Fiji were unable to cope with the red tide as Sam Warburton led Wales to an nine-try rout over the big hitting South Sea islanders.
Wales were on top from the outset and gave the dangerous running Fijians a masterclass in staunch defence. Wales, with Warburton to the fore, dominated the breakdown while George North once again impressed on the wing, carving out chunks of territory seemingly at will.
Wales kept going all the way to the final whistle with Jonathan Davies adding the icing on the cake when sliding over in the last minute for Wales’s ninth touchdown.
Wales entered the fray knowing Fiji are no strangers to causing upsets. It was only four years ago in France Fiji ended Welsh hopes in the 2007 World Cup while they held Wales to a draw at the Millennium Stadium in the autumn.
But there was no chance of a repeat with Wales settling nerves early on when Warburton stole a lineout and fed Rhys Priestland who off-loaded to a charging Jamie Roberts who cantered over from close range. Priestland added the simple conversion to give Wales an encouraging early 7-0 lead.
Fiji, who were looking to go out of the tournament with a bang after a disappointing campaign where they suffered defeats to South Africa and Samoa, took the game briefly to Wales but the men in red scored their second try in the 17th minute.
Lee Byrne attacked a high ball and set up a ruck on halfway where George North cruised down the wing. He flicked the ball inside to Scott Williams who left the Fiji defence floundering as he motored in to scored his fourth try of the tournament. Priestland added the extras. With the Scarlets fly-half adding a penalty Fiji were already staring down the barrel of another defeat in Pool D.
North finished off clinically to record Wales’s third try although referee Wayne Barnes missed a forward pass from Huw Bennett to Toby Faletau in the build up but the big winger didn’t hang around to wait for the whistle. With Priestland’s third successful conversion, Wales were coasting at 24-0.
Wales skipper Sam Warburton received an early birthday present after North had carved open the Fijian defence like a hot knife through butter. Priestland’s radar was again accurate as his conversion gave Wales a comfortable 31-0 at the break.
With the result already in the bag, Wales had to wait 10 minutes before scoring their next try, but it was worth the wait. North was once again at the centre of the action, bursting out of the blocks from a Priestland inside pass. North’s mazy run took him close to the line before Roberts finished off in style.
Lloyd Burns then drove over for his first Test try from close range, Stephen Jones knocking over the conversion from the touchline to add further misery to the Fijian scoreline.
With Wales making a raft of changes and committing a number of offences the game became disjointed as Fiji sniffed an opportunity to cross the white wash but Warburton and his men kept the try-line intact.
Leigh Halfpenny sent Wales through the half century mark after following up Gethin Jenkins hack upfield from his own 22m line.
The lashing rain didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of Wales as they went for the jugular in the dying moments. Lloyd Williams exploded from a close range scrum to slide over and when Davies slid over to seal Fiji’s fate, it was a comprehensive victory for Warren Gatland’s men.
