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Warren Gatland reflected on a \u201cpretty significant\u201d victory for his team after Wales brought the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals within sight by beating Fiji 32-26 at Stade de Bordeaux.<\/p>\n
Wales held their nerve in a frantic and pulsating Pool C clash. It was tense throughout, especially when Fiji scored twice in the last seven minutes and centre Semi Radradra knocked on close to the line in the game\u2019s last play.<\/p>\n
At 32-14 ahead deep inside the final quarter, Wales looked home and dry, but Fiji had other ideas.<\/p>\n
Asked if he had his heart in his mouth during the closing stages, Gatland said: \u201cAbsolutely. With seven minutes to go I wondered about just going down to the changing rooms and waiting until the final whistle.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am absolutely delighted with the result. I think it is pretty significant for us.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWith 65 minutes on the clock we were comfortable, and we needed to control that. We gave away some unnecessary penalties, lost a little bit of composure.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve always been a team that builds on confidence and get better in tournaments. So that is exciting.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was pretty frustrated and angry about the last period of the game, but it\u2019s about being honest and making sure we learn from it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am delighted with the win, but we made it a lot harder for ourselves than we needed to, made some dumb decisions in the last 15 minutes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe changed a few things at half-time. We really wanted to go for them up front in terms of taking it out of their legs.<\/p>\n
\u201cA few of their players looked a bit tired and we looked in control, but typical Fiji \u2013 they never say die, get a couple of sniffs of a try and come back at you.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Wales ultimately prevailed through tries from Josh Adams, George North, Louis Rees-Zammit and Elliot Dee, with fly-half Dan Biggar adding two penalties and three conversions in a bonus-point success.<\/p>\n
Fiji claimed tries through captain Waisea Nayacalevu, flanker Lekima Tagitagivalu and replacements Josua Tuisova and Mesake Doge \u2013 Frank Lomani converted two and Teti Tela also added a conversion \u2013 yet Wales gained the victory they craved ahead of remaining Pool C appointments with Portugal, Australia and Georgia.<\/p>\n
Wales were close to a staggering 250 tackles in the game, and Biggar said: \u201cIt was absolutely exhausting. The last 10 minutes felt like the clock never moved.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe put everything into it, Fiji came strong at the end, but I am really thrilled for this group of players that we managed to see it through because the work we\u2019ve put in over the past few months has just been incredible.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt puts us in such a good position in the group. I am just absolutely drained.\u201d<\/p>\n
Captain Jac Morgan said: \u201cWe have that mentality of never giving up, always working hard for each other.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve been through a couple of camps with some tough training over the past couple of weeks, and it has really brought the boys close as you saw.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fiji took two losing bonus points from the game, which might prove critical in terms of the group\u2019s finishing places and race for a last-eight spot.<\/p>\n
Head coach Simon Raiwalui said: \u201cWe had our opportunities. We weren\u2019t clinical enough. There were a couple of disallowed tries, and we had a chance at the end.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe weren\u2019t clinical enough to finish off, and we move on to Australia next week.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe made mistakes at critical moments, and we had to chase it at the end. It was a very good Welsh team.\u201d<\/p>\n