Two-try Morgan leads Wales to Nations Championship win over Fiji
MATCH REPORT: Jac Morgan scored two tries as Wales beat Fiji 39-24 in their opening Nations Championship match in Cardiff on Saturday.
After beating Italy in their final match of the Six Nations, the victory at Cardiff City Stadium gave Wales back-to-back Test wins for the first time since the 2023 World Cup.
It was a hat-trick of victories after Steve Tandy’s team beat the Barbarians at Twickenham last week in a non-cap international.
Wales will now travel to play Argentina and South Africa, while Fiji play two more designated home fixtures against England in Liverpool and Scotland in Edinburgh.
In front of a crowd of 16,456 at the 33,000-capacity Cardiff City Stadium, Fiji dominated the opening exchanges and were rewarded not even three minutes into the game when Pita Gus Sowakula crossed for a try after some slick off-loading.
Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula converted before Wales hit back with a Morgan try from an attacking line-out and drive.
Selestino Ravutaumada knocked on at the tryline as Fiji turned over Wales seven times in the opening 25 minutes.
Fiji were dealt a hammerblow when experienced back Semi Radradra went off injured.
Immediately, Wales struck from the line-out, once again man-of-the-match Morgan driven over from an efficient maul.
Wales had dominance not just from the line-out, but also at scrum time, winning a hatful of penalties against a profligate Fijian front row that lost Tim Hoyt to injury.
Armstrong-Ravula booted a penalty on the stroke of half-time to equal the score at 10 points apiece, Dan Edwards having missed both of Wales’ conversions.
The second period started well for Wales.
Rhys Carre powered over for the team’s third try before Josh Adams caught Ravutamada snoozing as the Fijian winger waited for a long ball to go dead.
Adams didn’t give up his chase and got a hand to the ball before it touched the line to extend Wales’ lead.
Fiji hit back with an attacking maul of their own, No.8 Elia Canakaivata crashing over, Armstrong-Ravula converting to make it 22-17 with 30 minutes to play.
Ravutamada made up for his earlier brainfog by showing a clean pair of heels to run in Fiji’s third try, the conversion making it a one-point game.
As an increasingly error-strewn Fiji side tired, Ryan Elias then went over for Wales’ third try from a line-out maul.
Sam Costelow hit the extras to hand Tandy’s team a two-score advantage with 14 minutes to play.
Eddie James was on hand to put the cherry on the cake with a sixth Welsh try at the death for what was an ultimately comfortable win over a Fiji side whose attacking promise was undone by an ill-performing set-piece and unforced handling errors.
The scorers:
For Fiji:
Tries: Sowakula, Canakaivata, Ravutaumada
Cons: Armstrong-Ravula 3
Pen: Armstrong-Ravula
For Wales:
Tries: J Morgan 2, Carre, Adams, Elias, James
Cons: Edwards, Costelow 2
Pen: Edwards
Teams:
Fiji: 15 Salesi Rayasi, 14 Selestino Ravutaumada, 13 Semi Radradra, 12 Josua Tuisova, 11 Jiuta Wainiqolo, 10 Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, 9 Frank Lomani, 8 Elia Canakaivata, 7 Kitione Salawa, 6 Pita-Gus Sowakula, 5 Temo Mayanavanua, 4 Isoa Nasilasila, 3 Tim Hoyt, 2 Tevita Ikanivere, 1 Eroni Mawi.
Replacements: 16 Zuriel Togiatama, 17 Livai Natave, 18 Peni Ravai, 19 Mesake Vocevoce, 20 Peceli Yato, 21 Simione Kuruvoli, 22 Vilimoni Botitu, 23 Kalaveti Ravouvou.
Wales: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Louis Rees-Zammit, 13 Eddie James, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Dan Edwards, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Jac Morgan, 6 Alex Mann, 5 Adam Beard, 4 Ben Carter, 3 Dillon Lewis, 2 Dewi Lake (captain), 1 Rhys Carre.
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Ben Warren, 19 Taine Plumtree, 20 James Botham, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Sam Costelow, 23 Ellis Mee.
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Matthew Carley (England), Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ireland)
