With fewer than ten weeks until the beginning of the 8th installment of the Rugby World Cup, we turn the clock back to revisit ten of the greatest World Cup matches of all time.
In the climax of Pool B of the 2007 Rugby World Cup, Wales and Fiji locked horns in a clash which decided who would qualify for the quarter finals alongside Australia. Both sides were level on 10 points in the table going into the match – it was set up for an absolute thriller, but nobody would have predicted what unfolded next.
RUGBY WORLD CUP CLASSICS: #8 2007 RWC Wales vs Fiji
Despite a simple penalty from Stephen Jones and sustained pressure on the Fijian line, the first half belonged to the Pacific islanders. After a bust from No. 8 Sisa Koyamaibole, the Welsh were spread thin out wide. A simple show-and-go from openside flanker Akapusi Qera enabled him to cross the line and score the first try of the match in the 16th minute.
Fiji were now brimming with confidence. Seru Rabeni combined with Nicky Little in their own 22 to release Vilimoni Delasau down the right touchline. With 60 metres left to go he beat two scrambling defenders and demonstrated his footballing skills in a neat chip over the top. The bounce dropped into his hands through two more opponents and he dropped to his knees to finish one of the tries of the 2007 tournament.
Two further penalties from Little left the score line at 18-3, and Fiji crossed the whitewash once more after a penetrative midfield break by Qera. He was brought down three metres short, but a pick-and-go by vice captain Kele Leawere, and the following conversion from Little, ensured that the men in white led 25-3 after 25 minutes. Wales’ qualification hopes were dwindling, but they still had 55 minutes to save their skins.
The Welsh went back to basics and decided to battle in close quarters. They had already witnessed their front row of Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees and Chris Horsman demolish the Fijian scrum earlier in the game, and so after a powerful rolling maul, Alix Popham bundled over, and Qera was sin binned, which instilled Wales fans with a glimmer of hope going into half-time. The scoreboard, however, still belonged to Fiji at 25-10.
Almost immediately after the break, from 80 metres out, the ball found Shane Williams and the diminutive Welsh flyer dipped and weaved around a couple of defenders before racing under the posts to bring Wales right back into the match.
Just minutes later and Fiji found themselves gathered under their posts once more. Wales were rewarded for a strong attacking scrum and for patient build up play in the 22, when after some slick hands from James Hook and Mark Jones, Gareth Thomas sped over the line to bring Wales within three points of the islanders.
It was such a contrast from the first half- Fiji were on the back foot and Wales were being positive with their possession; such positivity led to the Welsh completing their comeback in style. In the 51st minute, after Qera had returned from his sin bin sentence, Wales scattered the Fijians with perpetual offence and exploited an overlap with Mark Jones diving into the corner, sending Wales into a 29-25 lead after the conversion from Jones.
Clumsily, the men in red then gifted Little with two shots at goal – the first infringement was a dangerous tackle from Jenkins, and then Thomas Rhys Thomas failed to release the ball before challenging for it in the ruck. Little did not hesitate to convert, meaning that Fiji had retaken the lead on the hour mark.
In another twist, openside flanker Martyn Williams, who had been a menace all day, intercepted an inviting, looping pass from Little, and coasted over the try-line to put the Welsh in the driving seat going into the final seven minutes. For the first time in the match, Fiji had been overly ambitious and they were set to be punished for it with a World Cup knockout.
Unfortunately for Wales, there was a sting in the tale, as, after Delasau was held up short after a scything run, loosehead prop Graham Dewes had the final say and muscled his way over the line to make it 34-36. After the crucial conversion to put Fiji out of sight of a Welsh drop goal or penalty, they saw out one of the most thrilling spectacles in RWC history, and dumped Wales out of the competition in emphatic style.
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