BORDEAUX: Dan Biggar set a new Wales Rugby World Cup overall points record as his side held on by the skin of their teeth to beat Fiji 32-26 in a pulsating encounter in Bordeaux on Sunday.
Fly-half Biggar scored 12 points to move to a tally of 109 and pass Neil Jenkins's total of 98.
Both sides scored four tries apiece and Fiji could have had a fifth right at the death if Semi Radradra had not spilled the ball – the look of agony on his face telling its own story.
"We made it difficult for ourselves, full praise to Fiji they were excellent, every time they attacked us they caused us problems," Wales captain Jac Morgan told Welsh language broadcaster S4C.
"Our discipline let us down, it allowed them to get into our half and put pressure on us. The victory means a lot to us."
Wales opened the scoring early on through a Biggar penalty and then a try by Josh Adams in the left hand corner.
Biggar failed to convert but Wales had an 8-0 lead within 10 minutes – a reverse of the situation four years ago when Fiji had begun the brightest and led 12-0.
Fiji, though, struck back in style as captain Waisea Nayacalevu weaved his magic.
The 33-year-old burst through midfield beating one despairing tackle to touch down – fist pumping as he rose from the ground – in the 13th minute.
It was the fourth successive Test he had scored a try, the best run of his career.
The smattering of Fiji fans in the stadium waved their flags in celebration – scrum-half Frank Lomani converted to pull Fiji to within a point of the Welsh at 8-7.
Four minutes later the Fijians were in front after a magical move.
Nayacalevu offloaded brilliantly to centre partner Radradra who had the Welsh defence at sixes and sevens and he fed Lekima Tagitagivalu.
The flanker finished it off prompting manic celebrations behind the posts with the replacements joining in. Lomani converted for 14-8.
The water break could not come quick enough for the Welsh in a very warm Bordeaux which even at 1900GMT was 27 degrees celsius (80 degrees Fahrenheit).
Biggar refreshed them even more landing another long range penalty for 14-11.
Wales were back in front by the half hour mark, Nick Tompkins teeing up fellow veteran George North.
North, appearing in his fourth World Cup, did a neat sidestep to touch down, aided by Lomani slipping on the greasy surface. Biggar converted for 18-14.
Fiji came at the Welsh but Eroni Mawi was adjudged to have knocked the ball on as he stretched to touch down over the line – the decision being greeted with boos.
It was all Wales in the early stages of the second-half and their pressure paid off.
Louis Rees-Zammit was able to gather the ball after Vinaya Habosi failed to catch skipper Morgan's crossfield kick.
Biggar converted for 25-14 with just over half an hour to play.
The wonderful see-sawing of the game continued apace as Fiji then camped inside the Welsh 22 but came away with nothing with Levani Botia spilling the ball over the line.
They were left to rue that as they suffered two blows within a minute.
Referee Matt Carley wielded a yellow card with Tagitagivalu walking off.
The Welsh scored a try almost immediately, Elliott Dee going over and Biggar converting for 32-14 before himself leaving the stage.
The numbers were evened up as Carley sin-binned Corey Domachowski but with only 12 minutes remaining the task was huge for Fiji.
They managed to cross the line again with Josua Tuisova touching down – converted by Teti Tela with seven minutes remaining.
The Fijians just would not let up and went over again through Mesake Doge although they missed the conversion.
Their spirits high they came again and looked all but certain to go over as Radradra was found out wide on his own but to his horror he spilled the ball.
He sank to his knees and sportingly was consoled by Liam Williams whose teammates also went onto their haunches too tired to celebrate. --AFP