Wales wary ahead of Rugby World Cup
Wales head coach Warren Gatland is set to start his fifth Rugby World Cup as a coach, eager to banish a turbulent couple of years for his side. But with Fiji sitting above Wales in the world rankings, it’s a tricky start for the Dragons.
Wales were boosted on the eve of the tournament with victory over England in the warm-ups, only for their old foe to hit back at Twickenham and then the Springboks inflicted a punishing defeat. It will not be an unfamiliar opponent to kick things off in France though, the sides have met in the last four tournaments, with Wales winning the last three.
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Wales vs Fiji
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TRY! Wales 8-14 Fiji (Tagitagivalu, 18 mins)
Twice in four minutes and the Fijians are ahead! It’s a free-flowing move that starts with Nayacalevu, the first try scorer.
Radradra receives the offload and bursts through the middle of the pitch. The inside centre draws in the defence before finding Tagitagivalu who surges over to fire Fiji into the lead.
Ben Fleming10 September 2023 20:23
TRY! Wales 8-7 Fiji (Nayacalevu, 14 mins)
What a response from Fiji! They’ve threatened plenty during this opening 14 minutes and hit back straight away as Nayacalevu picks up a loose bouncing ball before crashing through the heart of the Welsh defence.
Ben Fleming10 September 2023 20:18
PENALTY MISSED! Wales 8-0 Fiji, 11 mins
A chance for Fiji to hit back immediately, but Tela can’t convert from the tee. Wales maintain their eight-point lead.
Ben Fleming10 September 2023 20:16
TRY! Wales 8-0 Fiji (Adams, 8 mins)
What a start from Wales! Having survived that early scare from the Fiji maul, Wales have their first try of the game through Adams. North makes the break through the middle of the park and it’s clinically finished off by Adams when the ball finds him wide on the right!
Biggar can’t convert from out on the left but a great start nevertheless.
(AFP via Getty Images)
Ben Fleming10 September 2023 20:13
WALES 3-0 FIJI, 6 mins
A bright start after that penalty but Wales concede a penalty shortly after and it’s pinned into the corner. Fiji try to get the rolling maul going but it’s well defended by Wales as they eventually win a penalty and can clear.
Ben Fleming10 September 2023 20:10
PENALTY! WALES 3-0 FIJI, (Biggar, 3 mins)
The perfect start for Wales as Rowlands does well at the breakdown to win an early penalty. Dan Biggar steps up and makes no mistake, slotting over the posts to get Wales up and running with an early three points.
Ben Fleming10 September 2023 20:07
KICK-OFF: WALES 0-0 FIJI
National anthems sung, Fiji’s Cibi performed, and we are ready to go and underway in Bordeaux!
Ben Fleming10 September 2023 20:03
Rugby World Cup 2023: Wales vs Fiji
(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)
Jack Rathborn10 September 2023 20:00
Kick-off coming up
The players begin to make their way out of the dressing room and into the tunnel. A big game to close the opening weekend and a big game for both teams who will be looking to get their World Cup campaigns off and running with a win.
Ben Fleming10 September 2023 19:57
Finn Russell left bruised and beaten as Springboks blunt Scottish blade
Finn Russell inspected his damaged ribs, poking at the Scottish sore spots. There were plenty to pick on a night where Gregor Townsend’s suffered a major World Cup blow, bodies and egos bruised as South Africa reminded their upstart opponents why they are the heavyweight champions of the world.
It had been billed as a classic clash of styles, Scotland hoping to duck and weave and land a few rapid strikes; the Springboks searching for haymakers. In fact, Scotland’s inaccuracy left them trying to match their opponents blow-for-blow – it was a fight they were never likely to win.
There will be talk of Scottish bravery in defeat but it is a World Cup tale told too many times before. Gregor Townsend’s side had arrived in Marseille talking in optimistic tones, knowing the stiffness of the task in front of them in a horror pool draw, but with confidence they had the game to mix it with the big boys.
In an encounter where absolute accuracy was surely the demand, Scotland lacked precision. Skipper Jamie Ritchie match eve rallying cry was of a desire to play the “fastest rugby in the world” but a bitty game suited the Springboks, short of their best but still too strong, blunting Russell’s blade with a fine defensive performance to get their title defence off to a solid start.
Read Harry Latham-Coyle’s report from South Africa’s win against Scotland at the Stade Velodrome earlier:
Ben Fleming10 September 2023 19:50