INTERNATIONAL Wales 16 Fiji 16:DREADFUL WALES made it six successive Tests without a win after a dire Millennium Stadium display last night 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 fullback Josh Matavesi.
Biggar booted Wales ahead from short range after Fiji's backs drifted offside, andhe restored their three-point advantage following Bai's equalising strike, after Castres outhalf Bai was sin-binned by French referee Jerome Garces following a dangerous tackle on Wales wing Aled Brew.
With Bai off, Fiji handed goalkicking duties to Matavesi and he slotted a long-range penalty to tie the game at 6-6 after 25 minutes.
Fiji stunned Wales by scoring a try three minutes before the break. Number eight Jonathan Thomas took a clean catch just outside Wales' 22, but he gave scrumhalf Richie Rees no chance by hurling the ball past him and 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.
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, before Bai kicked the equalising penalty with the final kick of the game.
WALES: Byrne; North, Hook, Bishop, Brew; Biggar, R Rees; James, Bennett, A Jones, Gough, D Jones, R Jones, Lydiate, Thomas. Replacements: Shanklin for Bishop (9), S Jones for Biggar, Phillips for R Rees, Davies for Gough (all 49). Not Used:Hibbard, Yapp, Faletau.
FIJI: Matavesi, Tagicakibau, Vulivuli, Lovobalavu, Goneva, Baikeinuku, Kentale, Ma'afu, Veikoso, Manu, I Rawaqa, Qovu, Saukawa, Ravulo, Koyamaibole. Replacements: Ratu for Tagicakibau, Qera for Koyamaibole (both 49), Tuapati for Veikoso (51), Taka for Kentale (55), Dewes for Ma'afu (59), T Rawaqa for Vulivuli (67), Kalou for Ravulo (75), Sin Bin: Baikeinuku (22).
Referee: Jerome Garces(France).
