Wales edge Cardiff bore

Wales hung on in desperate fashion to beat Fiji 17-13 in a snorefest at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday.

Dominating the set pieces and tight exchanges, Wales raced into a 17-6 lead at half-time, but after the break failed to take advantage of a Fijian team reduced to 14 men for almost an entire half.

In fact Wales were reduced to a bumbling mess by a Fijian team who scored the only points after the break – despite having prop Campese Ma'afu red-carded in the 53rd minute, following his second yellow card of the match.

In a disappointingly error-ridden game, the home side scored three first-half tries – through wings George North and Alex Cuthbert, as well as a penalty try, the latter converted by Rhys Priestland.

Fiji replied with two Nemani Nadolo penalties, the giant centre grabbing a 78th intercept try he also converted.

Wales will be left ruing their poor execution and ball skills as they failed to convert their domination of territory and possession into points, after last weekend's 28-33 defeat by Australia and ahead of consecutive matches against world champions New Zealand and South Africa.

North opened the scoring after a schoolboy midfield move left the Fijian defence out of shape, Scott Williams drawing the last man and playing in the wing for his 19th Test try.

The home side dominated possession but Fiji were quick to seize on any counter-attacking chances, Stade Francais' Waisea Nayacalevu making a hash of a try-scoring opportunity after Priestland lost the ball.

The flyhalf, targeted by sections of the Millennium Stadium for jeers and whistles in the loss to Australia, then delivered the crucial long pass to Cuthbert, allowing the wing to dot down in the corner.

While Priestland missed his two conversions, giant Fijian centre Nemani Nadolo nailed a penalty in the 22nd minute for Fiji's first points and bagged a second shortly after following another lost ball in contact.

Poor home defence almost left Fiji in for a try on the half-hour, centre Vereniki Goneva breaking 50 metres from a ruck.

Fiji skipper Akapusi Qera scorned a two-man overlap, however, and Nadolo skewed a resulting penalty.

Fijian woes worsened just before half-time when prop Ma'afu was yellow-carded for dragging down an attacking Welsh maul on their line.

After a further maul was brought down, French referee Paul Gauzere awarded a penalty try, converted by Priestland.

Nadolo missed a long-range penalty and in the 53rd minute, Campese was sent off for a second yellow card (which became a red card) after taking out Bradley Davies in the line-out.

With knock-ons and turnovers now the main feature of a poor second period, Cuthbert was bundled into touch with the line beckoning as the Fijians stoutly manned their 14-man defence.

Faletau thought he had got the scoreboard ticking again when he sprinted in for a try after fullback Liam Williams, the one player to impress, broke away, but referee Gauzere ruled it out for a tackle infringement.

Fiji, who will rue their lack of a recognised goal-kicker and a play-making midfield marshal, had the last word when Nadolo seized on a Priestland pass to sprint away for a try he converted to bring the curtain down on a dire match.

Man of the match: Nemani Nadolo, with his powerful running, created the most trouble for the Welsh and also scored a late try that gave his team hope of scoring a late visitor. However, the man who made the least number of mistakes and produced the most creative play was Welsh fullback  Liam Williams – one of the few highlights in an otherwise dour game.

Moment of the match: You could look the tries by wings George North and Alex Cuthbert in the first half, but the defining moment was the second of Fiji prop Campese Ma'afu's yellow cards – in the 53rd minute. The second resulted in a red card and Fiji became spoilers, turning the game into one of the most scrappy affairs of the year.

Villain of the match: No doubt this goes to Fiji prop Campese Ma'afu – for his two yellow cards for the same offence, which then became a red card.

The scorers:

For Wales:

Tries: North, Cuthbert, Penalty try

Con: Priestland

For Fiji:

Try: Nadolo

Con: Nadolo

Pens: Nadolo 2

Yellow cards: Campese Ma'afu (Fiji, 37 and 53 – repeated infringements, collapsing the maul)

Red card: Campese Ma'afu (Fiji, 53 – two yellow cards)

Teams:

Wales: 15 Liam Williams, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Scott Williams, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9  Mike Phillips, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Luke Charteris, 4 Bradley Davies, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Gethin Jenkins (captain).

Replacements: 16 Emyr Phillips, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Rhodri Jones, 19 Alun Wyn Jones, 20 James King, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 James Hook, 23 Cory Allen.

Fiji: 15 Metuisela Talebula, 14 Waisale Nayacalevu, 13 Vereniki Gonevam, 12 Nemani Nadolo, 11 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 10 Josh Matavesi, 9 Nicola Matawalu, 8 Masi Matadigo, 7 Akapusi Qera (captain), 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu, 5 Tevita Cavubati, 4 Leone Nakarawa, 3 Manasa Saulo, 2 Sunia Koto, 1 Campese Ma’afu.

Replacements: 16 Tuapati Talemaitoga, 17 Jerry Yanuyanutwa, 18 Isei Colati, 19 Nemia Soqeta, 20 Malakai Ravulo, 21 Henry Seniloli, 22 Jonetani Ralulu, 23 Timoci Nagusa.

Referee: Pascal Gauzère (France)

Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Dudley Phillips (Ireland)

TMO: Carlo Damasco (Italy)