Two tries: Jamie Roberts
Wales confirmed their place in the World Cup quarter-finals on Sunday with a comfortable 66-0 win over a second-string Fiji side in Hamilton.
Wales secured a four-try bonus point in the first half of a one-sided affair and will now face either Australia or Ireland in Wellington next Saturday.
Wales went on to run in a total of nine unanswered tries and landed all their kicks in yet another impressive display in both the set-pieces and from their free-running backs.
Fiji arrived with somewhat naive tactics and selected a team based on the concept of "having fun", but they could not have enjoyed being run ragged by a better-organised Welsh side.
Tries from Jamie Roberts, Scott Williams, George North and Sam Warburton gave Wales a 31-0 lead at the break to put any doubts over the final result to bed.
The Fijian defence was cut to shreds at regular intervals and with the weather conditions deteriorating, Roberts claimed his brace before tries from Lloyd Burns, Leigh Halfpenny, Lloyd Williams and Jonathan Davies rubbed salt into the Fijian wounds.
Despite the lopsided scoreline, Wales coach Warren Gatland will not be entirely happy with the performance as his side were heavily penalised at the breakdown, especially for leaving their feet.
But one cannot deny that Wales will take plenty of momentum into the knock-out stages as arguably the most impressive northern hemisphere side on display.
Man of the match: Plenty of names to choose from with two-try Roberts and skipper Warburton strong candidates. But the official award went to barnstorming wing George North for his eye-catching runs and offloads. We won't argue.
Moment of the match: A handful of quality tries to choose from, but we'll go for Jamie Roberts's opening try off the back of a line-out lost by Fiji. Not only did Roberts pick the perfect angle for his run, but it set the tone for things to come. Fiji never looked like recovering.
Villain of the match: No nasty stuff to report
The scorers:
For Wales:
Tries: Roberts 2, Sc. Williams, North, Warburton, Burns, Halfpenny, L. Williams, Davies
Cons: Priestland 5, S. Jones 4
Pen: Priestland
The teams:
Wales: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 George North, 13 Scott Williams, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Leigh Halfpenny, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Toby Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (c), 6 Ryan Jones, 5 Luke Charteris, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Lloyd Burns, 17 Paul James , 18 Alun Wyn Jones, 19 Andy Powell, 20 Lloyd Williams, 21 Stephen Jones, 22 Jonathan Davies.
Fiji: 15 Iliesa Lomani Rakuka Keresoni, 14 Albert James Vulivuli, 13 Ravai Susau Fatiaki, 12 Gaby Lovobalavu, 11 Michael Tagicakibau, 10 Nicky Little, 9 Vitori Tomu Buatava, 8 Netani Edward Talei (c), 7 Sakiusa Matadigo, 6 Rupeni Nasiga, 5 Wame Lewaravu, 4 Leone Nakarawa, 3 Setefano Somoca, 2 Sunia Koto, 1 Waisea Nailago.
Replacements: 16 Viliame Veikoso, 17 Campese Ma'afu, 18 Akapusi Qera, 19 Mala Ravulo, 20 Nemia Kenatale, 21 Seremaia Bai, 22 Vereniki Goneva.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Stuart Terheege (England)
Television match official: Graham Hughes (England)
Comments
makemehappy says...
Swanjack
I have watched more than you could imagine! Please name the worst tackler in the welsh squad (a hint for you - james hook). Please also name the person with the most interception tries against his name (a clue - james hook). Please also name the person put away two seasons ago, with a scottish prop in pursuit who didī`t score a try for the Ospreys (another clue - James Hook). I think you need to watch more rugby and get your facts straight!
Posted 18:34 03rd October 2011
JayStarr says...
Only watched the game now... Brilliant Wales! Best performance of the last round. Composed, balanced, clinical... and consistently so for 80 mins.
The Pool of Death has served Wales well - now I just hope they can carry this attitude and momentum forward, instead of slipping into old habits against their regular Six Nations foes...
I'm cheering for you all the way to the final! (Until you meet South Africa or New Zealand of course... then I'm afraid I have to switch sides...;)
Posted 00:44 03rd October 2011
Daibok says...
Trinats, why are you such a wassock?
Fantastic Wales, great Ireland. I hope Wales make the final against the Boks so that I can cry for both anthems.
Posted 23:18 02nd October 2011
swanJack says...
makemehappy
you should try watching a few more games of rugby before making such a ridiculous statement Hook is as most people would agree is a true talent
Posted 21:36 02nd October 2011
Oldwire says...
All games 50/50 from here on in, pity Wales meet Ireland next in what promises to be a cracker, would have been better semi after knocking dire England and France out respectivley. Anyway can't wait!
Posted 19:22 02nd October 2011
Bitathisnow says...
Trinats:
Personally I wouldn't be the biggest fan of the way the Bok's play the game, in that they lack imagination and are often dirty...however they have a number of qualities that make them a major contender to hold onto their tital,they have great depth in the squad,experience and solid platforms in the lineout and the scrum, and a metronomic kicker in Morne Steyn,essentially they tick all the boxes of a team that can win the world cup. I would still fancy Ireland to beat them if they made it to the final so long as Ireland dont lose any of their irreplaceable players (mike ross,cian healy,bod,sean o brien etc).
Posted 15:35 02nd October 2011
pierredelot1 says...
Great play by Wales but a poor game from Fiji. just hoping that this wales side haven't arrived at this World Cup a year too early. These young guys have been a revelation rather like a Welsh side some 40-50 years ago. The only down side was the loss to S/A. North to date is the young player of the tournament but Warburton grows with every game and is an outstanding captain. Not only that but he plays like a classic 7, you get the impression he's been watching McCaw masterclasses. Next up Ireland and it's not a warm up match. This Irish back row are strong and direct so it's going to be a battle. D'Arcy back to his best for a couple of years today and we all know about the class of BOD so next weekend will be good fun. May the best team win, but hopefully we'll get a great game as well, probably that and Australia v South Africa, the pick of the bunch. Unless there is a major overhaul of skill levels and application England v France will be boring as hell and you can't see Argentina getting past NZ with the best will in the world, but they won't take any prisoners and the Blacks will get a hard game up front. Might soften them up for a coup de grace in the next round. Tee hee
Posted 13:42 02nd October 2011
Sasquatch says...
WALES ARE LOOKING GOOD.
Wales v Ireland, England v France, South Africa v Australia, New Zealand v Argentina. Who said this tournament was boring. Classic line up.
Posted 12:20 02nd October 2011
makemehappy says...
An excellent Welsh performance, and one which should confirm to anyone that there is no place for the weak link that is James Hook! Easily the most over-rated player the world has ever seen!
Posted 12:01 02nd October 2011
Bitathisnow says...
Trinats:
Australia were beaten by a better Irish side,plain and simple...theyll be knocked out in the QF by South Africa who will physically over power them the way Ireland did
Posted 11:57 02nd October 2011
Celtictenor says...
Well done Wales ! Thee of the nine tries could be put down to poor Fijian defence, but the rest were constructive Welsh brilliance. The quarter-final against Ireland looks to be an epic to come.
But Wane Barnes's perception of forward passes seem to have got worse since the last World Cup
Posted 11:27 02nd October 2011
mana says...
great display o rugby by Wales,..good to see a NH young side playing like they did today.
Fiji,...as a fijian-what can i say,(dissapointment)would be an understatement.
Good luck to Wales in QF
Posted 09:21 02nd October 2011
jonesy2 says...
fiji have been equally dissappointing in this world cup as wales are impressive.
Posted 08:44 02nd October 2011
Nicholas41 says...
' "super strong for their no-all-that-huge size club"'
?
Posted 08:36 02nd October 2011
melkdave says...
Awesomw display by Wales just didnt let up on Fiji all match.Along with NZ the form side atm going into the QFs
Posted 08:28 02nd October 2011
peterpump says...
very impressive well done Wales!!!
Posted 08:06 02nd October 2011
jonesy2 says...
wales are far and away the best team from the north. they should and deserve to make the final. north confirmed his place in the "super strong for their no-all-that-huge size club" along with james o'connor and conrad smith of course.
Posted 08:00 02nd October 2011
sirjona says...
Awesome absolutely awesome loved to see a team full of confidence and to play the last ten minutes with 14 men on the pitch by choice shows it all. Two years ago i placed a cheeky 20 quid bet for us to win the RWC at 100 to 1, not saying we are there yet but looking good. Even Barnesy could do nothing about that. Also Fiji had a full 8 days rest so no whingeing please.
Posted 07:58 02nd October 2011
RealRugby says...
Well played Wales against a very disappointing Fijian side. Unlucky not to top the group, and probably the pick on the NH teams.
Also, couldn't believe that Wayne Barnes actually picked up a forward pass near the end. Didn't realise he actually knew that rule - at one stage the game was turning into gridiron!
Posted 07:56 02nd October 2011