CARDS STACK AS WALES SURVIVE FIJI SCARE
Another stack of cards as Wales survive Fiji scare
ANOTHER Rugby World Cup game, another stack of cards dished out.
For the second time in as many days, the action in Japan was interrupted by referees repeatedly reaching into their pockets — this time twice against either side.
Wales secured a bonus point win over Fiji on Wednesday despite losing two players to the sin bin and conceding a second half penalty try.
In total there were four yellow cards in the match, the stop-start contest making life tough for either side to gain any real momentum throughout.
The tournament as a whole has been littered with cards — both red and yellow. Before it got underway, head of referees Alain Rolland promised to take a hardline stance on contact with the head.
On Tuesday, Canada’s Josh Larsen was issued a red card for an illegal clean-out the sixth of the World Cup so far.
Wales’ Ken Owens was the first to get a yellow on Wednesday. The Welsh hooker was caught by Kiwi TMO Ben Skeen tipping a Fijian player past the horizontal.
Moments later, Fiji’s Tevita Cavubati saw yellow for an incorrect clean-out. A third yellow card was shown before halftime, with Semi Kunatani sinbinned for repeated team infringements.
In all three cases, tries were scored when the opposing teams were down to 14 men. Referee Jerome Garces and TMO Skeen were in constant communication as the constant stoppages made for a first half that dragged on almost an hour.
And the cards didn’t stop. Just 12 minutes into the second half, Garces again reached into his pocket, this time to send Wales’ James Davies off for repeat infringements. Fiji were awarded a penalty try moments later.
Despite being down, Wales found a way to hang tough and outlast Fiji.
But there’s no denying the constant stoppages, did not suit the way Fiji wanted to play.
Ultimately Wales responded the better of the two sides, claiming their victory late in the game.