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A narrow loss for Flying Fijians in the RWC opener against Wales.

Flying Fijians were disallowed two tries in their Rugby World Cup opener against Wales, narrowly losing 32-26 in Bordeaux.

The national 15’s team mounted pressure on the Wales defense with time already crossing 80 minutes but a knock-on from Semi Radradra ended the fight.

Flying Fijians made a perfect start with skipper Waisea Nayacalevu setting the scene with their first try.

It was a breathless contest in stamina-sapping heat, and Wales fell behind just four minutes later after Radradra broke clear, and his pass to Lekima Tagitagivalu gave him an easy run-in.

Frank Lomani’s conversion took Fiji 14-8 ahead, ringing alarm bells for Wales, before Biggar cut the gap by landing a second penalty.

And Wales regained the lead after relentless pressure reaped its reward as Nick Tompkins sent North over between the posts, with Biggar’s conversion securing an 18-14 advantage midway through the second quarter.

Fiji thought they had gone back in front just before the break, but Saracens prop Eroni Mawi was denied a try following a lengthy review of his dive for the line.

Davies was then on the receiving end of a high tackle by Selesitino Ravutaumada and departed for a head injury assessment to be replaced by Tomos Williams. Davies returned for the second period, and Biggar missed a 30-metre penalty chance before they conjured a third try in an unlikely fashion.

Sharp work by Tompkins unlocked Fiji’s defence, and skipper and flanker Jac Morgan provided the assist by kicking into space, and Rees-Zammit finished off, with Biggar’s conversion making it 25-14.

Fiji camped deep inside Wales’ 22 entering the final quarter, and it took sustained last-ditch defending to keep them out.

But the game looked to have drifted away from Fiji when Tagitagivalu was yellow-carded, and Wales scored before he had barely left the pitch.

However, Wales then lost replacement prop Corey Domachowski to the sin-bin for a technical infringement, and Fiji had the final say through tries from Tuisova and Doge.

© Fiji Rugby 2024