missed touch. Clashed with referee Nic Berry regularly, which did Wales no favours. Couldn’t unlock Fiji’s defence.
KIERAN HARDY 7
Looked lively around the fringes, passed accurately despite having a poor platform to work from. Took his try well. Copybook blotted by a bizarre wayward pass into touch intended for Rees-Zammit.
RHYS CARRE 7
Defended intelligently and aggressively to thwart big Fijian ball-carriers and showed attacking intricacies with wonderful hands that belied the number on his back. Brought a bit of subtlety to his ball-carrying rather than running blindly into traffic.
RYAN ELIAS 8
Has continued to improve since a difficult start to the autumn. One of few Welsh forwards able to carry effectively and make the yards required for the backs to launch. Got a well-deserved two tries.
WILLGRIFF JOHN 6
Went off for a HIA just seven minutes into the match and never returned, so had little time to influence proceedings. Though he did miss a clearout at a ruck that resulted in Wales losing possession.
WILL ROWLANDS 7
Never surrendered possession but was unable to give Wales the go-forward they needed in open play. Part of a solid scrum and a dominant lineout. A decent outing.
ADAM BEARD 6
Marshalled the lineout well and orchestrated mauls that did damage. But also conceded untimely penalties and was largely ineffective in the loose.
ELLIS JENKINS (CAPT) 6
Clever work at defensive breakdowns and showed good hands in the loose to create half-chances in the wide channels.
THOMAS YOUNG 6
Showed glimpses in attack but struggled to impose himself on the breakdown as Wales lost a lot of ball in that area whilst struggling to cause problems for Fiji.
TAINE BASHAM 6
A performance bereft of the big moments that define him as he got to grips with a relatively unfamiliar position.
REPLACEMENTS
BRADLEY ROBERTS (UNUSED)
GARETH THOMAS 7 Showed the footwork before contact that had been needed all afternoon from Wales’ forwards, as opposed to simply putting his head down.
DILLON LEWIS 6 Came on early for WillGriff John and was heavily used as a runner off nine and ten but struggled to win the collisions that would have put Wales on the front foot. Set-piece work was solid.
CHRIST TSHIUNZA 6 Had nine minutes at the end and did well. Made his tackles and will be thrilled to have made his debut aged just 19.
SEB DAVIES 7 Was always around the ball after he came on for Thomas Young around the hour mark. One of his better cameos in a Wales shirt.
TOMOS WILLIAMS 6 Brought his typical tempo against a tiring Fijian side that spent much of the game with 13 men.
CALLUM SHEEDY 6 Wales were behind when he came onto the field and he produced a solid showing as they clawed their way back into the game.
WILLIS HALAHOLO 7 A misplaced pass to Biggar cost Wales what looked to be a certain try. Lovely break then launched a counter-attack 15 minutes from time.