Fiji beat Wales 24-19 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium as Warren Gatland’s could not avoid matching the worst run of defeats in Welsh Rugby history.
Since triumphing over Georgia in the group stage of the 2023 World Cup, Wales have lost their last ten Tests in a run of games that started with a quarter-final defeat against Argentina and went on to include a rock-bottom finish in the Six Nations in March.
The match started like a house on fire with both teams showing their willingness to spread the ball wide.
With Fiji on the attack, Wales secured a turnover and kicked the ball upfield. Wales work the ball out to the left flank with some brilliant interplay, particularly from Gareth Thomas setting Blair Murray up to burst free from the defence and score an excellent debut try to open the scoring after nine minutes of play in the first half.
Three minutes later Caleb Muntz converted a penalty for Fiji to cut Wales' lead to 07-03.
Wales kept on applying pressure and were awarded a penalty try when Fiji was penalised for joining the maul from an offside position and holding the maul up. Fiji's Elia Canakaivata is given a yellow card for his efforts.
With fourteen minutes to play in the first half Fiji's flyhalf Caleb Muntz stepped and used his pace to beat several Welsh supporters and scored Fiji's first try to make the score Wales 14-10 Caleb Muntz.
Fiji is once again guilty of ill-discipline when Semi Radradra's yellow card is upgraded to a red reducing the islanders to thirteen players on the field. Fiji will be unable to replace him for 20 minutes.
Wales have shown real glimpses of attacking enterprise in the first half but haven’t made the most of having an extra man with Radradra’s 20-minute red card and the ease at which Caleb Muntz sliced through the wall of red will be of particular concern.
Caleb Muntz added two penalties in the first ten minutes of play in the second half to put Fiji in the lead for the first time in the match. Fiji led 16-14 with thirty minutes to play in the second half.
Wales have taken their foot off the gas in this second half and have lost their structure making several unforced errors. This led to Fiji setting up camp in Wales' red zone. Following a great run by Waisea Nayacalevu the ball is spread out wide to the inside centre Josua Tuisova who powers past several Welsh defenders to score Fiji's second try, extending their lead to 21-14.
Ellis Bevan scored Wales' third try following great handling by Wales to send Bevan over in the corner to cut Fiji's lead to just two points and twelve minutes to play in the second half.
With five minutes to play Fiji "scored" a disallowed try, however, Caleb Muntz converted a fourth penalty to extend their lead to 24-19, which was also the final score.
Scorers:
Wales: Tries: Blair Murray, Penalty Try, Ellis Bevan. Conversion: Gareth Anscombe.
Fiji: Tries: Caleb Muntz, Josua Tuisova. Conversion: Caleb Muntz. Penalty: Caleb Muntz (4).
Teams:
Wales: 15 Cameron Winnett, 14 Mason Grady, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Blair Murray, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Taine Plumtree, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Archie Griffin, 2 Dewi Lake (c), 1 Gareth Thomas. Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Christ Tshiunza, 20 James Botham, 21 Jac Morgan, 22 Ellis Bevan, 23 Sam Costelow.
Fiji: 15 Vuate Karawalevu, 14 Jiuta Wainiqolo, 13 Waisea Nayacalevu, 12 Josua Tuisova, 11 Semi Radradra; 10 Caleb Muntz, 9 Frank Lomani; 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Ratu Meli Derenalagi, 5 Temo Mayanavaua, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Samuela Tawake, 2 Tevita Ikanivere, 1 Eroni Mawi. Replacements: 16 Sam Matavesi, 17 Haereiti Hetet, 18 Jone Koroiduadua, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Albert Tuisua, 21 Simi Kuruvoli, 22 Isaiah Ravula, 23 Sireli Maqala.