Wales 19-24 Fiji
Date: Sunday 10th November 2024
Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Luc Ramos (France)
Attendance: 61,587
Wales v Fiji Match Reports
Fiji celebrated a famous 24-19 victory over Wales in Cardiff, consigning their hosts to a 10th successive Test defeat. Blair Murray had opened the scoring when he sped across the line in the 8th minute to touch down on his Wales debut. A disjointed passage of play followed in which Wales first lost Tommy Reffell to the sin-bin; Fiji then lost Elia Canakaivata and Semi Radradra to the sin-bin. Wales emerged from the period with a penalty try, whilst Fiji saw Radradra’s yellow card upgraded to a 20-minute red card. Caleb Muntz scored Fiji’s first try to narrow the score to 14-10 at half-time. The visitors took the lead early in the second half when Muntz slotted two further penalty kicks. Josua Tuisova then powered over the line on the hour mark to extend Fiji’s lead. Ellis Bevan scored a try in the 66th minute to give Wales hope, but the conversion was missed and the home side still trailed by 2-points. Muntz kicked a fourth penalty to notch Fiji into a 5-point lead with only five minutes remaining. The Flying Fijians held firm and recorded a first-ever victory over Wales in Cardiff. A selection of match reports is listed below:
Wales v Fiji – Match Stats
Wales (14) 19
Try: Murray (8′), Penalty Try (19′), Bevan (66′)
Conversion: Anscombe (9′)
Fiji (10) 24
Try: Muntz (24′), Tuisova (60′)
Conversion: Muntz (25′)
Penalty: Muntz (12′, 43′, 49′, 75′)
Red Card: Radradra (21′)
Man of the match: Caleb Muntz (Fiji)
Wales v Fiji – Team Line-ups
Wales Team
Forwards
- 1 Gareth Thomas
- 2 Dewi Lake (Captain)
- 3 Archie Griffin
- 4 Will Rowlands
- 5 Adam Beard
- 6 Taine Plumtree
- 7 Tommy Reffell
- 8 Aaron Wainwright
Backs
- 9 Tomos Williams
- 10 Gareth Anscombe
- 11 Blair Murray
- 12 Ben Thomas
- 13 Max Llewellyn
- 14 Mason Grady
- 15 Cameron Winnett
Replacements
- 16 Ryan Elias
- 17 Nicky Smith
- 18 Keiron Assiratti
- 19 Christ Tshiunza
- 20 James Botham
- 21 Jac Morgan
- 22 Ellis Bevan
- 23 Sam Costelow
Fiji Team
Forwards
- 1 Eroni Mawi
- 2 Tevita Ikanivere (Captain)
- 3 Samuela Tawake
- 4 Isoa Nasilasila
- 5 Temo Mayanavanua
- 6 Ratu Meli Derenalagi
- 7 Kitione Salawa
- 8 Elia Canakaivata
Backs
- 9 Frank Lomani
- 10 Caleb Muntz
- 11 Semi Radradra
- 12 Josua Tuisova
- 13 Waisea Nayacalevu
- 14 Jiuta Wainiqolo
- 15 Vuate Karawalevu
Replacements
- 16 Sam Matavesi
- 17 Haereiti Hetet
- 18 Jone Koroiduadua
- 19 Mesake Vocevoce
- 20 Albert Tuisue
- 21 Simi Kuruvoli
- 22 Isaiah Ravula
- 23 Sireli Maqala