Fiji 72-6 Wales: World Cup dark horses hand Wales a thrashing
Wales felt the full force of World Cup dark horses Fiji in a one-sided group match in Townsville.
Match stats: Fiji 72-6 Wales
Fiji tries: Vunakece (6), Vunivalu (14,51,61), Raiwalui (16), Kikau (22,40), Junior Fainga'a (27), Milne (31,58), Montoya (35), Hayne (42), Lovodua (65), Nakubuwai (70)
Goals: Koroisau (6,17,23,28), Milne (40,43,52), Vunivalu (66)
Wales tries: Knowles (11)
Goals: Davies (12)
Match report
Wales felt the full force of World Cup dark horses Fiji in a one-sided group match in Townsville.
At least John Kear's men did not have to cope with the humidity of Port Moresby, where they were hammered 50-6 by Papua New Guinea, but they found the Bati in red-hot form as they ran in 14 tries to one in a 72-6 rout.
The victory enabled Mick Potter's team to easily beat their previous World Cup record victory, a 52-6 win over South Africa at Keighley in 1995.
Eloni Vunakece gave Fiji a fifth-minute lead and Apisai Koroisau kicked the first of his four goals but Wales suddenly found themselves level when St Helens forward Morgan Knowles forced his way over from close range for a try that Courtney Davies converted.
However, that was as good as it got for the Welsh, who will have painful memories of their first-ever meeting with Fiji, who are looking good for a third successive semi-final.
Melbourne winger Suliasi Vunivalu scored a hat-trick of tries and, although former Australia international Jarryd Hayne managed just one, it was enough to take him in front of Bob Fulton and Billy Slater as the leading tryscorer in World Cup history with 14 touchdowns.
Taane Milne scored a try in each half and Fiji's other touchdowns came from Henry Raiwalui, Viliame Kikau, Salesi Faingaa, Marcelo Montoya, Viliame Kikau, Joe Lovadua and Ben Nakubuwai.
Wales have conceded 122 points in their first two group games and will be looking to restore their pride when they complete their campaign against Ireland, a match that will be played as a curtain-raiser to the England-France game in Perth next Sunday.
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