Rugby Galtand: We showed real character to come back and win
WING Josh Adams scored a hat-trick of tries to guide Wales to the World Cup quarter-finals with a pulsating victory over Fiji in Oita.
Wales came from 10-0 down and overcame an early Fiji onslaught in a bruising battle. Full-back Liam Williams also crossed late on to secure a bonus point.
The victory came at a cost with injury concerns for the rest of the tournament over fly-half Dan Biggar and centre Jonathan Davies.
Cardiff Blues wing Adams limped off in the final minutes, injured in scoring his third try.
Both sides had two players yellow-carded in a frenetic encounter in which flamboyant Fiji excelled in broken play.
There were also 31 missed tackles by Wales and five disallowed tries between both sides to demonstrate the captivating contest witnessed in Japan.
It was a third victory after previous wins over Georgia and Australia. Wales now top Pool D and are in line to win the group by defeating Uruguay in four days’ time.
Wales will be without Biggar for that final pool match after he suffered a second head injury in successive games and will be a doubt for a quarter-final, probably in ten days in Oita.
Davies will also be a doubt for the knockout stages after suffering a knee injury.
Wales coach Warren Gatland: “It was tough. From 10-0 down I would’ve taken a bonus-point win. We showed some real character to get back into that.
“They have some incredible individual athletes, we showed some character to fight back. I’m pleased with that performance and result. It was a little bit different to the first two games, hopefully it’ll set us up nicely going forward.”
Fiji wing Josua Tuisova scored an incredible try as he powered through Adams and held off the challenge of Biggar and Josh Navidi.
In a breathless start Wales and Fiji had tries ruled out for infringements before Wales hooker Ken Owens was yellow-carded for a dangerous tackle.
Fiji immediately made the extra man tell with full-back Kini Murimurivalu powering over.
Fiji were reduced to 14 men when lock Tevita Cavubati was guilty of a reckless shoulder into the back of Moriarty at a ruck.
This incident prompted a rapid response by Wales as Adams leapt to catch a pinpoint Biggar cross kick for a try which the fly-half converted.
Adams was denied a try with a foot in touch before Fiji flanker Semi Kunatani was yellow carded for offside. After a series of scrums on the line and some patient buildup, Adams crossed for his second with Biggar again converting from the touchline.
In the second half, Fiji were awarded a penalty try and regained the lead after Wales collapsed a maul.
Rhys Patchell’s first major contribution as Biggar’s replacement was to slot over a penalty as Wales recovered from a ragged period.
Centre Davies provided a brilliant intervention with a searing break and fend before an outstanding offload provided Adams with his third try.
Scrum-half Gareth Davies turned provider when he set up Williams for Wales’ fourth crucial try to clinch victory.