Former NRL star Semi Radradra dropped the ball with the try line open to end Fiji’s hopes of a sensational comeback win over Wales in the best game of the Rugby World Cup so far.
Wales hung on 32-26 in an epic struggle but many fans and pundits were furious with English referee Matt Carley, with accusations of bias towards the tier 1 Welsh against the islanders.
Ben Ryan, who coached Fiji’s sevens team to a gold medal in Rio, led the chorus of disapproval.
The complaints were focussed on Carley’s decision to give Fiji’s Lekima Tagitagivalu a yellow card but let the Welsh off with several warnings for infringements near their line in the second half.
Not all agreed, of course.
Fiji came home strongly but didn’t execute at crucial times and coach Simon Raiwalui was gracious in defeat.
“We dropped a couple of balls over the tryline, a couple of disallowed tries, so we had opportunities and a chance to score at the end with the pass to win it. Wales had a couple of opportunities off our defensive errors and scored a couple of tries, and that was the difference. We’ve got a lot of things to work on,” he said.
“The boys worked very hard today, the back row were really good, we just made mistakes in critical moments. We didn’t take those opportunities when we could have extended the lead and we were left to chase it at the end.”
The Fijians looked crushed after Radradra’s error.
Waisea Nayacalevu, captain
On his reaction to defeat:
“It’s a tough one. We are really disappointed because we put a massive amount of effort in and credit to the boys, we worked hard until the end,” said skipper Waisea Nayacalevu.
“That last pass, man…it’s quite hard but we have got to learn from that and move on to next week.”
After losing six of eight internationals in 2023, Wales will hope the victory offers some redemption and breathes life into a beleaguered squad.
Both teams scored four tries in a game full of line breaks, exciting running and bruising clashes that had the crowd on the edge of their seats, especially at the end as Fiji fought back from 32-14 down.
Josh Adams, George North, Louis Rees-Zammit and Elliot Dee crossed for Wales, with Dan Biggar adding two penalties and three conversions.
Fiji’s try-scorers were Waisea Nayacalevu, Lekima Tagitagivalu, Josua Tuisova and Mesake Doge.
The Wallabies are next up for Fiji, with the teams due to meet at Saint-Etienne’s Stade Geoffroy-Guichard at 1.45am on September 18 (AEST), while Wales take on Portugal the previous day.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Oh dear, maybe the other option applies then, if you do think its a good idea :stoked:
Lomax
Roar Rookie
What about the refs call of ‘double movement’ over the try line? Couldn’t believe rFiji were disallowed that try. I think it’s fair to say that some of these refs are getting overawed by these loud crowds and ’cauldron’ type games.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
The main things missed were a clear penalty try and yellow, an upright tackle potential red, and persistent red zone infringements that should have been an extra two yellows. All very lenient to Wales. I think he tried to even it up by favouring the attackers right at the very end
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
Sorry the headline and the interviews with the Fiji staff are inconsistent. Fiji’s players and management have be nothing but gratuitous in their response to the situation.
Crusher_13
Roar Rookie
They had a good run in the last 2 minutes. Was the same stuff missed all game?
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
Should never have come to the final play. Fiji were totally ripped off for 75 minutes.
CUW
Roar Rookie
entire match they were looking to penalize Fiji - seems a common theeme in some matchhes. looking at the try they ignored two guys not using hands to tackle - hilarios Carley saying the grasscutter was a wrapping motion. perhaps they shud look at having lesser number of tv refs - the variation in decisions of similar situations will be very difficult to prove statistically.
piru
Roar Rookie
They seemed to go straight to 'he's lost control did he knock it on or force it' and missed that he skimmed the line with the ball before he lost it. Looked like a try to me
Jaydos
Roar Rookie
Missed a couple and hoofed out on the full at least once. If you watch closely, a few plays they completely ignored him (one was when the #7 played flyhalf with the try assist kick and another was at half time when it went through the hands - not his, and lead to the first spray).
CUW
Roar Rookie
if Raivalu had picked volvo even at the late stage - he could have kicked fiji to victory.. surely 1 reason they went to touch from all those penalties is becoz the kicker was not so grreat :silly: :silly: :silly:
CUW
Roar Rookie
I think WORLD RUGBY needs to clarify this statement - both TMO And Carley said "there is no press"!!! just the first week and everyone is talking about the rubbish reffing - red yellow and not even a penalty for almost identical head clashes !!! add to that the horrendos singing of national anthems - actually recorded versions that are a disgrace :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick: :sick:
CUW
Roar Rookie
it was Gardner who saID TMO is scanning - at the toss and then later on when asked about the head clash he says trust the system :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
CUW
Roar Rookie
did all blacks get penalized like 17 times and twice for 4 consecutive penalties inside the 5meter zone?? he gave a card - then there were four penalties inside welsh red zone but no card
Neil Back
Roar Rookie
No it wasn't
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Terrible headline guys. Terrible. There were people who want to make noise on social media going nuts about the outcome but from the Fiji team, nada. Raiwalui was, typically, absolutely gracious. And Nayacalevu spoke only of his disappointment that they weren't able to get the job done
Bliksem
Roar Rookie
Watching the game it is clear that Dan Biggar didn’t enjoy the game or playing with his team. He should have a good look at himself to ask why he is still playing if he wants to thrown tantrums then a team sport like rugby is not for him. If I was his coach he would be on the bench for the next game to get some to reflect and I wouldn’t use him.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
No lobotomy here Dave. At least one I can't remember!
piru
Roar Rookie
Bad enough that the commentators are declaring "he must press the ball down", far worse that the TMO repeated the same falsehood. A player in possession of the ball only has to touch a blade of grass with the ball beyond the try line to score
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Why did Fiji lose? Take your pick. Option 1: the disallowed try when a) the Fijian player exerted downward pressure and there was no separation, and b) the defender on the line clearly tackled with no arms – what a farce, how do you come up with that decision? So 7 points there. Option 2: six points for two penalty kicks from 47-48 metres out in the first half, one for allegedly hanging on to too long, another for offside. What an utter, absolute farce of a way of scoring points. You’d have to have had a lobotomy or be completely braindead to think this is a good way of organising a sport. You can just see all the non-converts to rugby turning off their sets immediately with a nonsense penalty kick after 1 minute. All action stops, zero action for another 90 seconds as the kicker gets his precious little tee and nothing happens. At least Fiji tried to play some rugby. Mind you, if Australia doesn’t defend as well as Wales, we might be in trouble.
JamesD
Roar Rookie
Yea... how many warnings did he give the ABs? Cos he gave Wales a few.