Wales 16 Fiji 16:Dreadful Wales made it six successive Tests without a win after a dire Millennium Stadium display almost saw Fiji claim a shock victory.
Wales trailed 13-6 at half-time as Fiji threatened a repeat of their stunning 38-34 World Cup pool stage victory in Nantes three years ago.
Although Wales wiped out the deficit and went ahead, Fiji outhalf Seremaia Bai gave his team a deserved draw by landing a penalty with the game’s final kick.
Wales coach Warren Gatland, who recently signed a new four-year contract, saw Wales manufacture a second-half penalty try, plus a conversion and penalty from Stephen Jones following two earlier Dan Biggar penalties.
But only when Jones, Mike Phillips, Tom Shanklin and Bradley Davies came off the bench together early in the second period did Wales look remotely capable of overhauling a Fiji side they will meet again in next year’s World Cup.
Centre Albert Vulivuli scored a try for the South Sea Islanders, converted by Seremaia Bai, as did full-back Josh Matavesi.
New Zealand, the number one team in world rugby, are next up for Wales tomorrow week. Although Gatland will recall several frontline players, it is likely to make little difference.
The All Blacks, last beaten by Wales in 1953, have nothing to fear unless Gatland’s men can revisit the heights of their first-half display against world champions South Africa six days ago.
His decision to make nine changes following the Springboks clash backfired spectacularly, but in Gatland’s defence he was badly let down by a number of players with considerable international experience.
And it proved beyond all reasonable doubt that Wales possess nowhere near the required strength in depth to be a major force at world rugby’s top table.
Fiji, whose starting XV featured nine players based with European clubs, started brightly by going through the phases and setting up a penalty chance for Bai, but his kick bounced back off the post.
Biggar then booted Wales ahead from short range after Fiji’s backs drifted offside, and there were signs of Wales settling down as they started to edge the territorial battle.
Flanker Dan Lydiate was in a workaholic mood at close quarters, but it took Wales until midway through the first half to threaten domination.
Biggar restored their three-point advantage following Bai’s equalising strike, and it came after Castres outhalf Bai was sin-binned by French referee Jerome Garces.
The official was left with little option following a dangerous tackle on Wales wing Aled Brew, and it would be no surprise if match citing commissioner Alberto Recaldini decided further action was necessary.
With Bai off, Fiji handed goalkicking duties to Matavesi and he did not disappoint, slotting a long-range penalty to tie the game at 6-6 after 25 minutes.
Wales began to string some threatening passages of play together and it took a brilliant tackle by Toulon centre Gabi Lovobalavu to stop George North from crossing in the corner.
Brew, like North looking for work by roaming in off his wing, also proved an attacking threat, yet Fiji had conceded just three points by the time Bai returned.
And they stunned Wales by scoring a try three minutes before the break that had its origins in poor Welsh lineout work.
Number eight Jonathan Thomas took a clean catch just outside Wales’ 22, but he gave scrum-half Richie Rees no chance by hurling the ball past him and Fiji prospered.
Sale Sharks number eight Sisa Koyamaibole gathered possession and after he was hauled down just short, quick recycling work ended in Vulivuli touching down, although the try required confirmation by video referee Daniel Gillet.
Bai added the conversion and Wales trooped off 13-6 adrift, having failed to take their chances and in growing need of inspiration.
It took Gatland just six minutes of the second period to summon the cavalry, sending on his four high-profile substitutes and taking off Biggar, Rees, Andrew Bishop and Ian Gough.
Wales, with Phillips and Jones calling the shots, went back to basics and turned the screw in the scrum, which resulted in a 57th-minute penalty try, converted by Jones.
Jones then kicked a penalty to inch Wales in front, which looked as though it would be the final scoring act of a match that raised far more questions than it provided answers for Gatland, his players and a crowd of just over 52,000.
But Bai had other ideas, slotting an equalising penalty with the final kick of the game.