Wales beat Fiji to reach World Cup quarters, put Australia through
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Winger Josh Adams scored a sensational hat-trick on Wednesday as Wales booked a Rugby World Cup quarter-final place with a 29-17 bonus-point win over Fiji, sending Australia through in the process.
In an end-to-end encounter in Oita, Fiji scored two tries in the first eight minutes playing some free-flowing rugby, but the Six Nations champions pegged them back and a Liam Williams try with 12 minutes left buried the Fijians’ chances.
The result also guaranteed Australia’s progress to the last eight ahead of their final pool D game against Georgia on Friday.
But the victory may have come at a high price for Wales with playmaker Dan Biggar apparently knocked out in an aerial clash with teammate Williams, and Adams limping off with a knee injury after his third try.
“I think the medics are going to be working pretty hard in the next 24/48 hours. But pleasing to get that bonus-point win,” said Wales coach Warren Gatland.
“That was tough, they’ve got some unbelievable individuals and we just had to stay in it,” added Gatland.
Fiji produced a flying start with two tries in a dramatic opening, in which a third try was ruled out by a forward pass and Wales went a man down when hooker Ken Owens was sent to the sin-bin for a dangerous tackle.