Wales whip fruitless Fiji
2 Oct 2011
Wales ended Fiji’s disappointing World Cup campaign with 66-0 hiding in Hamilton.
It was four years ago when Fiji picked up an upset 38-34 win over Wales to give the Dragons an early exit at the last tournament in France. However, so much has changed since that game in Nantes – and it could clearly be seen on the field and scoreboard.
Wales have showcased some great young talent, with wing George North, No 8 Toby Faletau and centre Scott Williams shining early in their careers, while key men in captain Sam Warbuton, inside centre Jamie Roberts and wing Leigh Halfpenny have set the example when called upon. Fiji only have three suriviours from the 2007 World Cup, and the lack of quality and team chemistry in the current squad was exposed.
Wales were dominant in the opening 40, securing their four-try bonus point before the break. With their forwards holding the ascendancy up front, the backline flourished as centre pair Roberts and Williams grabbed a try apiece inside the first quarter. North and Warbuton finished the first half rout while flyhalf Rhys Priestland added all the extras and a penalty for a 31-0 half-time lead.
Wales completed the whitwashing in the second stanza with another five tries. Roberts completed his brace while replacement hooker Lloyd Burns, wing Leigh Halfpenny, reserve scrumhalf Lloyd Williams and replacement centre Jonathan Davies also dotted down for a try tally of nine. The kickers played their part too, with Priestland and Stephen Jones finishing a flawless kicking display.
Fiji had opportunities to score, but their poor finishing they was met by a resilient Welsh defence. Wales also frustrated the Islanders at the breakdown, making 11 turnovers and conceding 11 penalties – which was enough to stifle Fiji’s threat.
By Gareth Duncan
21 Comments
2 Oct 2011, 06:23 am
Hope Wales put the boot in.
2 Oct 2011, 07:13 am
Rubbish officiating. Fiji get penalised for “tackling without the ball”, while the ball carrier actually spilled the ball just BEFORE the tackle. Rubbish. And then Wales put in a late hit and get away with it. Rubbish.
2 Oct 2011, 07:41 am
Looks like Barnes still hasn’t read the rule regarding forward passes.
2 Oct 2011, 07:43 am
This Fiji team is hugely disappointing.
Having said that, Barnes & Co. are doing their best to turn this into a cricket score. Two blatant forward passes in a row in that George North try.
And there’s another one, less than three meters from Barnes.
2 Oct 2011, 07:44 am
@David(David)-3: Snap. It’s not fun to watch when the refereeing is so shoddy and lazy.
2 Oct 2011, 07:46 am
And speaking of lazy, the score hasn’t been 17-0 for ages now. Fix it.
2 Oct 2011, 08:01 am
What a hit on Byrne. Torfukkenpedoed.
2 Oct 2011, 08:18 am
This Barnes is a rubbish ref.
I wonder which IRB chief balls he is gargling.
2 Oct 2011, 08:20 am
@HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-8: Agree with you there. He’s piss poor.
2 Oct 2011, 08:21 am
@HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-8:
Yeah, hes gone down hill since 2007 RWC
2 Oct 2011, 08:23 am
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-10: Was he there? I don’t even remember him from 2007.
2 Oct 2011, 08:25 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-5:
These short forward passes are actually far more significant than just an unfortunate error of judgement, as the ABs cynically exploit.
The receiving player is already running into space either alongside or behind the defender and that extra half metre is enough to avoid a tackle.
In my opinion they should drop the phrase “forward pass” and enforce a rule that the ball must go backwards to eliminate the abuse of marginal calls which are impossible to accurately defend against.
2 Oct 2011, 08:28 am
@David(David)-12: Exactly. Then they can also do away with the whole”forward momentum” argument, with all that rubbish about looking at the angle of the hands and the direction the pass was originally made before momentum and the rotation of the earth came into play.
Pass must travel backwards. Simple.
2 Oct 2011, 08:30 am
@>^..^< katman(katman)-9: & @>^..^< katman(katman)-11: The only whistle he should be allowed to use is his r@pe whistle.
2 Oct 2011, 08:31 am
Ha ha, Jenkins puts the big kick through for Halfpenny to chase and score. Classic. After completely missing his previous kick attempt.
2 Oct 2011, 08:32 am
@HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-14: sorry for @Hurricane(Hurricane)-10:
2 Oct 2011, 08:40 am
The Fijians have had a number of try scoring opportunities but butchered the lot.
2 Oct 2011, 08:41 am
Got to say… Wales are looking good this RWC.
2 Oct 2011, 08:57 am
The sight of Andy Marinos makes my pink pap taste like ****.
2 Oct 2011, 09:16 am
Damn, storm coming in Jhb and a good chance we’ll lose the DSTV signal as well as having to unplug my ADSL line.
2 Oct 2011, 10:11 am
I reckon the winner of the Wales/Ireland quarter will meet NZ in the final.
Wales are looking good, as are Ireland… but neither will have enough to beat NZ.
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