Fiji shock Wales to qualify for quarter-finals

Wales 34 Fiji 38

Wales were sent crashing out of the World Cup by Fiji after an extraordinary encounter at the Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes.

After fighting back from 25-3 down, Wales appeared to have the match won eight minutes from time when flanker Martyn Williams picked off a pass from Fijian fly-half Nicky Little and sprinted away for the try.

But Fiji, having given so much over the previous 72 minutes, refused to concede defeat and prop Graham Dewes was driven over for the winning try.

Fiji now head to Marseille for a quarter-final against South Africa, their first appearance in the knockout stages since the inaugural World Cup in 1987.

But while captain Mosese Rauluni led Fiji on a lap of honour, Wales were left standing on the field wondering where it had all gone wrong.

It was Wales’ third South Sea embarrassment in World Cups following defeats to the Samoans in 1991 and 1999.

And after Wales’ worst World Cup performance since 1995, head coach Gareth Jenkins – who began the year predicting his side could win the tournament – now faces a battle to cling on to his job.

It was also a miserable way for captain Gareth Thomas to mark his 100th Test appearance. He had said in midweek that victory would make this the proudest day of his life.

Instead it is one to forget.

Fiji stormed into a 25-3 lead with three tries in the space of 12 first half minutes from Gloucester’s Akapusi Qera, winger Vilimoni Delasau and lock Kele Leawere.

After Alix Popham touched down for a pushover try shortly before the interval, Wales produced a spirited comeback to edge ahead with further scores from Shane Williams, Thomas and Mark Jones.

Williams then picked off Little’s pass to score – but the final act of an engrossing drama was still to come as Dewes burrowed over in the corner.