Wales edge World Cup thriller with Fiji in Bordeaux

Warren Gatland's men were in command at 32-14 up thanks to tries by Josh Adams, George North, Louis Rees-Zammit and Dragons hooker Elliot Dee.

However, his former Rodney Parade teammate Mesake Doge added to efforts by Waisea Nayacalevu, Lekima Tagitagivalu and Josua Tuisova to set up a thrilling finish.

Fiji burst into the 22 with the clock in the red but superstar centre Semi Radradra knocked on with a chance to run the ball in and lead to a kick for glory.

Wales got out of jail after getting the rub of the green with some key decisions and will make it 10 points from 10 when taking on minnows Portugal on Saturday.

They will then watch with interest on Sunday as Fiji, who at least left with a pair of consolation bonus points, take on an Australia side fresh from a convincing win over Georgia.

If the Fijians turn over the Wallabies - and that very much looks a possibility - then it would leave Wales still needing to beat the Aussies in what is shaping up to be a tight pool.

Aaron Wainwright celebrates with Josh Adams after the opening try (Image: Press Association)

Taulupe Faletau returned to Wales’ starting line-up after a calf muscle injury that sidelined him for the entire tournament warm-up schedule.

Fiji, meanwhile, showed one enforced change from the side that beat England at Twickenham last month with fly-half Tela replacing an injured Caleb Muntz.

Wales made an outstanding start, taking an 8-0 lead in as many minutes through a Dan Biggar penalty and Adams try.

The outstanding Biggar, playing in his final World Cup before retiring from Test rugby, kicked a long-range penalty before Wales carved open the Fiji defence.

North’s powerful midfield surge was taken on by scrum-half Gareth Davies before possession quickly went wide and Adams – top try-scorer at the 2019 World Cup in Japan – finished in style.

Fiji responded strongly, though, and Nayacalevu scored a 13th-minute try that Lomani converted.

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 Tagitagivalu gave him an easy run-in.

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 Selestino Ravutaumada and departed for a head injury assessment to be replaced by Tomos Williams.

Wing Ravutaumada conceded a penalty but escaped further punishment from referee Matthew Carley as Wales held a four-point interval advantage.

Aaron Wainwright on the charge for Wales (Image: Press Association)

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.

The forwards drove a short-range lineout, and Dee claimed a touchdown that Biggar converted.

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, but Gatland’s men held on.