Wales player ratings vs Fiji | Rugby World Cup 2023
Wales player ratings: A single knock-on. That will be the reason many cite when trying to figure out how Wales won a match that they probably deserved to lose. But that’s far too simplistic. They won this utterly breathless slugfest because they tackled with accuracy, ferocity and unreal bravery.
They made 241 tackles and missed 32 for a success rate of 85 per cent. They won six turnovers in their own half. This was backs-to-the-wall resistance and, depending on your point of view, might compel you to believe that they were deserving bonus-point winners.
15 – Liam Williams – 6
Struggled to assert control early on in the face of a Fijian blitz but settled as the game went on. Brave tackles on Radrada in each half demonstrated his commitment to the cause. However, his kick out on the full right at the death, which allowed Fiji to build again, could have cost his side.
14 – Louis Rees-Zammit – 6
Got his try which was just reward for being Wales’ busiest back in terms of metres made. A couple of clean breaks and a whopping eight defenders beaten point to a job well done.
13 – George North – 7
Ran brilliant lines from midfield whenever Wales had front foot ball. One surgical thrust resulted in a try. Just not enough ball to really leave his mark on the match.
12 – Nick Tompkins – 6
Some clever passes, especially the delayed assist for North’s try, were rare highlights from backline player in red.
11 – Josh Adams – 6
Spun out of a few tackles when he got his mitts on the ball and also scored a try to set an early tone. A clever step and jink, as well as a cool finish, meant he continued his impressive scoring rate against Fiji.
10 – Dan Biggar – 7
Spent much of his time fuming at his teammates for looking to attack from every corner of the pitch. Was targeted by Fiji’s runners and didn’t always hold his ground, but he fronted up physically at other times an was among the top tacklers in the match. When the game threatened to break apart he looked to have the most composed head of the lot. Replacedby Sam Costelow on 67 minutes.
9 – Gareth Davies – 6.5
A few rushed moves but conducted traffic well enough when his team managed to get going in the right direction. Contributed with four tackles and only one miss. In a game that was defined by the craft of stopping athletes in white run past you, that is a telling contribution. Subbed for Tomos Williams on 52 minutes
1 – Gareth Thomas – 8
Made 21 tackles and would have made a whole lot more if he wasn’t subbed for Corey Domachowski on 63 minutes. A heroic performance.
2 – Ryan Elias – 6
Accomplished one of his primary tasks by being accurate at the line-out. Almost had a try when he charged from close range but also could have had a yellow card for a no-arm tackle. A night full of huff and puff from the hooker. Taken off for Elliot Dee on 53 minutes.
3 – Tomas Francis – 7
Big carries and solid in the scrum. Impenetrable around the fringe when tasked with defending. Made it to 63 minutes before being replaced by Dillon Lewis.
4 – Will Rowlands – 9
Mighty on defence with an astonishing 26 tackles without missing a single one. Also got his head down to win four turnovers. Wales won this because of their defence and Rowlands was the standout player in this regard.
5 – Adam Beard – 5
Wales’ go-to at the line-out, he too put in a proper shift on defence. Mostly on the periphery until he was replaced just before the hour mark by Daffyd Jenkins.
6 – Aaron Wainwright – 6
Weak in the tackle for Fiji’s first try but made amends soon after when he pounced on a loose ball. The fourth-best tackler for Wales and one of the few loose forwards who made some yards with ball in hand. Replaced on 70 minutes for Gareth Thomas but returned with a minute to go.
7 – Jac Morgan – 7
An industrious night for the skipper. He’ll just be glad to have got the win. Set up Rees-Zammit’s try with a surprising but perfectly executed cross-kick.
8 – Taulupe Faletau – 6
A quiet night on attack. But then it was one of those nights for Wales. Still, some soft touches in tight spaces were noteworthy. His primary task against Fiji’s runners was to stand strong on defence and he did just that. Replaced just before the hour for Tommy Reffell.
16 – Elliot Dee – 7
Scored a try from a rolling maul and only missed a single tackle from 13 attempts. An impressive cameo from the bench.
17 – Corey Domachowski – 5
Held his own when he came on but gave away a silly penalty with his team on a warning. That ill discipline might have cost his side.
18 – Dillon Lewis – 6
Struggled to keep Fiji’s scrum in check but tackled anything that he could reach. Solid.
19 – Dafydd Jenkins – 6
Only played half an hour and yet still ended with the eighth-most tackles. Won a couple of line-outs as well.
20 – Tommy Reffell – 7
Made a mighty hit that quickly led to a turnover before Biggar nailed a 50-22 after the hour mark that felt like a turning point in the match. Events in a rugby match can feel like a series of falling dominoes and that particular move shifted momentum. Who knows if Fiji would have won it if they had instead spent that time in Wales’ territory.
21 – Tomos Williams – 5
Was tasked with an almost impossible job of turning the tide as momentum was fully with Fiji.
22 – Sam Costelow – 5
Couldn’y maintain the composure and control shown by Biggar. Still, he made an important tackle late on as Fiji were building an attack off the base of a solid scrum.
23 – Rio Dyer – 5
A spectator. Or should that be a defending spectator. Made one tackle. Missed another. This was not a game for reserve Welsh outside backs.
Comments on RugbyPass
Interesting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
37 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to comments